2022 Houston Dynamo FC season

The 2022 Houston Dynamo season was the 17th season of the team's existence since joining Major League Soccer (MLS) prior to the 2006 season. It was the first season with head coach Paulo Nagamura, who was hired on January 3. 2022 was the Dynamo's first full season under General Manager Pat Onstad, who was hired with 1 game remaining in the 2021 season. Asher Mendelsohn was hired as technical director on January 3.

On January 18, the Dynamo made the most expensive signing in club history, signing Paraguayan striker Sebastián Ferreira from Club Libertad. On March 2, the Dynamo made the highest-profile transfer in club history, signing Mexican international Héctor Herrera from Atlético Madrid to a pre-contract agreement.

On September 5, with the team last in the Western Conference through 29 games and having just 2 wins in the last 13 games, Paulo Nagamura was fired as head coach. Dynamo 2 head coach Kenny Bundy was named interim head coach for the final 5 games, playing to a 2-2-1 record. The Dynamo ended the season 13th in the conference, missing the playoffs for the 5th consecutive season and the 8th time in 9 years.

On the front office end, it was Ted Segal's second season (first full season) as majority owner and John Walker's fourth and final season as President of Business Operations. On June 14, Walker announced he would step down following the season. On August 25, Ted Segal bought the remaining shares owned by Oscar De La Hoya, Gabriel Brener, and Ben Guill. Lyle Ayes also joined the ownership group

Current squad

Appearances and goals are totals for MLS regular season only. No.NameNationalityPositionDate of birth (Age)Signed fromSigned inApps.GoalsGoalkeepers12Steve ClarkGKApril 14, 1986 (age 36)Portland Timbers202233026Michael NelsonGKFebruary 10, 1995 (age 27)Southern Methodist University201813038Xavier Valdez (HGP)GKNovember 23, 2003 (age 18)Houston Dynamo Academy202200Defenders2Daniel SteresDFNovember 11, 1990 (age 31)LA Galaxy20221823Adam LundqvistDFMarch 20, 1994 (age 28)IF Elfsborg201812104Zarek ValentinDFAugust 6, 1991 (age 31)Nashville SC20205305Tim ParkerDFFebruary 23, 1993 (age 29)New York Red Bulls202162013Ethan Bartlow (GA)DFFebruary 2, 2000 (age 22)University of Washington202115017Teenage Hadebe (DP)DFSeptember 17, 1995 (age 27)Yeni Malatyaspor202139225Griffin DorseyDFMarch 5, 1999 (age 23)Toronto FC202147329Sam JunquaDFNovember 9, 1996 (age 25)University of California201946137ZecaDFMay 16, 1994 (age 28)Vasco da Gama2022200Midfielders8Memo Rodríguez (HGP)MFDecember 27, 1995 (age 26)Rio Grande Valley FC20171361716Héctor Herrera (DP)MFApril 19, 1990 (age 32)Atlético Madrid202210020Adalberto CarrasquillaMFNovember 28, 1998 (age 23)Cartagena202142322Matías VeraMFOctober 26, 1995 (age 26)San Lorenzo2019108324Darwin CerénMFDecember 31, 1989 (age 32)San Jose Earthquakes2018109327Marcelo Palomino (HGP)MFMay 21, 2001 (age 21)Houston Dynamo Academy20203032Juan Castilla (HGP)MFJuly 27, 2004 (age 18)Houston Dynamo Academy20212035Brooklyn Raines (HGP)MFMarch 11, 2005 (age 17)Barça Residency Academy202210Forwards7Thiago Fernandes (U22)FWMarch 13, 2001 (age 21)Flamengo2022309Sebastián Ferreira (DP)FWFebruary 13, 1998 (age 24)Club Libertad2022311310Fafà PicaultFWFebruary 23, 1991 (age 31)FC Dallas2021611811Corey BairdFWJanuary 30, 1996 (age 26)Los Angeles FC202130221Nelson QuiñónesFWAugust 20, 2002 (age 20)Once Caldas20228023Darwin QuinteroFWSeptember 19, 1987 (age 35)Minnesota United FC2020731933Danny Ríos (HGP)FWMarch 29, 2003 (age 19)Houston Dynamo Academy20210034Thorleifur Úlfarsson (GA)FWDecember 27, 2000 (age 21)Duke University202231445Beto AvilaFWOctober 16, 2000 (age 21)Houston Dynamo 2202280

