Marcelo Santos named Dynamo 2 head coach

(image via New England Revolution/The Blazing Musket)

Houston Dynamo FC have announced the hiring of Marcelo Santos as the team’s new head coach. The Sao Paulo, Brazil native is the second head coach in team history and will lead the MLS NEXT Pro side in its fourth season.

“We are excited to welcome Marcelo as the new head coach of Dynamo 2,” Dynamo Assistant General Manager Nick Kowba said. “He has a proven track record of developing professional and international players and will be a champion for our style of play and soccer philosophy in MLS NEXT Pro. Dynamo 2 is a crucial steppingstone in our Club’s player pathway, and we are confident that Marcelo will continue our club’s tradition as a leader in providing opportunities for Academy players and preparing international talent for MLS. We welcome Marcelo and his family to Houston, and we are excited to start the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season.” 

Santos joins Houston after seven years with the New England Revolution. He was a head coach of their U17 and U19 teams and joined Revolution II as an assistant coach in 2023. Santos also served as an interim assistant coach for the Revolution first team at the end of the 2023 season.

"I’m thrilled to embark on this new chapter in my career as head coach of Dynamo 2,” said Santos. “I want to thank Pat Onstad, Asher Mendelsohn and Nick Kowba for this incredible opportunity. I was drawn in by the Club’s strong culture, style of play and commitment to developing young talent, and my goal is to continue the club’s tradition as a leader in MLS NEXT Pro in providing academy players opportunities and developing first team players.” 

Santos is known for his development of players, notably Revolution Homegrowns Noel Buck, Peyton Miller, Nicolas Firmino, and Esmir Bajraktarevic, who signed with PSV Eindhoven this month. Prior to joining the Revolution, Santos spent nine years at Marquette University, first as a volunteer assistant and then a full-time assistant coach.