Minnesota United’s Season Comes to a Close: What’s Next?
The look on Michael Boxall’s face spoke volumes. After San Diego FC ended Minnesota United’s season with a 1-0 result in a Western Conference semifinal at Snapdragon Stadium, the Loons captain sat in front of a camera for a video conference call late Monday night. His expression said it all: anguish.
As the team’s captain, Boxall’s emotions were palpable, and his words reflected the sense of disappointment and frustration that comes with a season-ending loss. “As soon as the final whistle went, it was all pretty somber,” Boxall said. “Grateful for what we do and really appreciate all the traveling fans that showed up (Monday). That’s always huge.”
A Season of Ups and Downs
The Loons amassed a club-record 58 points in 34 regular-season games to finish fourth in the 15-team Western Conference — an even bigger achievement considering the club’s salary budget was 13th. MNUFC beat Seattle Sounders, a MLS gold standard, in a first-round series and reached the conference semis for a second straight year. Again, they hit their heads on that ceiling.
Seeking the first trophy in the club’s nine-year MLS history, United finished three games shy of winning the MLS Cup, and two games from hoisting U.S. Open Cup in September. Head coach Eric Ramsay reflected on the season, saying, “I think there’s that sense of real frustration, a sense of realism, I suppose, with where we’re at and how that game reflects the entirety of the year. But then also some real pride. And we’re certainly leaving here feeling like we’ve taken some big steps forward over the course of this year, really moved the club forward.”
What Might Have Been
Minnesota sold its leading scorer, striker Tani Oluwaseyi, in August for upwards of $9 million to Villarreal — a club-record transfer fee to allow the Canadian to follow his dream of playing in a top European league. Ramsay said that changed the trajectory of the season. And he acknowledged Monday, “We haven’t been the same threat.”
The Loons also faced challenges with injuries, including Kelvin Yeboah’s hamstring pull, which kept him out for several weeks. To aid the attack, the Loons paid a $2 million transfer fee to Austria Wien for midfielder Dominik Fitz at the close of the summer transfer window. However, he didn’t make an impact in the playoffs.
Uncertain Futures
Now that the season is over, the biggest questions pertain to the futures of a few key pieces in Minnesota. Ramsay, in a move from the U.K. in 2024, became the youngest coach in MLS at age 32. In two seasons, he has produced outsized success with a low-spending club. He has previously received interest from England looking for head coaches, and those inquiries will likely rekindle this winter.
Three veteran players have uncertain futures: goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair and midfielders Robin Lod and Hassani Dotson. St. Clair and Dotson are pending free agents, while Lod has a contract option that has not been picked up. The Loons in September led MLS with more General Allocation Money (GAM) than any other club ($4.9 million), which should help them reinvest in the roster.
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