2019 Houston Dynamo season

The 2019 Houston Dynamo season was the club's 14th season of existence since joining Major League Soccer in the 2006 season. The Dynamo missed the playoffs in 2018, but they did win the 2018 US Open Cup, the first in club history. The Open Cup victory also qualified the Dynamo for the 2019 CONCACAF Champions League. It was the Dynamo's third year with Wilmer Cabrera as head coach and fifth season under general manager Matt Jordan. On the front office end, it is Gabriel Brener's fourth season as majority owner. On November 1, 2018, John Walker was announced as the new President of Business Operations, replacing Chris Canetti who stepped down on October 26. On July 18, NBA and Houston Rockets All-Star James Harden became a minority owner in the Dynamo.

The Dynamo got off to their best start in club history, winning 6 and drawing 1 in their first 8 league matches. However, Houston would lose form as the season progressed. The Dynamo were knocked out of the Champions League in the quarter-finals to Tigres and fell to Minnesota United at home in the Round of 16 for the US Open Cup. After a 14-game stretch that saw the Dynamo only get 2 wins and 1 draw that included 4-0 and 5-0 defeats to the Portland Timbers and Atlanta United FC respectively, the Dynamo had fallen down to 9th place in the Western Conference. On August 13, Cabrera was fired as head coach. Assistant coach Davy Arnaud was promoted to interim head coach. Arnaud and the newly acquired Christian Ramirez were able to improve the Dynamo's performances at the end of the season, but not enough to lead them into the playoffs. Houston missed the playoffs for the 5th time in 6 years and team captain DaMarcus Beasley retired at the end of the season. Current squad

Appearances and goals are totals for MLS regular season only. Age and stats are up to the end of the season. No.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (Age)Signed fromSigned inApps.GoalsGoalkeepers1Tyler Deric (HGP)GKAugust 30, 1988 (age 31)North Carolina Tar Heels200990023Joe WillisGKAugust 10, 1988 (age 31)DC United201587026Michael NelsonGKFebruary 10, 1995 (age 24)Southern Methodist University201800Defenders2Alejandro FuenmayorDFAugust 29, 1996 (age 23)Carabobo FC20183033Adam LundkvistDFMarch 20, 1994 (age 25)IF Elfsborg20184406Aljaž StrunaDFAugust 4, 1990 (age 29)Palermo20182907DaMarcus BeasleyDFMay 24, 1982 (age 37)Puebla2014124315Maynor FigueroaDFMay 2, 1983 (age 36)FC Dallas201925016Kevin GarciaDFAugust 21, 1990 (age 29)Rio Grande Valley201630118José BizamaDFJune 25, 1994 (age 25)Club Deportivo Huachipato20195020A. J. DeLaGarzaDFNovember 4, 1987 (age 31)LA Galaxy201757028Erik McCue (HGP)DFJanuary 18, 2001 (age 18)Houston Dynamo Academy20180029Sam JunquaDFNovember 9, 1996 (age 22)University of California201900Midfielders5Juan David CabezasMFFebruary 27, 1991 (age 28)Deportivo Cali20174828Memo Rodríguez (HGP)MFDecember 27, 1995 (age 23)Rio Grande Valley2017541010Tomás Martínez (DP)MFMarch 7, 1995 (age 24)Braga2017741211Tommy McNamaraMFFebruary 6, 1991 (age 28)New York City FC201933212Niko Hansen MFSeptember 14, 1997 (age 22)Columbus Crew SC20194014Marlon HairstonMFMarch 23, 1994 (age 25)Colorado Rapids201912022Matías VeraMFOctober 26, 1995 (age 23)San Lorenzo201830024Darwin CerénMFDecember 31, 1989 (age 29)San Jose Earthquakes201837225Eric BirdMFApril 8, 1993 (age 26)Rio Grande Valley20176027Boniek GarcíaMFSeptember 4, 1984 (age 35)Olimpia201220113Forwards9Mauro ManotasFWJuly 15, 1995 (age 24)Uniautónoma20151294813Christian RamirezFWApril 4, 1991 (age 28)LAFC201910517Alberth Elis (DP)FWFebruary 12, 1996 (age 23)Monterrey2017823018Michael SalazarFWNovember 15, 1992 (age 26)Rio Grande Valley20197021Ronaldo PeñaFWMarch 10, 1997 (age 22)Caracas FC201813131Romell QuiotoFWAugust 9, 1991 (age 28)Olimpia20177215

