The Houston Dash have parted ways with head coach Fran Alonso, ending a three-month saga that has seen Alonso absent from all team activities.
The Dash said in a statement on Tuesday that the decision came “in lieu of a return from his leave of absence.”
Ricky Clarke, who has been Houston’s interim coach since the end of June, will remain in that position until the end of the NWSL season.
Houston sits in last place with four games remaining. The Dash have won only four of 22 games and have 17 points.
Houston initially announced on June 28 that Alonso was absent from the team due to an “illness” when he failed to show up for a road match against the Kansas City Current.
Alonso has not returned to the team since. The Dash repeatedly declined to elaborate when asked for comment.
At some point over the summer, the organization started describing Alonso as being on a leave of absence.
Alonso and his representatives have not discussed the circumstances. A representative for Alonso did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Houston also fired general manager Alex Singer in late July for what team president Jess O’Neill described to ESPN as “a soccer decision.”
Former Orlando Pride…
