Marco Donadel becomes latest managerial casualty after winning just 1 of 7 matches, exposing chronic underinvestment that has plagued CF Montreal for years
CF Montreal have sacked Marco Donadel after just 42 matches in charge, following a dismal start to the 2026 season that has left the club joint-bottom of MLS with three points from seven games.
The firing, announced Sunday morning, came less than 24 hours after a 2-1 loss to Philadelphia Union extended Montreal's winless run to six matches. Philippe Eullaffroy, who founded the club's academy in 2010, takes over as interim coach.
Donadel's departure continues a staggering pattern of instability at Montreal. No manager has lasted more than 92 matches since the club entered MLS in 2012, with Mauro Biello holding that dubious record.
Each of Montreal's last three permanent managers has survived 40 games or fewer:
This constant churn prevents any tactical philosophy from taking root. Donadel inherited a squad that finished tied for second-worst in MLS last season, yet received minimal backing to improve it.
Montreal's defensive collapse under Donadel has been spectacular. The club conceded 19 goals in their opening seven matches, managing just one win - a 3-0 victory over New York Red Bulls that now looks like an anomaly.
Until a permanent head coach is hired
The club's brief statement on Eullaffroy's appointment suggests another quick-fix solution rather than addressing fundamental problems. Assistant coaches Jacopo Falanga and Lorenzo Pinzauti were also dismissed, leaving Eullaffroy short-staffed ahead of next weekend's home match against New York Red Bulls.
Owner Joey Saputo has consistently failed to adapt to MLS's financial evolution. While rival clubs invest heavily in designated players and infrastructure, Montreal operate like it's still 2012.
Montreal's 2026 offseason spending exposed their lack of ambition:
This minimal investment came after missing the 2025 playoffs entirely. Compare this to Eastern Conference rivals who routinely spend millions on individual players.
The club's decline accelerated after losing Wilfried Nancy to Columbus Crew. Nancy maximised limited resources through tactical innovation, but his successors have found that impossible to replicate without proper investment.
Montreal's model of hiring inexperienced coaches and hoping for miracles no longer works in a league where Atlanta United, LAFC, and Inter Miami spend freely on proven talent.
For bettors, Montreal represent terrible value in 2026. Their defensive fragility makes the over a consistent play, while backing opponents offers steady returns against a team that has won just once in seven attempts.
Eullaffroy faces an impossible task. Academy coaches rarely succeed when thrown into MLS firefights, especially with a depleted coaching staff and demoralised squad.
Montreal host New York Red Bulls next weekend - the same team they beat 3-0 for their only victory. That result looks increasingly like a fluke given their subsequent performances.
Without significant ownership investment, Montreal are trapped in a death spiral. Quality players avoid clubs with such instability. Promising academy products leave for better opportunities. Coaches view the job as career poison.
The pattern is clear: hire cheap, fire quickly, repeat. Until Saputo either invests properly or sells to ownership willing to compete in modern MLS, Montreal will remain cannon fodder for ambitious clubs.
Montreal's search for a permanent coach begins immediately, but the pool of quality candidates willing to work under these constraints is shallow. Expect another budget hire who will face the same structural limitations that doomed Donadel.
The summer transfer window offers a theoretical opportunity for investment, but Montreal's track record suggests more loan deals and allocation money trades rather than the designated player signings needed to compete.
For a club in Canada's second-largest city, with a passionate fanbase and strong academy tradition, this perpetual mediocrity represents a massive waste of potential. Until ownership changes its approach, the coaching carousel will keep spinning.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute betting advice.
Donadel was fired after winning just one of seven matches to start the 2026 MLS season, leaving Montreal joint-bottom with three points. The team conceded 19 goals in seven games under his management.
No CF Montreal manager has lasted more than 92 matches since the club entered MLS in 2012. The last three permanent managers survived 40 games or fewer, showing chronic instability.
Philippe Eullaffroy, who founded Montreal's academy in 2010, takes over as interim coach. He faces the challenge of turning around a team that's conceded 19 goals in seven matches.
Saputo has consistently underinvested compared to modern MLS standards. Montreal's biggest 2026 signing cost just $1.2m while rivals spend millions on individual players, leading to chronic underperformance.
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