CF Montréal Parts Ways With Donadel Following Disastrous Seven-Game Stint

Seven matches. That's the entirety of Marco Donadel's tenure as CF Montréal's permanent head coach before the club pulled the plug on what has become the latest chapter in a seemingly endless coaching carousel.

"We had established clear objectives... and it became apparent very quickly that these targets weren't being reached," managing director Luca Saputo told reporters Monday while explaining the decision to terminate Donadel's contract. Saputo insisted this wasn't a rash response to Saturday's disappointing 2-1 defeat at home against basement-dwelling Philadelphia Union, though the club's decision to skip the customary post-match media availability following that loss suggested otherwise.

An organizational pattern that can't be ignored

Donadel becomes the 11th permanent manager CF Montréal has employed since entering Major League Soccer in 2012. Across North America's five major professional leagues — the NHL, NBA, NFL, MLB, and MLS — no other franchise has churned through head coaches at this alarming rate. This isn't simply about making poor hiring choices anymore; it points to systemic dysfunction within the organization itself. To his credit, Saputo owned the mistake, admitting errors in judgment that resulted in Donadel receiving the permanent appointment initially.

Assistant coach Philippe Eullaffroy takes over on an interim basis, though Saputo made it crystal clear he won't be considered for the full-time position. The club aims to have a new permanent head coach installed before MLS pauses for the FIFA World Cup break in late May, leaving approximately six weeks to identify the right candidate and facilitate their integration.

So what exactly does "right" mean in this context? Saputo laid out specific criteria: an attacking philosophy, possession-based play starting from the defensive third, and tactical setups that maximize individual player strengths. By these measures, Donadel failed to deliver. "There were multiple occasions where tactical choices or how players were utilized in certain positions were genuinely puzzling," Saputo explained, "and ultimately that responsibility lies with Marco."

Empty seats tell their own story

Saturday's home opener at Stade Saputo drew a meager crowd of just 14,000 supporters. As the final whistle blew, jeers echoed throughout the stadium. While Major League Soccer enjoys record-breaking attendance figures league-wide — largely fueled by Lionel Messi's impact in Miami — Montreal's dwindling gate numbers paint a stark and troubling picture.

"You're looking at what's left of the faithful," remarked Mathieu Charron, a long-standing member of the 1642MTL supporters' group. This goes beyond typical fan dissatisfaction; it represents a fundamental disconnect that won't be repaired with a single shrewd coaching hire.

Saputo claims applications from prospective coaches are already pouring in and maintains that Montreal remains an appealing destination for top managerial talent. With the team sitting at 1-5-0 and supporters visibly disengaged, the next appointment will need to deliver substantially more than polished introductory remarks to resurrect this sinking ship.