The 2021 offseason was one of significant change for the Houston Dynamo. From a change in coaching staff to a new Designated Player forward and a gold medalist defender, there are many new faces that the fans will soon become familiar with.
One of the most significant new voices in the organization, and one that fans might not be as familiar with, is Technical Director Asher Mendelsohn. Mendelsohn joins the Dynamo after having spent the previous few years as a consultant for MLS. Prior to his time with the league office, Mendelsohn served various duties with the US Soccer Federation, including as Chief Soccer Officer in 2019. Before working for the USSF, Mendelsohn spent over five years as the Director of Soccer Operations for the Columbus Crew, working alongside Dynamo General Manager Pat Onstad.
This week, Mendelsohn joined the City of Soccer podcast to discuss his role with the club, how he is adjusting to life in Houston, and much more.
Many fans may ask what exactly it is that a technical director does? According to Mendelsohn, his role is to assist Onstad in implementing the vision that he has for the club.
“When Pat called me and talked to me about being involved in this project and coming in as a technical director, I think the mandate that he gave me was more of helping him create a sporting identity for the club and then implementing that into everything that we do,” Mendelsohn said. “And so, it's very broad in that sense. How do we want to play, how do we want to act, on the field. Off the field, how do we want to teach what we want implemented and then who do we need to help execute this.”
Since Mendelsohn was brought on to the Dynamo with Pat in early January, the team has experienced immense change. Mendelsohn understands that to have the amount change that has occurred within the organization over the past few weeks, it takes multiple people working in tandem with a unified vision.
“When you look at the amount of things we've done in five weeks, I think no one person could do it, no matter how good or how experienced they are,” Mendelsohn said. “It's really been a collaborative effort, led by Pat and then my role is to try and support him and help him make this happen and be as ready as we can be for February 27, but more realistically, being in a position that we're all happy with come next fall."
One component of Mendelsohn and the rest of the technical staff’s efforts to overhaul the Dynamo is that, unlike other MLS teams, they are all coming into the club at relatively the same time. While Mendelsohn understands that implementing Pat’s vision for the club will still take a lot of hard work regardless of circumstance, he is optimistic that the team’s unique situation will enhance the cohesion throughout the organization.
"I'm not to think that Pat, myself and Paulo walk in the door and all of a sudden everyone's going to change overnight. That's not normally how this process works. But I think what's very unique in world football is the situation we're in, which is that we have a new owner who has come in with ambition and support and clarity in terms of what he's looking for. And he's hired a new GM, created a role with the technical director role and hired a new head coach where we're all coming together at this one moment in time to try to bring this vision to life.”
As for his time so far in the Bayou City away from Houston Sports Park, the former Brown University varsity soccer player says that he has loved what he has seen of the city so far, and can’t wait to explore all of what it has to offer.
"Now that I'm here and I get to explore different parts of the city, it's been a lot of fun. The people have been amazing. They're incredibly friendly and hospitable. Food's incredible. There are lots of things to do. And I say that knowing that we're still in a little bit of a covid world and not as much is going on as normal. I've been really happy with my first impressions of the city."
To listen to more of what Asher had to say, listen to the City of Soccer Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Audible.
