PHOENIX — Less than two months ago, Phoenix Rising FC celebrated the team's first-ever championship. Now, they are searching for a new head coach after Juan Guerra left for a job in Major League Soccer (MLS).
The club officially announced Guerra's departure on Monday, but news of the move first broke on January 4.
In a press release, Phoenix Rising did not officially say which club Guerra is leaving for, but multiple reports have said he will be taking a job with MLS side Houston Dynamo as an assistant coach.
Rising, who did not name an interim head coach, did say the MLS club met the terms of a buyout clause in Guerra's contract in order to make the move official.
"Juan Guerra will always be part of the Phoenix Rising family," Phoenix Rising President Bobby Dulle said. "In his short time as head coach, he helped the club achieve a goal it had been chasing for seven years. We are proud to have had him at the helm during our first championship season. We respect Juan’s decision to embark on a new opportunity and extend our best wishes for continued success to him and his family in their future endeavors."
Guerra became Phoenix Rising's head coach in August 2022, taking over after the departure of Rick Schantz. Guerra spent the 2021 season as an assistant coach with Rising before leaving to become the head coach of Oakland Roots SC.
Guerra led Rising to a 4-4-1 record in their final nine matches of the 2022 season.
In 2023, Guerra's lone full season as Rising's head coach, the club finished the regular season with a record of 12-10-12 and earned the No. 6 seed in the USL's Western Conference in the playoffs.
Rising then rattled off four straight road wins over San Diego Loyal SC, Orange County SC, Sacramento Republic FC and Charleston Battery to win the USL Championship.
"I want to express my gratitude for everyone that was part of what we were able to achieve," Guerra said. "I am so grateful for the opportunity I received to come back to Phoenix and win a championship together. Being able to unify the coaching staff, the players and the front office under one culture and one goal was remarkable to see. That is what I want people to remember about my time here."
Guerra is a native of Venezuela and played for his home country in qualifying matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He played professionally in South America, Europe and the United States from 2009-18.
Rising do not have long to find their new head coach as they open the preseason against Portland Timbers FC from MLS at Phoenix Rising Stadium on January 27. Rising will also face MLS side Minnesota United in an exhibition match as part of the Coachella Valley Invitational on February 10. They will wrap up the preseason with games against the USL's Las Vegas Lights (February 24) and LA Galaxy 2 (March 1).
Phoenix Rising will kick off the 2024 season at home on Saturday, March 9 against Birmingham Legion FC.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to five major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks and NHL's Arizona Coyotes.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale. The Coyotes play at Mullett Arena on ASU's Tempe campus.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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