AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin FC heads into its second preseason training camp trip with renewed hopes as a record-breaking offseason has them set up for vast improvement over the past two seasons.
Verde and Black continues its preseason slate Saturday at home against Louisville City FC before heading to the Coachella Valley in California for the last road trip before the games begin to count. First-year head coach Nico Estevez said Thursday he wants to find out what makes his players tick and that the scoreboard is the last of his worries.
“In my experience, preseason is a liar,” he said. “It’s a moment to try new things, learn about the players and give opportunities to young players. If you bring all those factors there, it’s going to be difficult to win every preseason game.”
He said he’s been part of teams who had great preseasons and then fell short during the regular seasons and the other way around. With all the acquisitions Austin FC has made, it’s going to take time for the group to develop chemistry. After all, it isn’t so much about how you start, it’s how you finish.
VERDE LIGHTS: It’s back for another season! Tune in at 11 a.m. Saturdays on CW Austin and KXAN throughout the season.
Simply put, to get more wins, Austin has to score more goals. They were the worst team in the Western Conference last year in scoring, managing just 39 goals in 34 matches. To help with that, Austin owner Anthony Precourt spent $22.4 million in transfer fees on players who can score goals, Brandon Vasquez and Myrto Uzuni. With speedster Osman Bukari and up-and-coming star Jader Obrian along with others as part of the attack, more beverages should be airborne in the supporters’ section this season. There’s only one way to find out if the spending spree was worth it, though.
“It’s important that we try everything we can in the preseason to learn more about the team,” Estevez said. “We want everyone to play as much as possible together now so they have a good connection in the league.”
Austin FC has five preseason matches remaining including Saturday’s at Q2 Stadium. They’ll head to the Empire Polo Grounds in Indio, California for the Coachella Valley Invitational and play the LA Galaxy, St. Louis FC and Charlotte FC before finishing off the slate at home Feb. 15 against Nashville SC. The matches against the Galaxy and St. Louis are open to the public while the others are closed.
Austin FC extends Guilherme Biro’s contract
Entering the prime of his career, defender Guilherme Biro will be around Austin for another season after the club tacked another on to his contract Friday.
The 24-year-old Brazilian defender is under contract through the 2027 season with a club option for 2028. He played in 31 matches for Austin in his Major League Soccer rookie season last year and is expected to have an even bigger role coming up.
“He is entering into the prime years of his career, and we are happy to have him committed here for the foreseeable future,” Austin sporting director Rodolfo Borrell said. “Guilherme had a very good season in 2024, and most importantly he demonstrated a strong commitment to our city, club, and fans.”
His tackle rate was second-best on the team last year at 1.2 per 90 minutes and he can provide a little attacking firepower. He scored three times last season including a laser beam from outside of the box against San Jose to break a 2-2 tie in the second half.
According to MLS Players Association salary data, Biro made $200,000 last season.
Siete Foods is Austin FC’s new sleeve sponsor
Austin-based Siete Foods will have its logo sewn on jersey sleeves this season as one of the team’s new sponsors. Austin FC president Andy Loughnane said it was a partnership that just made sense.
“As two Austin-based brands with a commitment to giving back to the city we call home, we’re very grateful to Siete for their continued support as we head into the 2025 season,” he said.
Siete was recently sold to PepsiCo for $1.2 billion but that doesn’t mean the company will abandon everything it has done for the city. They will also be the presenting partner of the Verde Leaders youth soccer program for the third time and they’ll help the club develop an “elevated” Latino Heritage Month feature.
“We are deeply connected to the Austin community and proud to share our support with Austin FC, a team that inspires our company and extended familial,” said Miguel Garza, Siete co-founder. “Siete is thrilled to be featured on the jerseys of such talented athletes and honored to help their local efforts to give back.”
