Todd Dunivant Named New York City FC Sporting Director

[JayH]

The acquisition numbers are an imperfect measure without context. Context:

1. NYCFC does not have a first choice striker right now.
2. Compared to other East Conference Playoff teams NYCFC had the worst scoring depth in 2025. It was not even close. We've so far done nothing to fix that except return a loanee who scored 4 goals in all competitions in his 2 years away.
3. Among our full healthy roster in their entire careers there is just one year of double digit scoring which is 2025 Wolf with 11. His career average before 2025 was 5.
4. In Doyle's analyses (East and West) of premium roster slots for every MLS team he identifies only one team for whom "striker" or "center forward" is a prime position of need and that's NYCFC.
5. As of mid-September NYCFC had the fifth most GAM in the league.

We tried going with no striker in 2023 and it sucked. Entering camp without one again in 2025 is already a failure, albeit one that can be fixed. If the team starts the season without one it's a major failure. If they still don't have one by the end of the window it's an insult to fans and an absolute roster fuck up. If they do acquire a solid striker in time, management will have met the bare minimum for this offseason. It's no excuse that they didn't know Martinez would get hurt and they need time to react. At this time 2025 NYCFC had 3 strikers. We got rid of two of them 11 and 5 months ago and replaced neither. These were choices.

Nico has never scored more than 6 goals in a season in his professional career. Nevertheless, based on his play in the final quarter of 2025 I'm hopetimistic he can be a double digit scorer in MLS for NYCFC. But even if that works and even if Wolf proves 2025 was not an upper bound outlier, this roster is treading water on offense with Martinez out.

The last time NYCFC had an offense that scored in the top third of the league was 2022. Last year NYCFC ranked 16th in goals scored, literally the best of the bottom half. In 2024 NYC ranked 14th and in 2023 27th. The team is completely reliant on its defense and goalkeeping for every point. Management made a big push to address this for 2024. It only managed to push the offense from third worst in the league to mediocre. They are starting Year 4 of this rebuild with a weaker offensive roster than 2025 Decision Day. Camp is not over. First game of 2026 is in 32 days. The 2026 transfer window dates have not been announced, because MLS, but the winter window probably closes in 7 to 10 weeks.

Tick tock.

Well said. There is a reason every one of our coaches quickly became disenchanted once they realized roster construction is not a priority or even a consideration for this club. Marketing the Etihad is the reason we exist. We get to watch soccer in our home city, and often it’s above average, and now we will have a cool stadium, so we are forced to settle for the pretty ok but could be better upside to that.

 

[LionNYC]

We're riding into the 2026 season with the same squad that got whooped 5-1 to Miami and the only player that scored our goal is on the other side of the country.

Marketing Abu Dhabi is the reason we exist.

Fixed it.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Standing still is falling behind.

Nice aphorism, but I'm talking about actual decisions. Doing something just for the sake of doing something can be much worse than doing nothing at all.

We tried going with no striker in 2023 and it sucked. Entering camp without one again in 2025 is already a failure, albeit one that can be fixed. If the team starts the season without one it's a major failure. If they still don't have one by the end of the window it's an insult to fans and an absolute roster fuck up.

I know I've said this a billion times, but it bears repeating: We are not an independent team in association football. We can't identify a roster need and go to Sheikh Mansour and ask him to rattle his piggy bank and then just go out and make the deal. We can't simply call an agent and say, "Hey, we really like your guy, let's talk transfer fee and contract" and pull some strings.

We're operating in a much more restricted space than that, where the opportunity to make the deal has to exist along with the need.

That doesn't mean we can't make any deals, of course. For instance, Vancouver had the roster space to snag Thomas Müller and did it. Same with LAFC and Son.

But did we have the same roster slots and the same opportunities? Or did our current payroll structure prevent us from being in that game? (I'm leaving Inter Miami out because they get to operate under their own set of rules, by the way. )

One can argue we should have had the same opportunities, but that's hindsight. And in our current situation, we clearly need a striker, but it's someone who has to fit. We can't just pick who we want and write a check. If we could, Dušan Vlahović would probably be on a plane to Tampa right now.

 

[mgarbowski]

Nice aphorism, but I'm talking about actual decisions. Doing something just for the sake of doing something can be much worse than doing nothing at all.

I know I've said this a billion times, but it bears repeating: We are not an independent team in association football. We can't identify a roster need and go to Sheikh Mansour and ask him to rattle his piggy bank and then just go out and make the deal. We can't simply call an agent and say, "Hey, we really like your guy, let's talk transfer fee and contract" and pull some strings.

We're operating in a much more restricted space than that, where the opportunity to make the deal has to exist along with the need.

That doesn't mean we can't make any deals, of course. For instance, Vancouver had the roster space to snag Thomas Müller and did it. Same with LAFC and Son.

