St. Louis City SC Parts Ways with Sporting Director
In a significant shift for the organization, St. Louis City SC has parted ways with sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel after nearly two seasons of disappointing results, as announced on Monday. Taking over the sporting responsibilities on a temporary basis are club president and GM Diego Gigliani, along with technical director John Hackworth, while the search for a permanent successor gets underway.
“These decisions are never easy,” Gigliani commented, acknowledging Pfannenstiel’s contributions and the legacy he established during his tenure. “He has always demonstrated a strong passion and dedication to this project, laying a vital foundation that contributed to our inaugural season’s success.”
Recent Performance Struggles
Despite an impressive start in 2023 where St. Louis clinched the Western Conference regular season title, the team has struggled in subsequent years. The 2024 season saw the club miss the playoffs entirely, leading to the dismissal of head coach Bradley Carnell. The current 2025 season has not fared any better; Olaf Mellberg, who took over as manager, departed after just 17 games with a disappointing record of 3 wins, 9 losses, and 5 draws, further tarnishing Pfannenstiel’s reputation.
Current Standing and Future Aspirations
Currently, St. Louis City SC finds itself languishing in 14th place out of 15 in the Western Conference, recording only 5 wins amidst 16 losses and 6 draws under interim manager David Critchley. Gigliani expressed hope that a change in the sporting leadership would enhance the club’s performance and help realize its long-term objectives.
“The next five years are crucial for our growth, both for our team and the community of St. Louis,” he stated, underscoring the need for stability as the organization aims to meet the aspirations of its supporters and ownership.