Player movement

In Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed. DatePlayerPositionAgePrevious clubNotesRefOctober 30, 2018 Erik McCueDF17 Houston Dynamo AcademyHome Grown PlayerDecember 17, 2018 Chris DuvallDF27 Montreal ImpactAcquired in exchange for Houston's 3rd round pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraftDecember 21, 2018 Matías VeraMF23 San LorenzoFull Rights PurchasedDecember 24, 2018 Aljaž StrunaDF28 PalermoFull Rights PurchasedJanuary 11, 2019 Tommy McNamaraMF27 New York City FCSelected in second stage of the 2018 MLS Re-Entry Draft. January 11, 2019 Marlon HairstonMF24 Colorado RapidsAcquired in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation MoneyJanuary 30, 2019 Maynor FigueroaDF35 FC DallasFree TransferJune 10, 2019 Michael SalazarFW26 Rio Grande Valley FC TorosPromoted from the Dynamo's USL Championship affiliateJuly 11, 2019 José BizamaDF25 HuachipatoFull Rights PurchasedAugust 7, 2019 Christian RamirezFW28 LAFCAcquired in exchange for $175,000 in General Allocation Money and $75,000 in Targeted Allocation MoneyAugust 8, 2019 Niko HansenMF24 Columbus Crew SCAcquired in exchange for $75,000 in Targeted Allocation Money

Out DatePlayerPositionAgeDestination ClubNotesRefNovember 27, 2018 Conor DonovanDF22 Rio Grande Valley FC TorosContract option declined/Free transferNovember 27, 2018 LeonardoDF30 Orange County SCContract option declined/Free transferNovember 27, 2018 Adolfo MachadoDF33 The StrongestContract option declined/Free transferNovember 27, 2018 Mac SteevesFW24 Hartford AthleticContract option declinedNovember 27, 2018 Jared WattsDF26RetiredContract option declinedNovember 27, 2018 Arturo ÁlvarezMF33RetiredContract expiredNovember 27, 2018 Philippe SenderosDF33 FC ChiassoContract expiredNovember 30, 2018 Andrew WengerDF/MF27RetiredDecember 2, 2018 Dylan RemickDF27RetiredDecember 11, 2018 Eric AlexanderMF30 FC CincinnatiSelected in the 2018 MLS Expansion DraftDecember 31, 2018 Luis GilMF25 QuerétaroEnd of loanJanuary 11, 2019 Chris SeitzGK31 D.C. UnitedTraded for 2nd round pick in 2019 MLS SuperDraftAugust 6, 2019 Chris DuvallDF27 Oklahoma City EnergyWaived/Free TransferAugust 13, 2019 Wilmer CabreraManager51 Montreal ImpactSacked

MLS SuperDraft

RoundPickPlayerPositionAgeCollegeNotesRef18 Sam JunquaDF22California233 Andrew SamuelsMF21MarylandSigned with Houston's USL Championship affiliate club Rio Grand Valley FC356 Brad DunwellDF22Wake ForrestSigned with Houston's USL Championship affiliate club Rio Grand Valley FC

Coaching staff

+PositionNameHead Coach Davy Arnaud (Interim Head Coach)First Assistant Coach Michael DellorussoGoalkeeper Coach Paul RogersSports Performance Director/Fitness Coach Paul CaffreyAssistant Fitness Coach Steve FellEquipment Manager Chris MaxwellAssistant Equipment Manager Eddie CerdaChief Medical Officer David A. BraunreiterHead Athletic Trainer Chris RumseyAssistant Athletic Trainer Casey CarlsonHead Physical Therapist Nathan HironymousMassage Therapist Wes Speights

Non-competitive

Preseason friendlies

Midseason friendlies TBD

Competitive

MLS

Standings

Western Conference table

Overall table

Match results

U.S. Open Cup

As a member of MLS, the Dynamo will enter the competition at the fourth round, scheduled to be played on June 11, 2019.

