The search for the next New York City FC Head Coach might be nearing its conclusion, as reports out of Hungary strongly link Pascal Jansen of Ferencváros to the role.
Since Nick Cushing was dismissed on November 26, there's been little in the way of chatter as to who will become NYCFC's next manager.
That changed on the final morning of 2024 when Ferencváros confirmed that Jansen's contract had been bought out by "a group that owns one of the world's leading football clubs," and he'd left the Hungarian club for a move overseas.
Confirmation of Jansen's departure from Ferencváros led to a wave of reports from the Hungarian press indicating that City Football Group was behind the contract buyout, and New York City FC was Jansen's next destination.
Both Nemzeti Sport and Csakfoci.hu reported that their sources confirmed Jansen was headed to New York City, though Hudson River Blue has not been able to confirm or deny the veracity of these reports – we will update this post whenever that's possible.
Jansen only joined Ferencváros on June 13, but prior to that appointment, he enjoyed a number of strong seasons while leading AZ Alkmaar in the Dutch Eredivisie.
Hudson River Blue Staff
Jansen actually replaced Arne Slot as AZ Alkmaar manager — Slot currently leads the Premier League in his first season replacing Jurgen Klopp as the man in charge of Liverpool FC.
Jansen first served as Slot’s assistant coach during the 2019-2020 season but replaced him when Slot was hired away by Feyenoord.
He managed 162 matches for AZ Alkmaar following Slot’s departure, leading the club to the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa Conference League in the 2022-2023 season (they lost to eventual tournament champions West Ham United FC). With AZ, Jansen claimed 1.93 points per match, a record of 96 W-24 D-42 L across all competitions.
Oliver Strand
He was an in-demand manager following his departure from AZ on January 17, 2024. Jansen was heavily rumored to be the next manager of Sunderland AFC in the English Championship, but that move never came together.
Jansen instead joined Ferencváros in June, remaining in charge for 30 matches.
In terms of biography, Jansen is 51 years old and is a dual national of the Netherlands and England. His mother was a 1970s Dutch pop singer, one half of the duo Spooky & Sue. He was born in London but raised in the Netherlands, where he got the bulk of his high-level coaching experience.
Jansen spent years with PSV Eindhoven prior to joining AZ, coaching in their youth and academy ranks from 2013 to 2017.
He’s steeped in the Dutch game. In an interview with The Guardian, Jansen described his team’s playing style as follows: “If you’re educated from the Dutch point of view you have a very offensive way of thinking. We were inspired by Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff. It’s having the ball and being creative, but also not being naive by only playing attack and forgetting what it’s like to be out of possession. I strongly believe if you want to attack as much as we do you have to be better in defending than anybody could imagine.”
If reports are true, New York City FC will have spent a not-insignificant sum of money to free Jansen from his contract with Ferencvàros and make him the sixth Head Coach in the club’s history. He would bring with him lots of experience in Europe and an impressive pedigree, and will be tasked with taking a young but promising NYCFC squad to the next level.
(Update 12/31 2:00 PM ET) Fabrizio Romano confirms that Pascal Jansen is heading to New York City FC.
The transfer guru reports that documents are being finalized and Jansen will be signing a four-year contract to take over NYCFC after his contract with Ferencvàros was bought out.
🚨🇺🇸 Pascal Jansen leaves Ferencvaros to sign in as New York City FC head coach in MLS, agreement done.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 31, 2024
Documents are being signed. 🔐 pic.twitter.com/wvfzLr0BWp
🇺🇸 Pascal Jansen’s contract at New York City FC will be valid for the next four years.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 31, 2024
His flight to the US is being planned for the next days. ✈️ pic.twitter.com/7p5F6GZtRY
