ST. LOUIS – After the conclusion of their 2024 MLS season nearly three months ago, St. Louis City SC resumed training last week at their facility near the newly renamed Energizer Park. The team faced chilly weather, cold practice fields, and the arrival of new head coach Olof Mellberg.
Mellberg arrived a week before the official start of camp, and on his first night in town, he experienced St. Louis sports by attending a hockey game with Lutz Pfannenstiel and City midfielder Eduard Löwen at the January 3 St. Louis Blues match.
“Right after landing, we went to a hockey game,” said Pfannenstiel. “But the very next day, Mellberg dove straight into work, focusing on the preseason details with the coaching staff.”
The preseason officially began on January 13. On January 20, the team left the cold St. Louis weather for a warmer training camp in Bradenton, Florida. The camp, which will last about a week and a half, includes two preseason friendlies: one against the New England Revolution on January 25 and another against the New York Red Bulls on January 29. These games will not be streamed. The Florida camp will feature a mix of first-team players, CITY2 players, SuperDraft picks, and homegrown players as Mellberg assesses his squad. Players who impress during the Florida camp will have the chance to continue into a second preseason camp in California’s Coachella Valley.
In Coachella Valley, City will play three additional friendlies: February 5 against Real Salt Lake, February 8 against Austin FC, and February 12 against New York City FC. They’ll also have a closed-door match against the San Jose Earthquakes on February 15, bringing the total preseason friendlies to six.
Two key players, Tomáš Ostrák and Célio Pompeu, are still recovering from significant injuries they sustained last season. Both participated in the first week of camp in St. Louis and will gradually be integrated into training sessions throughout the Florida and California camps.
Roster Changes
While the team has been hard at work on the training fields, Lutz Pfannenstiel and his team have been making roster adjustments.
First, the outgoings: Nökkvi Thórisson, who played important minutes during the team’s tough summer last year, has been loaned to Dutch Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam with a potential purchase option.
“Thórisson gained valuable experience here in St. Louis, and this loan move is a great opportunity for him to continue developing in a competitive European league,” said Pfannenstiel. “Sparta Rotterdam, the oldest professional football club in the Netherlands, offers him an ideal environment for growth.”
Thórisson has faced some scrutiny from fans, especially after the record-breaking 2023 season, but he has shown he can be in the right place at the right time, scoring five goals despite limited playing time. However, with new signings and Ostrák and Pompeu returning from injury, there’s limited playing time available for him if he stayed.
Selmir Pidro, City’s first-ever MLS signing, will also be returning to Bosnia, where he will be loaned to FK Velež Mostar through June. Pidro, who has made a handful of MLS appearances and spent time on loan at FC Zlín, will hopefully gain valuable experience in Bosnia’s competitive league.
While these departures were expected, the incoming loan signing of Conrad Wallem could signal the first of Mellberg’s key acquisitions for the team. Wallem, a versatile 24-year-old midfielder, has joined on loan from SK Slavia Prague with a future purchase option. He’s made an impact in European competitions, scoring nine goals and recording nine assists in 47 appearances with Slavia Prague.
“Conrad is a dynamic player capable of playing in multiple positions, which gives us great flexibility,” said Pfannenstiel. “He’s a threat on both sides of the ball and will provide options as a wingback or winger.”
Wallem’s versatility is especially valuable in Mellberg’s system, which typically features wingbacks and three central defenders. He’s expected to contribute immediately, possibly starting as a wingback or in central midfield.
The New Leadership
This preseason marks the first under new head coach Olof Mellberg, following Bradley Carnell’s midseason departure in 2024. Despite the change in leadership, the team’s playing philosophy remains the same.
“We won’t change our style or philosophy,” said Pfannenstiel. “We aim to improve and evolve every year, refining our approach, especially with the ball. Mellberg’s defensive background is important, and he brings the same playing style we want to implement in St. Louis.”
Though some have questioned Mellberg’s lack of MLS experience, Pfannenstiel and General Manager Diego Gigliani are confident in his ability to lead the team. They’ve emphasized that the staff has plenty of MLS experience, and their data-driven approach to coaching searches revealed no clear advantage to hiring someone with MLS experience.
Gigliani explained the thorough process used to identify Mellberg, which involved analyzing data on coaches worldwide, their experience, win ratios, and game models. This allowed them to select a coach who could bring long-term success to the team.
Indiana Vassilev’s International Call-Up
Indiana Vassilev, a key player for St. Louis City, joined the team late in Florida after being called up for international duty with the U.S. Men’s National Team. Vassilev earned his first senior international caps, coming on as a substitute in a 3-1 win over Venezuela and playing 70 minutes as a starter in a 3-0 win over Costa Rica.
Vassilev was close to scoring his first international goal during the Costa Rica match but was just edged out by a clearance before he could capitalize on a rebound.
“The goal of this camp was to evaluate the full player pool and see who can contribute in the future,” Vassilev said.
CITY2 Update
Meanwhile, CITY2, the team’s MLS NEXT Pro affiliate, will be led by new head coach David Critchley after Bobby Murphy’s departure to Portland Hearts of Pine. Critchley will be assisted by former MLS player Baggio Hušidic, who brings a wealth of experience from his 154 appearances in the league.
“Baggio’s knowledge of MLS will be invaluable as we continue to develop our players at CITY2,” Critchley said.
CITY2 also signed 20-year-old defender Jaziel Orozco, who has international and domestic experience. Orozco, who previously played for Larne FC on loan from Real Salt Lake, is expected to strengthen the defense after CITY2’s MLS NEXT Pro Final appearance last season.
“We’re excited to add Jaziel to the team,” Critchley said. “He brings tactical intelligence, bravery, and technical ability to the defense, which will help us continue our success.”