.jpg) Estévez in charge ofValencia in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Nicolás Estévez Martínez | ||
| Date of birth | (1980-01-29)29 January 1980 (age 45) | ||
| Place of birth | Valencia, Spain | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Austin FC (head coach) | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| Years | Team | ||
| 2011–2013 | Huracán Valencia | ||
| 2013–2014 | Valencia B | ||
| 2013 | Valencia (caretaker) | ||
| 2022–2024 | FC Dallas | ||
| 2024– | Austin FC | ||
Nicolás "Nico"Estévez Martínez (born 29 January 1980) is a Spanishfootballmanager. He is the head coach ofAustin FC inMajor League Soccer.
Born inValencia, Estévez began his career with the youth categories of local side CF San José, at the age of just 19. In 2004, he was hired byValencia CF to work in their youth setup.[1]
In July 2011, Estévez was appointed manager of newly-created sideHuracán Valencia CF inSegunda División B. On 1 July 2013, after missing out promotion twice in the play-offs, he announced his departure from the club.[2]
On 4 July 2013, Estévez returned to Valencia after being named in charge ofthe reserves also in the third level.[3] On 16 December, he was named interim manager of Valencia's first team, afterMiroslav Đukić was dismissed.[4] He was in charge of the team for two matches, a 1–0Copa del Rey home win againstGimnàstic de Tarragona and a 2–3La Liga home loss againstReal Madrid;[5] at the age of 33, he became the second-youngest manager in the history of the club, only behindÓscar Fernández, also an interim.[6]
Shortly after, Estévez returned to his previous role with Mestalla after the appointment ofJuan Antonio Pizzi. He was sacked by Mestalla on 7 April 2014, after nine winless matches, and was replaced byCurro Torres.[7]
In September 2014, Estévez moved abroad and joined American sideColumbus Crew SC, as a Director of Methodology.[8] On 6 January 2017, he was promoted to assistant coach ofGregg Berhalter in Crew SC's first team.[9] On 16 January 2019, he followed Berhalter to theUnited States men's soccer team, again as his assistant.[10]
On 2 December 2021, Estévez was announced as the new head coach ofMajor League Soccer sideFC Dallas.[11] Inhis first season in charge of the side, he qualified them for the playoffs, finishing third on theWestern Conference with 53 points, 20 more than last year; it was the biggest year-over-year improvement in the club's history.[12]
On 9 June 2024, Estévez was relieved of his duties as FC Dallas head coach after a 3–8–5 start to the season.[13]
On 25 October 2024, Estévez was hired by Dallas' rivalsAustin FC as their new head coach for the upcoming season.[14]
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Huracán Valencia |  | 1 July 2011 | 1 July 2013 | 88 | 41 | 34 | 13 | 109 | 62 | +47 | 046.59 | [15] |
| Valencia B | | 4 July 2013 | 7 April 2014 | 32 | 8 | 6 | 18 | 28 | 44 | −16 | 025.00 | [16] |
| Valencia (interim) | | 16 December 2013 | 26 December 2013 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | +0 | 050.00 | [17] |
| FC Dallas |  | 2 December 2021 | 9 June 2024 | 97 | 35 | 32 | 30 | 132 | 120 | +12 | 036.08 | [18] |
| Austin FC | | 25 October 2024 | present | 41 | 16 | 9 | 16 | 50 | 59 | −9 | 039.02 | |
| Career total | 260 | 101 | 81 | 78 | 322 | 288 | +34 | 038.85 | — | |||