MLS club Charlotte FC will likely confirm former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith as the next head coach after considering Frank Lampard.
According to a report by The Athletic, Dean Smith will likely return to the managerial world with Charlotte FC. The former Aston Villa manager is in advanced talks with the MLS outfit to start as the club’s next head coach. Meanwhile, ex-Chelsea boss Frank Lampard was also under consideration at the Bank of America Stadium.
Dean Smith: The Story So Far
Dean Smith has been out of a job since leaving Leicester City at the end of the 2022/23 season. The 52-year-old managed only eight games at the King Power Stadium after replacing Brendan Rodgers. But he could not save the Foxes from going down to the EFL Championship, winning only two matches while amassing nine points with a win rate of 25%.
The West Bromwich native has previously managed Walsall, Brentford, Aston Villa, and Norwich City, with his best spell coming with Aston Villa. He guided the Villans back to the Premier League in 2020, with the club finishing runners-up in the 2019/20 season.
But Smith’s time at Aston Villa ended midway through the 2021/22 season after suffering five straight defeats. The Englishman’s stints with Norwich City and Leicester City did not work as well as he would have liked either. But Smith is on the verge of securing his next job, with Charlotte FC set to appoint him.
MLS Calling
The MLS outfit and Dean Smith are in advanced talks over confirming his appointment as their next head coach. The managerial hot seat at the Bank of America Stadium is vacant after the departure of Christian Lattanzio last month. Lattanzio’s assistant coach, Andy Quy, also quit the MLS club.
But the job will not remain vacant for long, with Smith closing in on joining Charlotte FC as the club’s next manager. The 52-year-old has beaten former Chelsea head coach Frank Lampard and Seattle Sounders assistant Freddy Juarez, with the duo being the other finalists for the post.
While the deal is not set in stone yet, Smith is the top choice for Charlotte FC. Talks should ideally conclude soon, with the 52-year-old Englishman’s next job coming in the MLS at the Bank of America Stadium, where he will aim to resurrect his career.
