Football Season Guide

New York Red Bulls made the play-offs for a record 15th consecutive year in 2024, but surprised many by reaching the MLS Cup final for only the second time in their history. The team started superbly under new coach Sandro Schwarz and were around the top end of the Eastern Conference for much of the first half of the campaign, before their form dipped dramatically towards the end of the Regular Season. The Red Bulls had enough early money in the bank to limp into the play-offs in 7th place and a tactical switch from Schwarz brought about a transformation. The German coach had persisted with the traditional Red Bulls’ 4-2-2-2 system for much of the season, but reverting to a 3-4-1-2 made his side much more difficult to play against. It also freed up star man Emil Forsberg in the Number 10 role behind the strikers and a lot of NYRB’s success was dependent on his availability. It was no coincidence that the Swede was missing for much of the team’s barren run and form improved drastically when he returned. Keeping him fit in 2025 will be imperative. The Red Bulls defied the odds and the formbook to beat 2023 MLS champions Columbus, bitter rivals New York City and Orlando to contest MLS Cup, but ultimately fell short against much-fancied LA Galaxy in the final. The off-season has seen the departure of homegrown talent and key man John Tolkin, as well as Dante Vanzeir who never consistently hit the heights as a Designated Player. The most high-profile arrival is striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who has played for some of the biggest clubs in Europe. MLS stalwarts like Raheem Edwards (likely to be Tolkin’s replacement at left-back) and Tim Parker arrive with plenty of experience at this level, whilst defender Alexander Hack and Wiktor Bogacz are lesser-known quantities. NYRB have the squad and the manager to go far again in 2025, but they’ll have to deal with a greater weight of expectation after last season’s strong finish.