It has been a tough few years for Austin FC.
The Texas-based membership debuted in MLS in 2021 and made all of it the way in which to the Western Convention Remaining in its charmed sophomore season. Since then, although, the outfit has struggled to make an affect. It missed out on the MLS Cup playoffs in 2023 and 2024, ending each seasons with a destructive purpose distinction.
It is not how issues have been alleged to go for Austin. The membership entered MLS with power, fanfare and important monetary funding from former Columbus Crew proprietor Anthony Precourt. However a sequence of poor roster choices — many pushed by the lightning-in-a-bottle success of the 2022 crew — have pushed Austin to the outskirts of the league it meant to dominate.
The membership is making strikes to alter that in 2025. This week, it introduced the signing of 26-year-old USMNT striker Brandon Vazquez on a multi-year Designated Participant contract. Vazquez arrived from Monterrey in Liga MX for a club-record $10M price.
“Brandon has already confirmed to be a purpose scorer in each MLS and LIGA MX,” said Austin sporting director Rodolfo Borrell when asked about the signing. And he is proper: Vazquez had an excellent season with FC Cincinnati again in 2022, slotting residence 18 objectives over the season for a goal-per-game ratio of .59.
MLS groups should adhere to strict wage and roster rules; doing so maintains competitiveness throughout the league and prevents well-funded groups from working away with the competitors (see PSG in France or, till just lately, Manchester Metropolis in England.) These rules state that every crew can have a most of three Designated Gamers whose salaries exceed the normal cap.
If a crew indicators simply two, it receives an additional U22 slot for a proficient prospect and a further $2M generally allocation cash to spend because it needs. If it indicators three, it would not obtain both.
When groups must rebuild, as drained, struggling Austin actually does, they have an inclination to go for fewer Designated Gamers as a way to purchase themselves extra time and suppleness. In signing Vazquez, Austin has gone within the different course, choosing three highly-paid Designated Gamers and taking of venture on their skill to carry out.
Austin sporting director Borrell was proper when he stated that Vazquez was , confirmed MLS participant. However for a $10M price and a 3rd Designated Participant spot, Vazquez cannot simply be good: he must be transformational.
D. C. United’s Christian Benteke is a superb comparability level for this. He arrived just a few seasons in the past with huge expectations and delivered upon all of them. Benteke’s current output — 23 objectives for .8 objectives per recreation throughout the 2024 season — dwarfs Vazquez’s best-ever MLS efficiency and raises questions on whether or not Vazquez can contribute on the stage required of a Designated Participant.
And that issues, as a result of Austin’s current contracted Designated Gamers — Argentinian attacker Sebastian Driussi and Ghanaian winger Osman Bukari — have not lit the league on fireplace in current seasons. Driussi appeared wonderful again in 2022 however scored simply seven objectives in 2024; Bukari is a younger prospect who arrived final summer season with loads of potential however little or no consistency.
It is not all set in stone for Austin. Driussi could but discover his manner out of his Austin contract and again to his residence nation of Argentina. However this triple barrel Designated Participant method represents an enormous gamble for the Austin entrance workplace. If it backfires, the crew will wrestle mightily to alter its course.
It is a huge danger and a captivating one for neutrals to comply with. If Vazquez, Bukari and Driussi work properly collectively, Austin will look prescient and sensible; in the event that they flop, as all of them have in current seasons, Austin will cap off its 2025 rebuild season wanting extra damaged than ever.
Austin kicks off its 2025 MLS season on Feb. 22 towards Sporting Kansas Metropolis.
