CF Montréal Part Ways With Head Coach Marco Donadel After Rough Start to 2026 Season

CF Montréal has parted ways with head coach Marco Donadel, the club announced Sunday morning. The decision comes just seven matches into the 2026 campaign, leaving the Canadian side in a precarious position as they struggle to find their footing in the Eastern Conference.

Philippe Eullaffroy will step in as interim head coach until the organization secures a permanent replacement. The shake-up extends beyond the head coaching role; assistant coaches Jacopo Falanga and Lorenzo Pinzauti are also no longer with the organization.

The Breaking Point: A Difficult Return Home

The dismissal follows a disappointing 2-1 defeat to the Philadelphia Union on Saturday. The match was particularly stinging as it marked Montréal’s first home game of the season after beginning the year with a grueling six-game road trip. Losing the home opener to a team currently sitting at the bottom of the standings served as the final straw for the club’s leadership.

The numbers paint a bleak picture of the start of the 2026 season. Under Donadel, CF Montréal has managed only one victory in seven outings (1W-6L-0D), earning a mere three points. This slump has plummeted the team to 14th place in the Eastern Conference.

For a club that sought a “novel chapter based on ambition and pride” in an open letter to fans back in June 2025, the current reality is a far cry from those promises.

A Tenure of Transition

Marco Donadel’s path to the head coaching role was a gradual ascent. An Italian national and former midfielder for the club, Donadel first stepped into the managerial spotlight in March 2025. He was named interim manager after the club parted ways with Laurent Courtois.

Donadel remained in the interim post for the rest of the 2025 season, eventually earning the full-time position in late October. But, the transition to permanent leadership did not yield the desired results. In 2025, Montréal finished 13th in the Eastern Conference with 28 points, missing the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

Across all competitions, Donadel departs with a record of 9 wins, 23 losses and 10 draws. Even as his history as a player with the club provided a natural connection to the organization, his managerial record struggled to translate that legacy into on-field success.

Records indicate that CF Montréal has now moved through three head coaches in just two and a half years. The cycle began with the departure of Hernán Losada after the 2023 campaign, followed by the dismissals of Courtois and now Donadel in consecutive seasons.

Tactical Stakes and Key Personnel

The mid-season coaching change puts immense pressure on the squad to stabilize before the 2026 FIFA World Cup pause. Eullaffroy inherits a roster with significant talent that has yet to coalesce into a winning formula.

The interim coach will require to maximize the output of several key players to avoid a total collapse:

• Prince Owusu: The striker remains the primary focal point for the attack.
• Iván Jaime: The midfielder is tasked with creating the transition from defense to offense.
• Efraín Morales: The center back must lead a defensive unit that has struggled for consistency.
• Thomas Gillier: The goalkeeper faces the challenge of organizing a backline under new leadership.

To put this in perspective for the global viewer, the Eastern Conference is one of the most competitive regions in Major League Soccer. Dropping to 14th place early in the season creates a steep climb if the club hopes to return to playoff contention.

What Lies Ahead

CF Montréal does not have much time to calibrate. The team hosts five of its remaining seven MLS games before the World Cup break, providing a crucial opportunity to build momentum at home.

The first test for Philippe Eullaffroy comes on April 18, when Montréal hosts Red Bull New York. The match is scheduled for 2:30 pm ET and will be broadcast on Apple TV.

The organization now faces the dual challenge of managing an interim transition while scouting for a permanent hire who can break the cycle of coaching instability that has plagued the club since 2023.

Summary of Marco Donadel’s Coaching Record

The club’s next official update regarding a permanent coaching search is expected following the initial games under Eullaffroy. For now, all eyes are on April 18 to see if a change in leadership can spark an immediate turnaround.

Do you believe a coaching change is enough to save Montréal’s season, or is the issue deeper within the roster? Let us know in the comments.