Montreal Fire Another Coach as Ownership Failures Deepen Club Crisis

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.

Another Coach, Same Old Problems at CF Montreal

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.

The Revolving Door Keeps Spinning

Each of Montreal's last three permanent managers has survived 40 games or fewer:

• Laurent Courtois: Fired March 2025 after poor start
• Marco Donadel: Won just 7 of 42 matches in all competitions
• Hernán Losada: Lasted 40 games before departure

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.

The Numbers Tell the Story

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.

Why Montreal's Ownership Model is Failing in Modern MLS

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.

A Pittance of Investment

Montreal's 2026 offseason spending exposed their lack of ambition:

• Most expensive signing: Brayan Vera from Real Salt Lake for $1.2m in allocation money
• Iván Jaime from Porto: Loan only
• Frankie Amaya from Toluca: Loan only

This minimal investment came after missing the 2025 playoffs entirely. Compare this to Eastern Conference rivals who routinely spend millions on individual players.

The Wilfried Nancy Effect

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.

What This Means for Montreal's Season and Future

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.

Immediate Outlook

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.

Long-term Prognosis

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.

What Happens Next

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.