St Louis City SC Fires Sporting Director Lutz Pfannenstiel After Five Years

St. Louis City SC has parted ways with sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel after five years, marking the end of a cycle that included the club's historic first MLS season in 2023, when it won the Western Conference regular-season title. Pfannenstiel helped build the club's sporting infrastructure, academy, training center, and roster from its inception in 2020, and was credited with laying a strong foundation and embracing the community. However, the team has struggled in the past two seasons, finishing 12th and currently 14th in the conference, with issues including coaching changes, injuries, and inconsistent performance. President and GM Diego Gigliani emphasized the need for sporting stability and a new vision to guide the club's next five-year plan aimed at achieving long-term goals. While Pfannenstiel's contributions were widely acknowledged and appreciated by club leadership and ownership, the decision was framed as necessary to elevate the team's performance and return to playoff contention. Until a permanent replacement is found, Gigliani and Technical Director John Hackworth will oversee roster management and contract negotiations.