Nick Cushing is out in New York.
New York City FC has fired its head coach just three days after suffering a disappointing 2-0 loss to cross-rival rivals New York Red Bulls in the 2024 MLS Cup conference semifinals.
Cushing, 40, will be promoted to manager in 2022 and leaves the program with a 31-31-27 record in MLS.
“We would like to thank Nick for his incredible dedication to our club and this city,” NYCFC sporting director David Lee said in a statement released by the club.
“During his time with New York City FC, Nick was a true professional, playing a key role in the club's first MLS Cup victory as an assistant coach and then as interim head coach, leading the team to the 2022 Campenes Cup title.”
The 2022 season was NYCFC's best finish during Cushing's tenure, but the team has struggled since Cushing took over as head coach in June of that year.
After the 2021 championship, then-head coach Ronny Delia left New York to manage Standard Liège in Belgium, paving the way for then-assistant coach Cushing to take the top job.
Under Cushing, the former head coach of the Manchester City women's team, NYCFC struggled to match its early season form and amassed an 8-8-4 record by the end.
Cushing's team entered postseason play as the fifth seed. New York City FC went on to win two games and lost to the Philadelphia Union 3-1 in the conference finals.
Approximately three weeks before the MLS elimination, NYCFC defeated Liga MX's Atlas FC 2-0 in the Campenes Cup. The Campenes Cup is an annual match between the reigning MLS champions and the Mexican Super Cup winners.
In 2023, Cushing's NYCFC finished with a meager record of 9 wins, 11 losses, and 14 losses, failing to qualify for postseason play.
The team improved to 14 wins, 12 losses, and 8 draws in 2024, but fell behind in the conference semifinals against the Red Bulls.
“We are extremely grateful for everything he has done for the club, but at this time we are looking forward to taking the team in a new direction as we plan for the 2025 season and beyond. We believe this is the best thing to do,” Lee said in a statement.
Cushing was linked to the Arsenal women's head coaching vacancy in October, but Cushing said at the time that no one within the organization had been in contact with him.
NYCFC currently joins Atlanta United, Philadelphia Union, and Vancouver Whitecaps as one of four MLS teams without a head coach.