But did we have the same roster slots and the same opportunities? Or did our current payroll structure prevent us from being in that game? (I'm leaving Inter Miami out because they get to operate under their own set of rules, by the way. )

One can argue we should have had the same opportunities, but that's hindsight. And in our current situation, we clearly need a striker, but it's someone who has to fit. We can't just pick who we want and write a check. If we could, Dušan Vlahović would probably be on a plane to Tampa right now.

Like I said. The season starts February 22, now a bit less than 32 days away. That's the job. Do it or don't. Get it done or it's just excuses.
Unless he thinks Reid is ready, we don't have any strikers. We have $5+M GAM. Get something done at least for a backup/fill-in. As an organization, they have proven in the last 3-4 years that they can sign striker busts in both the winter and summer windows, and there's no evidence they do better when they wait.

I don't have a prediction btw. Maybe he gets it done, maybe not. I sensed the slightest sense of urgency from the interview, but cannot get a read of whether he truly thinks it's a priority.

 

[mgarbowski]

I haven't seen opinions on the interview. I wasn't impressed. I got what expected in terms of substance which was close to nothing. That was fine because that's just how such things are. My sense of Dunivant is CFG maybe got their true company guy as Sporting Director for the first time. Reyna was his own man and I believe Lee kind of straddled the line, and maybe grew into independence.

FWIW my categorization of NYCFC coaches/execs on this axis is

Company Men:
Kreis, Deila, Cushing, Sims, Lee at first (lean)
Independent Minds:
Vieira, Torrent, Patricof, Reyna, Lee at the end (lean)
TBD
Jansen, Dunivant (but probably Company)

A company man can be a decent guy and be good at his job. Organizations will need a different mix at different times. But CFG's DNA is hardwired to want company men, and I think that's stifling and holds the team back, especially if all 3 top positions are filled by company men.

It's early, Dunivant can surprise me, and I can hope.

 

[KevinJRogers]

Like I said. The season starts February 22, now a bit less than 32 days away. That's the job. Do it or don't. Get it done or it's just excuses.
Unless he thinks Reid is ready, we don't have any strikers. We have $5+M GAM. Get something done at least for a backup/fill-in. As an organization, they have proven in the last 3-4 years that they can sign striker busts in both the winter and summer windows, and there's no evidence they do better when they wait.

I don't have a prediction btw. Maybe he gets it done, maybe not. I sensed the slightest sense of urgency from the interview, but cannot get a read of whether he truly thinks it's a priority.

Hard disagree. I don't know about you, but I don't have the scouting reports on my desk Todd Dunivant has. I have no idea who's available and at what prices.

So, we all know the need — but we don't know the opportunity.

I was really glad to hear Dunivant grasps that distinction. He may have been a USL executive, but he was an MLS player, and he gets it.

And I'm sure, if he gets the opportunity, he's going to fill the need. If he doesn't fill the need, it's because he didn't get the opportunity.

 

[ZYanksRule]

NY Post has an exclusive with Todd. This section really jumped out at me as answering a few longstanding questions we've had about how the team operates.

Dunivant, who took over as sporting director earlier this month, said that NYCFC acts “autonomously” from City Football Group, the conglomerate that owns the team as well as a number of clubs across the globe, including Premier League side Manchester City.

CFG does set the team’s budget and there are approvals needed on player moves.

Exclusive | New NYCFC sporting director tells The Post how he’ll use club’s ‘resources’ to land stars

When it comes to building out the roster, New York City FC’s newly appointed sporting director Todd Dunivant said the club has the resources to make a big splash, but the question of when to do tha…

nypost.com

 

[LionNYC]

NY Post has an exclusive with Todd. This section really jumped out at me as answering a few longstanding questions we've had about how the team operates.

Exclusive | New NYCFC sporting director tells The Post how he’ll use club’s ‘resources’ to land stars

When it comes to building out the roster, New York City FC’s newly appointed sporting director Todd Dunivant said the club has the resources to make a big splash, but the question of when to do tha…

nypost.com

That article alone puts real doubt in my mind that his guy will be a successful sporting director at NYCFC. He said an absolute falsehood during this first press availability. We can't be autonomous if CFG sets the budget and approves players moves.

 

[gbservis]

That article alone puts real doubt in my mind that his guy will be a successful sporting director at NYCFC. He said an absolute falsehood during this first press availability. We can't be autonomous if CFG sets the budget and approves players moves.

I was thinking the same thing. I think the budget makes sense; any parent org will always set the budget for subsidiaries. Approving player moves, though, that's the opposite of autonomous.

 

[Gene]

That article alone puts real doubt in my mind that his guy will be a successful sporting director at NYCFC. He said an absolute falsehood during this first press availability. We can't be autonomous if CFG sets the budget and approves players moves.

That' was my take, too.

