2019 Houston Dynamo season


The 2019 Houston Dynamo season is the club's 14th season of existence since joining Major League Soccer in the 2006 season. The Dynamo missed the playoffs in 2018, but they did win the 2018 US Open Cup, the first in club history. The Open Cup victory also qualified the Dynamo for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. It is the Dynamo's third year with Wilmer Cabrera as Head coach and fifth season under General Manager Matt Jordan. On the front office end, it is Gabriel Brenner's fourth season as majority owner. On November 1, 2018, John Walker was announced as the new President of Business Operations, replacing Chris Canetti who stepped down on October 26. On July 18, NBA and Houston Rockets All-Star James Harden became a minority owner in the Dynamo
The Dynamo got off to their best start in club history, winning 6 and drawing 1 in their first 8 league matches. However, Houston would lose form as the season progressed. The Dynamo were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter finals to Tigres and fell to Minnesota United at home in the Round of 16 for the US Open Cup, After a 14 game stretch that saw the Dynamo only get 2 wins and 1 draw that included 4-0 and 5-0 defeats to the Portland Timbers and Atlanta United respectively, the Dynamo had fallen down to 9th place in the Western Conference. On August 13th, Cabrera was fired as head coach. Assistant coach Davy Arnaud was promoted to interim head coach. Arnaud and the newly acquired Christian Ramirez were able to improve the Dynamo's performances at the end of the season, but not enough to lead them into the playoffs. Houston missed the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 years and team captain DaMarcus Beasley retired at the end of the season.

Current squad

Appearances and goals are totals for MLS regular season only. Age and stats are up to the end of the season.

Player movement

In

Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed.
DatePlayerPositionAgePrevious ClubNotesRef
October 30, 2018 Erik McCueDF17 Houston Dynamo AcademyHome Grown Player
December 17, 2018 Chris DuvallDF27 Montreal ImpactAcquired in exchange for Houston's 3rd round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft
December 21, 2018 Matías VeraMF23 San LorenzoFull Rights Purchased
December 24, 2018 Aljaž StrunaDF28 PalermoFull Rights Purchased
January 11, 2019 Tommy McNamaraMF27 New York City FCSelected in second stage of the 2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft.
January 11, 2019 Marlon HairstonMF24 Colorado RapidsAcquired in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money
January 30, 2019 Maynor FigueroaDF35 FC DallasFree Transfer
June 10, 2019 Michael SalazarFW26 Rio Grande Valley FC TorosPromoted from the Dynamo's USL Championship affiliate
July 11, 2019 José BizamaDF25 HuachipatoFull Rights Purchased
August, 7 2019 Christian RamirezFW28 LAFCAcquired in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money and $75,000 in Targeted Allocation Money
August 8, 2019 Niko HansenMF24 Columbus Crew SCAcquired in exchange for $75,000 in Targeted Allocation Money

Out

MLS SuperDraft

RoundPickPlayerPositionAgeCollegeNotesRef
18 Sam JunquaDF22California
233 Andrew SamuelsMF21MarylandSigned with Houston's USL Championship affiliate club Rio Grand Valley FC
356 Brad DunwellDF22Wake ForrestSigned with Houston's USL Championship affiliate club Rio Grand Valley FC

Coaching Staff

PositionName
Head Coach Davy Arnaud
First Assistant Coach Michael Dellorusso
Goalkeeper Coach Paul Rogers
Sports Performance Director/Fitness Coach Paul Caffrey
Assistant Fitness Coach Steve Fell
Equipment Manager Chris Maxwell
Assistant Equipment Manager Eddie Cerda
Chief Medical Officer David A. Braunreiter
Head Athletic Trainer Chris Rumsey
Assistant Athletic Trainer Casey Carlson
Head Physical Therapist Nathan Hironymous
Massage Therapist Wes Speights

Non-competitive

Preseason friendlies

Midseason friendlies

TBD

Competitive

MLS

Standings

Western Conference table
Overall table
Match results

U.S. Open Cup

As a member of MLS, the Dynamo will enter the competition at the fourth round, scheduled to be played on June 11, 2019.

CONCACAF Champions League

Round of 16

Quarter-Finals

Leagues Cup

Player Statistics

Appearances, goals, and assists

Disciplinary record