There was a time when New York City FC needed big names and star players. But according to sporting director Claudio Reyna, the club is now transitioning and evolving with the league, ushering in a new era for how the team is going to be constructed.



The formative days of NYCFC saw a team whose foundation was built on the shoulders of big name players such as David Villa, Frank Lampard and Andrea Pirlo. They were players who came from big clubs in Europe at the tail end of distinguished careers. All but Villa, who captained NYCFC with distinction over the last four seasons, proved to be washed up.



And while the players helped generate media interest and sell tickets, NYCFC struggled as an expansion team in 2015. The team began to shift towards a more balanced, less top-heavy roster the following year and has made the playoffs each of the last three seasons.



Now with Villa gone from the club, Reyna’s morphing of this roster can go into overdrive. In an...