Reports: Hernan Losada to become next D.C. United coach

A report from Belgium has said that Hernan Losada is set to become the next head coach of D.C. United. Losada notified the board of Beerschot (the Belgium club where he coaches) of his decision after Sunday’s game.

Losada’s name was first mentioned by Steven Goff of the Washington Post late last week, who later received confirmation from sources in America that a deal was being finished (reported to be three years in Belgian media). The 38-year-old Argentine (who reportedly was the subject of interest from Ligue 1 side Nice) would be the youngest current coach in MLS, an accomplishment D.C. United has made once before when they made Ben Olsen, just 33 at the time, a permanent coach following his interim stint in 2010.

Losada was born in Buenos Aires and played with Independiente and Universidad de Chile briefly before moving to Belgium to play with Beerschot A.C. (unrelated to K. Beerschot AC, the club he is leaving to join the Black-and-Red) at 24. He played for several Belgian clubs, even returning to Beerschot A.C. where current D.C. defender Frederic Brillant was a teammate, before becoming an assistant at Beerschot at the end of the 2017-18 season, and became head coach over the summer. Then in the second division, Beerschot secured promotion at the end of the 2019-20 season. De Mannekes are currently tenth in the 18-team Belgium First Division.

At the moment, terms of Losada’s departure remain unclear. His contract with Beerschot does not expire for two more seasons, so a buyout would appear to be necessary (there is a report that Losada would like to take two assistants with him), among several other moving parts for the Black-and-Red to make this work.

Update: Beerschot has announced Losada’s departure and journey to D.C. via their twitter:

More on this news as it develops.