Gonzalez will be officially introduced at press conference Monday at 1PM

FRISCO – FC Dallas announced today that it has hired FC Dallas Academy Director Luchi Gonzalez as its new head coach. Gonzalez becomes the club’s seventh head coach in team history. Gonzalez, 38, will be the second youngest head coach in MLS when the 2019 regular season begins. Per team policy, terms were not disclosed.

“Luchi is an outstanding teacher, a smart tactician and has a keen understanding of what it takes to build a successful team,” said FC Dallas Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. “We are excited about his passion for FC Dallas and his vision for the future of the club. Luchi had championship success with our Academy and we’re confident he will build on that as a head coach in MLS.”

“Since joining FC Dallas, Luchi has proven himself to be a championship-caliber coach within our Academy who has incredible knowledge of the game on every level,” said FC Dallas President Dan Hunt. “During our exhaustive head coaching search, it was clear that his philosophical approach to the game and love for this organization make him the right choice to guide the future of our first team."

Gonzalez has spent the last three years as FC Dallas Academy Director and head coach of the U-16 Academy team. In 2016, he led the U-16s to their second straight U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship.

He joined the FC Dallas Academy April 2012 as the U-18 Academy coach. Since joining the club in 2012, the FC Dallas U-17 and U-19 Academy teams have won their division six consecutive years and four USSDA National Championships (U-19s in 2012 and 2016, U-17s 2015 and 2016). The U-17s also made it to the 2016 Generation adidas Cup Semifinals and the U-19s won the 2017 Dallas Cup Super Group Championship.

FC Dallas has signed 15 Homegrown players coached by Gonzalez since he joined the organization: Kellyn Acosta, Danny Garcia, Jesse Gonzalez, Coy Craft, Alejandro Zendejas, Aaron Guillen, Paxton Pomykal, Jesus Ferreira, Bryan Reynolds, Reggie Cannon, Brandon Servania, Kris Reaves, Jordan Cano, Chris Richards and Thomas Roberts.

Gonzalez started his career at Southern Methodist University where he won the 2001 Hermann Trophy his senior year. In his four seasons at SMU, he scored 48 goals and 32 assists. The San Jose Earthquakes drafted him sixth overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft.

In 2013, Gonzalez was nominated to be a part of a 16-month youth development course through the MLS and French Football Federation partnership to earn his Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL).

FC Dallas Head Coach History

Dave Dir hired in 1996, dismissed in 2000

Mike Jeffries hired on January 23, 2001, dismissed on September 15, 2003

Colin Clarke named interim head coach September 15, 2003 to December 4, 2003

Colin Clarke hired on December 4, 2003, dismissed on November 7, 2006

Steve Morrow named interim head coach November 7, 2006 to December 11, 2006

Steve Morrow hired on December 11, 2006, dismissed on May 20, 2008

Marco Ferruzzi named interim head coach May 20, 2008 to June 16, 2008

Schellas Hyndman hired on June 16, 2008, resigned on October 18, 2013

Oscar Pareja hired on January 10, 2014, resigned on November 19, 2018

Luchi Gonzalez hired on December 16, 2018

FC Dallas Head Coach Records