After five years, Oscar Pareja may be departing the head coach's chair at FC Dallas for a move south of the border.
Ives Galarcep reported on Goal.com on Saturday that Pareja is set to be hired by Club Tijuana, with the Liga MX club expected to announce his appointment soon.
Pareja, 50, has been the most successful head coach in FC Dallas history, winning a Supporters' Shield-U.S. Open Cup double in 2016, and posting consecutive 60-point seasons in 2015 and 2016. A former academy director at the club as well as a former player, the Colombian international has been known for bringing Homegrown players through and giving youngsters first-team minutes. However, his FCD teams fell short in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, including a Knockout Round exit this year, losing as the higher seed, and a long slide during the 2017 season led to them missing the postseason altogether.
Pareja had been rumored to be on the US national team radar the past few years. Prior to becoming FC Dallas' head coach in 2014, he coached the Colorado Rapids for two seasons, helping a young group to the playoffs in his second season there. Dallas sent the Rapids a MLS SuperDraft pick and allocation money in exchange for his move to Texas.
Club Tijuana currently features former FC Dallas winger Fabian Castillo, as well as former MLS players Erick "Cubo" Torres and Miller Bolaños. They will finish the current 2018 Apertura season well out of the playoff places in Liga MX.
FC Dallas have not had many occupants of the head coach's spot in their history, with only six men serving as permanent managers: Dave Dir (1996-2000), Mike Jeffries (2001-2003), Colin Clarke (2003-2006), Steve Morrow (2006-2008), Schellas Hyndman (2008-2013) and Pareja (2014-present).
If Pareja were to depart, it would continue a trend of MLS coaches leaving for international jobs, joining Jesse Marsch leaving the New York Red Bulls midseason to become an assistant coach at German club RB Leipzig, NYCFC boss Patrick Vieira also departing midseason to become French club Nice's manager, and outgoing Atlanta United coach Gerardo "Tata" Martino rumored to be the next Mexico national team manager.
