St. Louis City: MLS Sets Sights on Historic Play-Offs

St Louis City SC: The Rise of a Modern Football Fairytale

It is quite a journey from Ipswich to St Louis, but when it comes to footballing achievements, perhaps the gap isn’t as wide as one might think.

In their debut season in the English top flight back in 1962, under the leadership of pre-knighthood and pre-World Cup Alf Ramsey, Ipswich Town famously clinched the old First Division title. Winning an elite-tier championship during a team’s first-ever professional campaign is an extraordinary feat that seems hard to surpass.

Yet here we are today witnessing another potential fairytale unfolding in modern football – welcome St Louis City SC, newcomers to Major League Soccer (MLS).

This expansion team has defied all expectations by finishing at the top of the Western Conference after the regular season. Now they find themselves just four games away from lifting the MLS Cup and etching their names into history books.

But how did St Louis achieve this remarkable success?

The Element of Surprise & High-Pressing Style

Sporting director Lutz Pfannenstiel was among one of the first hires when St Louis City SC was founded back in 2019. According to him, it wasn’t just sheer surprise that led them to win 17 out of 34 regular-season games in their debut year.

“We wanted teams to dread playing against us,” says Pfannenstiel, the former German goalkeeper who made the move from Fortuna Dusseldorf to Missouri. “Expansion teams usually struggle initially, but our players embraced the high-pressing style right from the start.”

Pfannenstiel highlights a pre-season match where they drew 2-2 against last year’s MLS Cup runners-up Philadelphia Union as a turning point. It was then that they realized there was something special within their group.

A Record-Breaking Start

St Louis City SC went on to win their first five games, setting a record for an inaugural MLS club. Head coach Bradley Carnell played a crucial role in implementing their unique style of play and principles.

“Bradley embodies everything our team stands for,” Pfannenstiel proudly states. “His background in high-pressing tactics during his time as assistant coach at New York Red Bulls perfectly aligned with our vision. His outstanding implementation has been instrumental in our success.”

The Future Ahead

With St Louis City’s achievements attracting attention from around the league and beyond, questions arise about potential offers for head coach Bradley Carnell. However, both he and Pfannenstiel remain focused on building sustainable growth within the coaching department.

“It’s only natural for successful coaches to attract interest from other clubs,” explains Pfannenstiel calmly. “This just reflects that other teams aspire to achieve what we have accomplished so far.”

Carnell reinforces this perspective by acknowledging how many doubted their chances of success at the beginning of the season: “We proved them wrong through solid foundations built upon high-pressure gameplay, a well-balanced roster, and the unwavering commitment of our players.”

A Cosmopolitan Squad

On the pitch, St Louis City SC boasts a cosmopolitan team assembled by Pfannenstiel tapping into his vast scouting networks across the globe. His rich playing career, being recognized as the only player to have played professionally in all six FIFA confederation regions, has undoubtedly influenced his keen eye for talent.

It’s worth mentioning that Pfannenstiel’s life was saved by a physio during a match back in 2002 when his heart stopped. Without him, it is uncertain whether St Louis would have achieved such remarkable success.