 

[EganSoccerWords]

Assuming what Todd meant in the best light that the club is not telling him who to sign but is greenlighting moves. I imagine this is SOP at most professional sports teams for ownership to be somewhat involved in greenlighting major personnel moves especially for big money.

Does give an interesting opportunity to ask Brad who is involved in this case.

 

[413Blue]

We are autonomous from CFG except for any decisions.

 

[gbservis]

Assuming what Todd meant in the best light that the club is not telling him who to sign but is greenlighting moves. I imagine this is SOP at most professional sports teams for ownership to be somewhat involved in greenlighting major personnel moves especially for big money.

Does give an interesting opportunity to ask Brad who is involved in this case.

It’s an interesting point. The question is: who at CFG actually signs off on these moves, and how many NYCFC or MLS games are they realistically watching? Sign-off is also a broad term. There is a massive spectrum between 'find your target and we’ll review it' versus 'you can only sign players from this specific scouting list or that meet this set of criteria.' Based on David Lee’s post-departure comments, it sounds much more like the latter.

We are autonomous from CFG except for any decisions.

CFG picks Sims, Pascal, Dunivant, and signs of on all player moves but they totally let the team choose what time the team practices and what food they serve at the practice facility so its pretty much complete autonomy.

 

[SoupInNYC]

I haven't seen opinions on the interview. I wasn't impressed. I got what expected in terms of substance which was close to nothing. That was fine because that's just how such things are. My sense of Dunivant is CFG maybe got their true company guy as Sporting Director for the first time. Reyna was his own man and I believe Lee kind of straddled the line, and maybe grew into independence.

FWIW my categorization of NYCFC coaches/execs on this axis is

Company Men:
Kreis, Deila, Cushing, Sims, Lee at first (lean)
Independent Minds:
Vieira, Torrent, Patricof, Reyna, Lee at the end (lean)
TBD
Jansen, Dunivant (but probably Company)

A company man can be a decent guy and be good at his job. Organizations will need a different mix at different times. But CFG's DNA is hardwired to want company men, and I think that's stifling and holds the team back, especially if all 3 top positions are filled by company men.

It's early, Dunivant can surprise me, and I can hope.

I agree with most of this list but take a hard exception with Deila. He was not a company man and it nearly cost him his job.

 

[gbservis]

I agree with most of this list but take a hard exception with Deila. He was not a company man and it nearly cost him his job.

Interesting, I thought Ronny left because he got the opportunity to coach Standard Liège, is there more to the story? Was he already being pushed out?

 

[LionNYC]

I agree with most of this list but take a hard exception with Deila. He was not a company man and it nearly cost him his job.

He called out that the roster was not good enough initially, that's not along the company man line.

 

[mgarbowski]

I agree with most of this list but take a hard exception with Deila. He was not a company man and it nearly cost him his job.

I could very well be off there. Honestly the whole list could be off - this is vibes and personal judgment viewed from outside. Now that you mention it I vaguely remember what you reference, but no details.

My thought was based on him being sort of rescued by CFG from a disappointing run in his previous job, during which it was reported he worked closely with CFG developing their players on loan and such. But I can see flipping to the independent category.

And to be clear, a company many can be a good creative solid coach. He did win MLS Cup.

He called out that the roster was not good enough initially, that's not along the company man line.

OTOH I don't think he complained about losing RIng for cap cost reasons and other departures after 2020.

But I'm not arguing. I think you and Chris convinced me. But what I just mentioned went into my original thinking.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Interesting, I thought Ronny left because he got the opportunity to coach Standard Liège, is there more to the story? Was he already being pushed out?

No, I don't think he was pushed out. I haven't heard anything along those lines.

Have just heard that he was not necessarily someone who saw eye to eye with CFG or did things the CFG way and it was likely that if he were not to win MLS Cup in 2021, that he would have been out the door.

 

[mgarbowski]

No, I don't think he was pushed out. I haven't heard anything along those lines.

Have just heard that he was not necessarily someone who saw eye to eye with CFG or did things the CFG way and it was likely that if he were not to win MLS Cup in 2021, that he would have been out the door.

Memory is fickle. I thought he almost got fired just because of the 10 points in 12 games streak in the back half of 2021, which was partly due to Taty going into a slump and nobody else picking him up. We scored 11 goals in 12 games with 5 shutouts and there was little Ronny could have done about it IMO.
That doesn't mean management couldn't disagree with me and be stupid.

 

[SoupInNYC]

Memory is fickle. I thought he almost got fired just because of the 10 points in 12 games streak in the back half of 2021

That definitely could have been part of it.

All I'm saying is that what I heard is that he wasn't a CFG guy and had he not won the Cup that year, he likely would have been fired.

That particular poor streak likely also played a large factor, I just didn't explicitly hear that (nor did I hear that it didn't play a part, it just wasn't discussed at all)