When Pat Noonan took the reins at FC Cincinnati in 2022, the team was a laughing stock. The club had finished dead last in the MLS table three years in a row. Many thought it was an impossible task.
Fast forward to 2023, and Noonan led Cincinnati to the Supporters’ Shield, finishing with the best record in the league. His success was no accident — drawing on his time as an assistant under Jim Curtin in Philadelphia, Noonan implemented a tactical system that emphasized transition play, sharp pressing, and trust in key players like Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vazquez.
Now in 2024, FC Cincinnati is considered an MLS juggernaut, making deep playoff runs and drawing sell-out crowds. While teams like LA Galaxy spend big on aging stars, Noonan has built a contender through strategy, smart scouting, and culture. His transformation of Cincinnati is one of the most remarkable coaching stories in MLS history.
