D.C. United hire Swiss manager Weiler as new head coach

D.C. United hired Swiss manager Rene Weiler as the Major League Soccer club’s fourth coach in the past five seasons, the team announced Wednesday.

The club’s leadership fired coach Troy Lesesne and top assistant Zach Prince last week after securing just four victories in their first 21 games of the season. 

“Rene is a tactician with a proven ability to implement a clear and disciplined playing style and to adapt that system to bring the best out of his players,” said Ally Mackay, United’s general manager and chief soccer officer. “He builds teams that are organized, aggressive out of possession, and purposeful in attack. That style reflects the identity we’re working to establish at D.C. United.”

Weiler will not officially take over until he receives a work visa, United officials said. The 51-year-old previously coached clubs in Germany, Belgium, Egypt and Japan besides Switzerland.

He most recently spent two seasons with the Swiss club Servette FC. He worked as the club’s head coach for one season, leading the team to the Swiss Cup, then pivoted to a role as the club’s sporting director.

“His experience developing talent and demanding high standards makes him the ideal leader to guide this project,” Mackay said. “We’re excited to welcome him to the club and fully support his vision for what this team can become.”

Kevin Flanagan, director of D.C. United’s Academy of Player Development, will continue as the team’s interim coach until Weiler arrives.

United rank 13th in MLS’s 15-team Eastern Conference. The District’s onetime powerhouse hasn’t made the playoffs since 2019 and hasn’t won a playoff game since 2015. 

A revolving door of coaches since 2015 has featured Wayne Rooney, Hernan Losada and Lesesne. None of them lasted longer than 18 months.

Weiler will look to break that trend. 

“D.C. United is a club with a proud history and a passionate fan base,” he said. “The foundation on site gives me confidence in what we can build. There’s still a lot of work ahead, but I’m fully committed to leading this club back to where it belongs, competing at the highest level in MLS.”

D.C. United won three of the first four MLS Cups from 1996 through 1999. They added a fourth title in 2004 but haven’t appeared in the league’s final in the two decades since.

United return to the pitch on Wednesday night at Charlotte FC.