Eric Quill is stepping out as a head coach for the primary time in MLS and begins life at FC Dallas with a derby debut towards the Houston Dynamo on Saturday.
Quill formally took cost of the membership final November however will get his first style of MLS as he appears to begin on the entrance foot in a bid to enhance on final season’s Eleventh-place end.
Nevertheless, Quill will not be daunted by having to face their Texas rivals first up, insisting he wouldn’t need his MLS profession to begin some other approach.
“I don’t suppose the jitters are right here but,” stated Quill.
“I feel come Saturday, once we arrive on the stadium, that’s sometimes when issues will hit. However as soon as the whistle blows, it’s locked in and doing what I like to do probably the most.
“It’s a rivalry, let’s kick it. Let’s kick it off with a bang, man!”
Smiling our approach into the season.@WorldLinkUS | #DTID pic.twitter.com/tnDMb4F0gd
— FC Dallas (@FCDallas) February 21, 2025
In the meantime, Houston are coming off the again of a season during which they reached the playoffs, although they had been knocked out within the first spherical after shedding each video games towards the Seattle Sounders on penalties.
They completed fifth within the Western Convention final time period, and head coach Ben Olsen is set to hit the bottom operating to offer themselves a platform to do the identical as soon as extra in 2025.
“The primary sport of the season all the time brings a sure degree of stress and pleasure,” Olsen stated.
“The truth that it’s a rival sport towards a staff that has a brand new coach who’s nonetheless attempting to develop a brand new id will present a troublesome take a look at for the staff, however it’s one we’re wanting ahead to.
“No person’s good for the primary few months of the season, so the trick is to seize factors earlier than it’s well-oiled as a result of we’re all works in progress proper now.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Nico Lodeiro
Nico Lodeiro signed for Dallas earlier this week and provides an abundance of expertise to the facet, having beforehand made 225 regular-season appearances in addition to 31 within the postseason.
Throughout his time at Seattle Sounders and Orlando Metropolis, Lodeiro scored 50 objectives and registered 102 assists. In truth, he’s simply the fifth participant in MLS historical past to report six or extra seasons with a minimum of 10 assists.
The smile says all of it pic.twitter.com/ny3z9QJnuf
— Houston Dynamo FC (@HoustonDynamo) February 20, 2025
FC Dallas – Luciano Acosta
Luciano Acosta, acquired by Dallas from FC Cincinnati within the offseason, recorded 93 objective contributions during the last three seasons (41 objectives, 52 assists), greater than some other participant over a three-season span in MLS historical past (Sebastian Giovinco – 92 from 2015-17).
MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
This would be the second time in MLS historical past {that a} Texas Derby has been performed in a season opener. Dallas and Houston performed a 1-1 draw to open the 2010 season.
The Dynamo set a membership report with 54 factors final season, surpassing the earlier report of 53 set in 2012. Houston’s 15 wins final season equaled the membership report set of their MLS Cup-winning 2007 marketing campaign.
In the meantime, this might be simply the third time that Dallas begins a season on the street. Dallas opened the 2007 season with a 2-2 draw at Actual Salt Lake and commenced the 2017 marketing campaign with a 2-1 win on the LA Galaxy.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 58.5%
Draw – 21.6%
FC Dallas – 19.9%
