A new era has officially begun with Detroit professional soccer.
Wednesday, Detroit City FC officially announced that Sacramento Republic assistant Danny Dichio would become the fourth head coach in club history and the second since going pro in 2020.
Dichio takes over for Trevor James who will assume the role of sporting director for the Club after an incredible run as men’s first-team head coach. James oversaw the most successful run in the club’s decade-year history and one of the most successful runs in U.S. professional sports history, so it certainly goes without saying that Dichio has some big shoes to fill.
“My family and I are thrilled to be joining Detroit City FC and the community of Detroit. This is a unique club with great leadership, and I can’t tell you how excited I am to get started with the group and build on the recent success of Detroit City Football Club,” said Dichio.
Sporting Director Trevor James and Vice President of Sporting and Wellness Tiffany Ebert James led the search for a new head coach; Trevor has led Detroit City FC from the touchline since 2019 and oversaw the club’s transition into professional soccer. This appointment of Dichio is James’ first act as the club’s Sporting Director, a role which he transitioned into following the conclusion of the 2023 USL Championship season.
“We are very pleased to have Danny on board as the Club continues to commit substantial resources to build on our winning foundations. We entered the head coach selection process with a definitive list of desired qualities, credentials, and experiences. Danny’s football philosophy and strong commitment to accountability and personal responsibility match up perfectly with the identity we want our team to continue to embody. He greatly appreciates the history and legacy of this Club and this City and embraces the challenges ahead.” said James.
detcityfc.com
Detroit will mark Dichio’s first opportunity as a head coach for a professional side. After spending the last two seasons as an assistant with Sacramento, who were undoubtedly one of the best USL Championship sides during Dichio’s time there, his managerial career began back in 2010 when he was named an assistant for MLS’ Toronto FC. Dichio would eventually take over as head coach for Toronto FC’s academy team later in the 2010 season before moving up to Toronto FC II as an assistant before making his way west to Sacramento.
In 2021 Dichio was also named to Canada’s National Team and even got some consideration for the Toronto FC managerial job before the team ultimately went with Chris Armas in 2021.
However, despite the limited head coaching experience, Dichio has a wealth of professional playing experience.
A product of the Queens Park Rangers’ system in his native London, the 49-year-old got his start professionally on QPR’s first team from 1993-1997 when the Club was a founding member of the Premier League. After some loan stops, Dichio also spent time at Sampdoria, West Bromwich Albion, Millwall, and Preston North End before making his way to North America where he would land with Toronto FC and become a TFC legend scoring the Club’s first-ever goal and last goal of the inaugural season in 2007.
Dichio would remain with Toronto FC until his retirement in 2009.
It’s always hard to analyze and/or predict how a coach like Dichio is going to do given this opportunity. There’s nothing to go off of other than Sacramento made it to the playoffs in the USL Championship both seasons he was part of the coaching staff where they also had an incredible run in the US Open Cup in 2023. Oh yeah, he’s also got a shit ton of experience as a professional player where he played in some of the biggest leagues in the world, all of which shouldn’t be looked over, especially at this level.
People will try to analyze it but will come at it with zero good faith. Not to mention, anyone with a wealth of head coaching experience is typically carrying plenty of baggage considering good head coaches worth keeping rarely get away from the respective teams and if they do they chase the money, something Detroit City presumably doesn’t have much of right now to dedicate to a head coach.
I will say this though. If I’m going to cherry-pick a coaching staff in the USL Championship, the Republic is one of those Clubs I’m looking at first.
