St. Louis City fires sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel

St. Louis City fired sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel on Monday amidst a second straight disappointing season.

The club said general manager Diego Gigliani and technical director John Hackworth will split Pfannenstiel's until a permanent replacement is identified.

Pfannenstiel was hired in summer of 2020 as the club's first sporting director. He helped build a team that began play in 2023 and went 17-12-5 (56 points) to become the first expansion franchise in MLS history to win a regular-season conference title.

However, St. Louis City (8-13-13, 37 points) dropped off last season and missed the playoffs and is struggling again this season. The club resides in 14th place in the 15-team Western Conference with 21 points and a 5-16-6 record.

"These decisions are never easy and with the legacy Lutz built during his time here, he will always be part of the extended City family," Gigliani said in a news release. "From the very beginning, Lutz has shown real passion and commitment for this project and the foundation he established was integral to the club's historic first season.

"As we enter the next phase of the club's long-term plan to lift up the region and help both the team and St. Louis achieve its potential, the next five years will be extremely important and believe a change in sporting leadership will help in the club's pursuit of its goals."

Bradley Carnell was coach during St. Louis' fabulous first season and he was dismissed after the dismal 2024 season.

Olaf Mellberg was hired prior to this season and lasted just 15 games. He was fired in late May with the club sitting 2-8-5 with 11 points.

David Critchley is serving as interim manager.

St. Louis has dropped four of its last five matches entering Saturday's home game against the Houston Dynamo.

--Field Level Media