Houston Dynamo 2024 player report cards: Daniel Steres
(image via Houston Dynamo FC)
We’re continuing our 2024 report card series, recapping each Dynamo and Dash player’s season. We finish things up for the Dynamo with defender Daniel Steres.
2024 Grade: A-
2024 by the numbers (MLS play)
Appearances: 21
Minutes played: 1171
Goals: 2
Assists: 2
2024 in review
(via FBref.com and FBcharts.com)
Daniel Steres, to me, is an anomaly to grade. Despite playing in 21 games, his limited minutes, combined with his hybrid center back/fullback role makes it difficult to provide a fair assessment of his performance. Assessing Steres as a third center back, his performance was solid. Steres won a majority of his tackles on defense; particularly in the defensive and middle third of the pitch. His aerial presence was felt, winning 96% of his defensive aerial battles and he rarely made defensive errors. In possession, there’s no surprise in his performance as the Dynamo were a high possession team. I would not be surprised if he was a consistent defensive starter at center back on many other rosters in MLS.
As a full back, his numbers were not as impressive compared to Franco Escobar’s. Yet, when filling in for Escobar, Steres’ roles and responsibilities differed. Escobar was more of a presence in the middle and attacking third than his counterpart Steres. The moments Steres pushed further into the attack were the moments the Dynamo needed a goal. In those moments, Steres delivered. You would see his transformation into Sir “At the Death” Steres. In big moments he delivered a clutch assist or took matters into his own hands by scoring himself. Yes, it’s impossible not to consider what could have been if he didn’t score on Decision Day. With that said, Steres provided a spark of energy Dynamo fans have wanted to see all season when the team lost the lead. All in all, its hard not to give Steres an A-.
Moment of the season
With playoff seeding on the line, Steres popped up in the final moments of Decision Day against the LA Galaxy with a match-winning goal. The goal, and the win, sent the Dynamo to Seattle for the first round of the playoffs instead of Salt Lake but it was quite the moment for Steres and his Houston teammates to finish off the regular season.
Looking forward
Steres’ option was declined for 2025. I would like to see Steres return to the Dynamo in some way. With the offseason window opening, and the Dynamo’s financial situation, it’s hard to justify prioritizing Steres when other positions need improvement. We will have to wait and see what the front office has planned.