2023 MLS Season Previews: Austin FC

Feb 21, 2023 • 2:00 pm

This is one in a series of team previews preparing fans for the 2023 MLS season. Check out the full list; teams will be revealed in predicted order of finish from Feb. 10-24.

What Austin FC did last year

They laminated. They scoffed at the predictions that had them finishing toward the bottom of the West for a second straight season, roared out of the gate with 10 goals in two home wins (against East teams that turned out to be playoff teams, though no one knew that at the time), had the best win in franchise history in August in a battle of West titans against LAFC that felt like a playoff match, then topped that by beating FC Dallas at home in the Western Conference semis. Then, Icarus flew too close to the sun, with the wings melting in LA in the Western Conference final to put a bittersweet ending on an otherwise incredible season. (Cue “True Love Will Find You in the End.”)

Key additions

Goalkeeper Matt Bersano (free agent signing), forward Will Bruin (free agent signing), midfielder Sofiane Djeffal (Sneaky good Re-Entry draft pick), winger CJ Fodrey (Generation adidas), defender Adam Lundkvist (trade from Houston), defender Amro Tarek (free agent signing), defender Leo Väisänen (transfer from IF Elfsborg), forward Gyasi Zardes (free agent signing)

Key departures

Forward Moussa Djitté (loan to AC Ajaccio), defender Ruben Gabrielsen (transfer to Lillestrøm SK), forward Danny Hoesen (option declined), midfielder Felipe Martins (option declined), defender Jhohan Romaña (loan to Olimpia), midfielder Tomás Pochettino (transfer to Fortaleza)

Making the case for Austin FC

It’s been a busy offseason for Verde, with numerous players going out and coming in, but the overall sum of the parts appears to be a better overall roster than the one who wowed the league in 2022. As we said with FC Dallas, this might be a better team than the 2022 edition, but may still finish lower in the standings thanks to the competition ratcheting up in the West. But they’ve got Sebastián Driussi, and that right there puts them in a class of teams to get to MLS Cup and maybe even win it in Year Three.

Players to watch

The season’s fortunes will likely hinge on two newcomers. Leo Väisänen was a sought-after defender that the front office finally landed this offseason, and though head coach Josh Wolff’s spoken highly of him, he’ll have to anchor a defensive unit led last year by the irrepressible Ruben Gabrielsen — who moved back to Norway. Gyasi Zardes will look to get his 100th MLS goal in Verde. He just needs three to do that, and he’s typically good for double-digit goals in a full season, including last year’s hiccup that saw him move from Columbus to Colorado and then hit the free agent market in the offseason.

A nerdy tidbit

It’s really the one that defined last season: 50.9 expected goals and 64 actual goals, helping Austin make an incredible Year One to Year Two leap. We will, out of respect to all the Austin fans reading this, not mention regression.