After an incredible inaugural season, MLS NEXT Pro is back and gearing up for its second campaign.
With seven new teams joining the league in 2023 and significant changes to the playoff format, fans can expect this season to have plenty of drama, thrilling moments, and exciting storylines.
Let's look at how each team in the Eastern Conference's Central Division is shaping up and what coaches and players will look to make history when they try to lay claim to the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro Cup.
Head Coach: Ludovic Talliander
Venue: SeatGeek Stadium
Record last year: Eighth in Eastern Conference, 8W-11L-5T (31 Points, 2 SOW, 2 SOL)
Notable Offseason News: Glasgow’s return provides go-to scorer for 2023
Chicago Fire FC II saw several players deliver goals when needed in 2022 and Omari Glasgow’s return to the squad should give Ludovic Talliander a key goalscoring source for 2023.
Glasgow, 19, is currently with Guyana’s senior national team ahead of its final two Concacaf Nations League group stage matches. The promising forward recorded five goals and four assists in his first professional season in 2022 and will be fighting to be the go-to guy for Chicago Fire FC II this season.
Glasgow’s versatility and creativity could also see him used in a wide range of roles, opening the door for several others to contribute in the race for an Eastern Conference playoff spot.
Head Coach: Laurent Courtois
Venue: Historic Crew Stadium
Record last year: First in Eastern Conference, 16W-3L-5T (55 Points, 2 SOW, 3 SOL)
Notable Offseason News: Rayo joins from RNY FC, could fill the Russell-Rowe void
Jacen Russell-Rowe will be a major loss to the Crew 2 roster in 2023, but the addition of Gibran Rayo this winter could prove to be one of the biggest signings this offseason.
Rayo scored 13 goals in 23 regular-season appearances for RNY FC, propelling the Eastern Conference club into the final MLS NEXT Pro playoff spot last fall. A former USL standout with North Texas SC, Rayo will now join an already-talented Crew 2 roster in hopes of being the new standout star for Courtois.
The returns of several key depth players including Noah Fuson and Marco Micaletto are also important after both played important roles down the stretch of the title-winning campaign in 2022.
Head Coach: Tyrone Marshall
Venue: Scudamore Field at Northern Kentucky University
Record last year: 10th in Eastern Conference, 4W-17L-3T (17 Points, 2 SOW, 1 SOL)
Notable Offseason News: Plenty of 2022 leaders return for new campaign
FC Cincinnati 2 did bring in several new faces to its roster this winter, but the focus will likely be on the continued development of last season’s leading players. Arquimides Ordoñez and Jesús Castellano have been two of the bright talents during preseason camp and both will be expected to lead by example in Tyrone Marshall’s squad.
Ordonez, 19, has already made his international debut with the Guatemalan national team after excelling at the Concacaf U-20 Championship last summer. The attacking player has five goals in six U-20 caps and netted four goals in 13 FCC2 appearances last season should he be primarily deployed in MLS NEXT Pro.
With FCC2 needing everyone to be ready to hit the ground running, Ordonez might be tasked for a larger role as the club seeks immediate leadership starting on opening weekend.
Head Coach: Federico Higuain
Venue: DRV PNK Stadium
Record last year: Sixth in Eastern Conference, 10W-9L-5T (36 Points, 1 SOW, 2 SOL)
Notable Offseason News: Higuain’s arrival as head coach, Hall set for larger club role
Not many MLS NEXT Pro players can say they are learning from one of the prominent figures of MLS history, but Inter Miami II’s squad can happily say that in 2023. Federico Higuain takes over for Darren Powell this year following Powell’s promotion to a first team assistant under Phil Neville.
Higuain enjoyed a lengthy pro career, tallying over 400 appearances and over 170 combined goals and assists. His final stop as a player came at Inter Miami before he joined the Herons as an assistant coach with Inter Miami II. Now he will continue his coaching career with plenty of top, young talent under his wing.
Some of those top talents are U.S. youth national team players; Tyler Hall, Santiago Morales, and David Ruiz. Hall, Moralez, and Ruiz are all currently in USYNT camps this March as they not only prepare for their MLS NEXT Pro seasons, but also continue their rapid developments on the international level.
All three players have promising futures within the Inter Miami fold and will be pushing to be the new leaders of 2023 following several departures to the first team.
Head Coach: Martin Perelman
Venue: Osceola County Stadium
Record last year: Ninth in Eastern Conference, 6W-13L-5T (25 Points, 2 SOW, 3 SOL)
Notable Offseason News: 10 New Prospects joins Perelman’s squad
Javier Otero and Moises Tabalante return as key leaders for Orlando City B in 2023, but the arrivals of 10 new players will also be key on whether or not they can make the postseason this year.
Midfield signings Juninho from Brazilian side Vasco da Gama and Franco Pérez from Rentistas will be two key players to watch. The 22-year-old Juninho appeared 70 times across all competitions for Vasco da Gama, scoring one goal and adding an assist in that span. Pérez tallied 94 appearances in all competitions for Rentistas, scoring six goals and recording six assists.
If Juninho and Perez can gel with Tabalante in the final third, Orlando City B could make up for the loss of last season’s leading goalscorer, Jack Lynn. MLS NEXT All-Star Alejandro Granados will also be a player to keep an eye on after excelling for the Lions’ academy in 2022.
Head Coach: Steve Cooke
Venue: Fifth Third Bank Stadium
Record last year: N/A
Notable Offseason News: New coach, three first-team loanees
Steve Cooke became Atlanta United 2’s first MLS NEXT Pro head coach in February, bringing more than 30 years of coaching experience to the Eastern Conference club. Cooke was most recently Academy Director for the Seattle Sounders, which has led to the growth of several top, young MLS talents.
Forward Erik Centeno, goalkeeper Justin Garces and defender Efrain Morales have all been loaned to ATL UTD 2 for the upcoming season. All three players featured heavily during the 2022 USL Championship campaign, with Morales earning several youth national team call-ups with Bolivia. All three of them are promising talents within Atlanta’s program and will be pushing to become key leaders in ATL UTD 2’s 2023 campaign.
Head Coach: Jack Collison
Venue: Joe Davis Stadium
Record last year: N/A
Notable Offseason News: Former Premier League veteran Collison becomes club’s first head coach, Canadian prospect Johnston brings excitement as first player signing
Jack Collison was hired as Huntsville City FC’s first MLS NEXT Pro head coach after previously serving in numerous roles abroad and within the United States. Collison, a former midfielder with West Ham United and Bournemouth in the English Premier League, joins Huntsville City FC after two seasons at the helm of Atlanta United FC 2. He also served as an academy coach with West Ham United and Portsmouth, bringing ample experience to his new role in MLS NEXT Pro.
Isaiah Johnston hasn’t kicked a ball yet for Huntsville City FC, but brings plenty of excitement to the roster. The 20-year-old comes to MLS NEXT Pro after spending the past three seasons playing for his hometown club York United FC in the Canadian Premier League. Johnston, a versatile and creative midfielder, logged 53 appearances in the CPL and was one of the league’s Next Gen stars in 2021.
Although Huntsville City FC has made 10 player signings since Johnston’s arrival, he certainly will be one to watch in 2023.