Player movement

In Per Major League Soccer and club policies terms of the deals do not get disclosed. DatePlayerPositionAgePrevious clubNotesRefDecember 12, 2021 Daniel SteresDF31 LA GalaxyAcquired in exchange for a 3rd round pick in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft. The Galaxy will retain a portion of the salary budget charge in 2022.December 22, 2021 Steve ClarkGK35 Portland TimbersSigned on a free transfer.January 18, 2022 Sebastián FerreiraFW23 Club LibertadSigned as a Designated Player. Transfer fee undisclosed, but is rumored to be $4.3 million.February 4, 2022 Brooklyn RainesMF16 Barça Residency AcademySigned as a homegrown player. Acquired his homegrown rights from Real Salt Lake for $50,000 in GAM.February 10, 2022 ZecaDF27 Vasco da GamaSigned on a free transfer.February 27, 2022 Xavier ValdezGK18 Houston Dynamo AcademySigned as a homegrown player. Acquired his homegrown territory rights from NYCFC and the New York Red Bulls for $50,000 in GAM each.March 2, 2022 Héctor HerreraMF31 Atlético MadridSigned as a Designated Player on a free transfer, contract effective July 1, 2022March 21, 2022 Thiago FernandesFW21 FlamengoSigned on loan for the 2022 season with an option to buy. Signed as a U-22 Initiative player.May 6, 2022 Beto AvilaFW21 Houston Dynamo 2Promoted from reserve team.May 10, 2022 Adalberto CarrasquillaMF23 CartagenaExercised the purchase option on the loan. Transfer fee undiscloed but is reportedly close to $2 million.July 27, 2022 Nelson QuiñónesFW19 Once CaldasSigned on a 12-month loan with an option to buy.

Out DatePlayerPositionAgeDestination ClubNotesRefNovember 30, 2021 José BizamaDF27 PalestinoContract option declinedNovember 30, 2021 Maynor FigueroaDF38retiredContract option declinedNovember 30, 2021 Erik McCueDF20 AB ArgirContract option declinedNovember 30, 2021 Marko MarićGK25 AtromitosContract option declinedNovember 30, 2021 Kyle MortonGK27 Louisville CityContract option declinedNovember 30, 2021 Maximiliano UrrutiFW30 Austin FCContract option declinedNovember 30, 2021 Alejandro FuenmayorDF25 Oakland RootsContract expiredNovember 30, 2021 Boniek GarcíaMF37 OlimpiaContract expiredDecember 16, 2021 Ariel LassiterFW27 Inter Miami CFTraded for $100,000 in GAM.February 21, 2022 Joe CoronaMF31 GIF SundsvallWaivedMarch 9, 2022 Derrick JonesMF25 Charlotte FCTraded along with $50,000 in 2023 GAM for $250,000 in 2022 GAM.April 26, 2022 Nico LemoineFW22WaivedAugust 5, 2022 Tyler PasherFW28 New York Red BullsWaived

Loans out DatePlayerPositionAgeDestination ClubNotesRefJanuary 28, 2022 Mateo BajamichFW22 HuracánLoaned for remainder of 2022 season.March 9, 2022 Nico LemoineFW21 Oakland RootsLoaned for remainder of 2022 season. Recalled on April 26.June 23, 2022 Ian HoffmannDF20 Orange County SCLoaned for remainder of 2022 season.

MLS SuperDraft

RoundPickPlayerPositionAgeCollegeNotesRef14Thorleifur ÚlfarssonFW21DukeSigned to a Generation Adidas contract.232Paulo LimaMF23ProvidenceSigned with Houston Dynamo 2239Arturo OrdoñezDF24PittsburghSigned with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds.

Coaching staff

+PositionNameInterim Head Coach Kenny BundyInterim Assistant Coach Daniel RobertsInterim Assistant Coach Roy Lassiter Goalkeeper Coach Zach ThorntonHead of Performance Paul CaffreyVideo AnalystJames RoutledgeScouting Coordinator/AnalystSebastian RomeroHead Athletic TrainerCasey CarlsonAssistant Athletic TrainerSteven PateraAssistant Athletic TrainerJoel LockhartHead Physical TherapistNathan HironymousMassage TherapistIvan DiazHead of Sports ScienceAlex CalderStrength & Conditioning CoachAnthony NarcisiDieticianBrett SingerDirector of Team AdministrationCesar MartinezTeam Operations CoordinatorAlejandro VegaHead Equipment ManagerEddie CerdaAssistant Equipment ManagerShane MaxwellChief Medical Officer/Primary Care PhysicianDr. Rehal BhojaniHead Orthopedic SurgeonDr. Walter LoweTeam Orthopedic PhysicianDr. Evan Meeks

