Former Aston Villa manager Dean Smith has officially taken the reins as the new head coach of Major League Soccer club Charlotte FC, as announced by the team on Tuesday.
The 52-year-old Englishman, previously at the helm of Aston Villa, Norwich, and a brief stint with Leicester, steps in for Italian Christian Lattanzio, who was relieved of his duties in November following the team's exit in the wildcard round of the MLS playoffs.
Expressing his excitement, Smith stated, "I'm honoured to be appointed as the next head coach of Charlotte FC and cannot wait to start preparations for the 2024 season." He added, "This is a unique opportunity to be part of a project with so much potential to take to new heights in Major League Soccer."
Charlotte FC, having completed two seasons in the MLS, finished ninth in the Eastern Conference during both regular seasons.
While Smith's coaching experience has been within England, his connection to the Carolinas is notable. His son Jamie plays in the USL League One for North Carolina club Ashville City, and the family has a vacation home in Myrtle Beach.
The Sporting Director of Charlotte FC, Zoran Krneta, welcomed Smith, saying, "Dean is a well-respected manager with over a decade of professional coaching, including at the highest level of the game in the Premier League." Krneta expressed confidence in Smith's sporting success and highlighted his proven track record and effective management style.
Smith, who had a successful coaching stint with Brentford before his tenure at Aston Villa, guided his boyhood team to Premier League promotion in 2019. His managerial journey also includes spells with Norwich City and Leicester, where he took charge on a short-term contract after Brendan Rodgers' departure. Despite Smith's efforts, Leicester faced relegation at the end of the Premier League season.