CONCACAF Champions League

Round of 16

Quarter-finals

Leagues Cup

Player statistics

Appearances, goals, and assists {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+ ! rowspan="2" |No. ! rowspan="2" |Pos ! rowspan="2" |Nat ! rowspan="2" | ! colspan="3" | ! colspan="3" | ! colspan="3" | ! colspan="3" | ! colspan="3" | |- ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! |- |1||GK||||align=left|||9||0||0||7||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- |2||DF||||align=left|||12||0||1||8||0||1||2||0||1||1||0||0||1||0||0 |- |3||DF||||align=left|||29||0||4||28||0||4||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0 |- |5||MF||||align=left|||19||1||0||15||1||0||2||0||0||1||0||0||1||0||0 |- |6||DF||||align=left|||32||0||1||29||0||1||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||0||0 |- |7||DF||||align=left|||18||2||2||12||0||2||1||0||0||4||1||0||1||1||0 |- |8||MF||||align=left|||28||7||5||26||7||5||0||0||0||1||0||0||1||0||0 |- |9||FW||||align=left|||36||15||8||32||13||8||0||0||0||4||2||0||0||0||0 |- |10||MF||||align=left|||37||7||4||33||5||3||2||2||1||2||0||0||0||0||0 |- |11||MF||||align=left|||39||2||3||33||2||3||2||0||0||4||0||0||0||0||0 |- |12||FW||||align=left|||4||0||0||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |12||DF||||align=left|||4||0||0||1||0||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- |13||FW||||align=left|||10||5||1||10||5||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |14||MF||||align=left|||18||0||1||12||0||0||2||0||1||3||0||0||1||0||0 |- |15||DF||||align=left|||29||0||3||25||0||3||0||0||0||4||0||0||0||0||0 |- |16||DF||||align=left|||16||0||1||12||0||1||2||0||0||1||0||0||1||0||1 |- |17||FW||||align=left|||31||9||11||26||9||10||0||0||0||4||0||1||1||0||0 |- |18||DF||||align=left|||5||0||1||5||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |19||FW||||align=left|||10||0||0||7||0||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- |20||DF||||align=left|||27||0||1||23||0||1||0||0||0||4||0||0||0||0||0 |- |21||FW||||align=left|||8||2||1||4||0||0||2||2||1||2||0||0||0||0||0 |- |22||MF||||align=left|||36||1||1||30||0||1||2||1||0||4||0||0||0||0||0 |- |23||GK||||align=left|||31||0||0||27||0||0||0||0||0||4||0||0||0||0||0 |- |24||MF||||align=left|||16||1||0||13||1||0||0||0||0||2||0||0||1||0||0 |- |25||MF||||align=left|||2||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- |26||GK||||align=left|||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |27||MF||||align=left|||37||0||1||32||0||1||2||0||0||3||0||0||0||0||0 |- |28||DF||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |29||DF||||align=left|||2||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0 |- |31||MF||||align=left|||23||2||2||18||2||2||0||0||0||4||0||0||1||0||0 |- |34||FW||||align=left|Short term loan from RGVFC||1||0||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0

Disciplinary record {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+ ! rowspan="2" |No. ! rowspan="2" |Pos ! rowspan="2" |Nat ! rowspan="2" |Player ! colspan="2" |Total ! colspan="2" |MLS ! colspan="2" |US Open Cup ! colspan="2" | ! colspan="2" | |- !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| !style="width:30px;"| |- |1||GK||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |2||DF||||align=left|||5||0||3||0||1||0||0||0||1||0 |- |3||DF||||align=left|||4||0||4||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |5||MF||||align=left|||5||0||4||0||1||0||0||0||0||0 |- |6||DF||||align=left|||5||0||4||0||0||0||1||0||0||0 |- |7||DF||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |8||MF||||align=left|||3||0||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |9||FW||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |10||MF||||align=left|||2||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |11||MF||||align=left|||3||0||3||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |12||FW||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |12||DF||||align=left|||1||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0 |- |13||FW||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |14||MF||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |15||DF||||align=left|||7||1||6||1||0||0||1||0||0||0 |- |16||DF||||align=left|||1||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |17||FW||||align=left|||7||1||6||1||0||0||1||0||0||0 |- |18||DF||||align=left|||1||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |19||FW||||align=left|||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0 |- |20||DF||||align=left|||6||0||6||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |21||FW||||align=left|||4||0||3||0||0||0||1||0||0||0 |- |22||MF||||align=left|||11||1||9||1||0||0||2||0||0||0 |- |23||GK||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |24||MF||||align=left|||1||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |25||MF||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |26||GK||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |27||MF||||align=left|||8||0||6||0||1||0||1||0||0||0 |- |28||DF||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |29||DF||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |31||MF||||align=left|||5||1||5||1||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |34||FW||||align=left|||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0

References