Report: FC Cincinnati Interested In Hiring Pablo Mastroeni

SALT LAKE CITY –  FC Cincinnati is interested in hiring Pablo Mastroeni following Real Salt Lake’s most unforeseen postseason run that ended in the Western Conference Final.

Mastroeni, 45, took over as the interim manager following Freddy Juarez’s decision to abruptly depart the club and take an assistant coaching role with the Seattle Sounders midway through the 2021 regular season.

I'm hearing that FC Cincinnati has interest in Pablo Mastroeni for the head coaching position. Pat Noonan considered a strong frontrunner still given relationship with Chris Albright.

— Kristian Dyer (@KristianRDyer) December 9, 2021

Mastroeni’s interim campaign was filled with inconsistency. However, he was able to guide Real Salt Lake to a playoff position with the final kick of the regular season when Damir Kreilach scored the game’s only goal away from home against Sporting Kansas City on Decision Day to gift Real Salt Lake the seventh seed in the Western Conference.

Then, Mastroeni showcased his true leadership qualities when he guided Real Salt Lake to the Western Conference Final, upsetting Seattle and Sporting Kansas City along the way.

As expected, interest surrounding Mastroeni began to grow around the league. He has since interviewed for the FC Cincinnati and Houston Dynamo management vacancies.

Mastroeni is also a final candidate for the Real Salt Lake job. General Manager Elliot Fall has stated that Mastroeni is a finalist for the job and given his accomplishments in the playoffs one can assume that Mastroeni is likely the front runner for the position.

It is expected that Real Salt Lake makes a public announcement shortly.

Either way, Mastroeni will likely find himself as a full-time manager in 2022 whether it be with Real Salt Lake or another club. His leadership and guidance at Real Salt Lake in 2021 warranted another head coaching opportunity.

It remains unknown if Mastroeni would like to stay in Utah given the current ownership uncertainty. Mastroeni is expected to speak to the media on Friday, December 10, where more information regarding his immediate future is likely to be discussed.