Non-competitive

Preseason

Competitions Major League Soccer

Standings Western Conference

Overall

Results summary

Results by round

Match results

U.S. Open Cup

Season statistics Appearances, goals, assists, and cards {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+ ! rowspan="2" |No. ! rowspan="2" |Pos ! rowspan="2" |Nat ! rowspan="2" |Player ! colspan="5" |Total ! colspan="5" |MLS ! colspan="5" |Open Cup |- !!!!!!!style="width:10px;"|!!style="width:10px;"|!!!!!!!!style="width:10px;"|!!style="width:10px;"|!!!!!!!!style="width:10px;"|!!style="width:10px;"| |- |2||DF||||align=left|Daniel Steres||19||2||1||6||0||18||2||1||6||0||1||0||0||0||0 |- |3||DF||||align=left|Adam Lundqvist||31||0||5||5||1||31||0||5||5||1||0||0||0||0||0 |- |4||DF||||align=left|Zarek Valentin||7||0||0||0||0||5||0||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||0 |- |5||DF||||align=left|Tim Parker||29||0||0||5||0||28||0||0||5||0||1||0||0||0||0 |- |7||FW||||align=left|Thiago Fernandes||5||0||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||0 |- |8||MF||||align=left|Memo Rodríguez||33||0||3||6||0||30||0||3||6||0||3||0||0||0||0 |- |9||FW||||align=left|Sebastián Ferreira||32||14||3||2||0||31||13||3||2||0||1||1||0||0||0 |- |10||MF||||align=left|Fafà Picault||32||7||3||6||0||30||7||3||5||0||2||0||0||1||0 |- |11||FW||||align=left|Corey Baird||25||3||4||1||0||23||2||4||1||0||2||1||0||0||0 |- |12||FW||||align=left|Steve Clark||33||0||0||2||0||33||0||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |13||DF||||align=left|Ethan Bartlow||17||0||0||2||0||15||0||0||2||0||2||0||0||0||0 |- |16||MF||||align=left|Héctor Herrera||10||0||1||3||0||10||0||1||3||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |17||DF||||align=left|Teenage Hadebe||23||2||0||10||2||22||2||0||10||2||1||0||0||0||0 |- |17||FW||||align=left|Nico LemoineLoaned out during the seasonTransferred out during the season||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |19||FW||||align=left|Tyler PasherTransferred out during the season||20||2||1||0||0||17||2||1||0||0||3||0||0||0||0 |- |20||MF||||align=left|Adalberto Carrasquilla||33||2||4||8||1||32||2||4||8||1||1||0||0||0||0 |- |21||MF||||align=left|Derrick JonesTransferred out during the season||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |21||FW||||align=left|Nelson Quiñónes||8||0||0||0||0||8||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |22||MF||||align=left|Matías Vera||29||0||2||7||1||28||0||2||7||1||1||0||0||0||0 |- |23||FW||||align=left|Darwin Quintero||32||8||6||5||0||31||8||5||4||0||1||0||1||0||0 |- |24||MF||||align=left|Darwin Cerén||30||0||1||9||1||27||0||1||8||1||3||0||0||1||0 |- |25||MF||||align=left|Griffin Dorsey||29||1||3||8||0||27||1||3||7||0||2||0||0||1||0 |- |26||GK||||align=left|Michael Nelson||5||0||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||0 |- |27||MF||||align=left|Marcelo Palomino||4||0||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||0||2||0||0||0||0 |- |29||DF||||align=left|Sam Junqua||18||1||2||0||0||15||0||1||0||0||3||1||1||0||0 |- |30||MF||||align=left|Ian HoffmannLoaned out during the season||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |32||MF||||align=left|Juan Castilla||2||0||0||2||0||1||0||0||1||0||1||0||0||1||0 |- |33||FW||||align=left|Danny Ríos||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |34||FW||||align=left|Thorleifur Úlfarsson||33||4||1||3||0||31||4||1||3||0||2||0||0||0||0 |- |35||FW||||align=left|Brooklyn Raines||4||0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||3||0||0||0||0 |- |37||DF||||align=left|Zeca ||21||0||1||3||0||20||0||1||3||0||1||0||0||0||0 |- |38||GK||||align=left|Xavier Valdez||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||0 |- |45||FW||||align=left|Beto Avila||11||0||2||3||0||8||0||1||3||0||3||0||1||0||0 |- |57||DF||||align=left|MicaelShort term loan from Houston Dynamo 2||1||0||0||1||1||0||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0

Clean sheets {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |+ !!!!!Player!!width=60|MLS!!width=60|Open Cup!!width=60|Total |- |12||||Steve Clark||6||0 !6 |- |26||||Michael Nelson||0||1 !1 |- ! colspan="3" |Total!!6!!1!!7

Honors and awards

MLS Player of the Week WeekPlayerOpponentStatisticsRef.13 Sebastián FerreiraLA Galaxy1 goal and 2 assists

MLS Goal of the Week WeekPlayerOpponentDateRef.9 Sebastián FerreiraAustin FCApril 30

MLS Team of the Week