Former Irish international Owen Coyle has left his position as manager of MLS side Houston Dynamo.
The 49-year-old was in the middle of his second season with the team, but the two parties went separate ways after Coyle asked to be released from his contract. The former Burnley and Bolton Wanderers manager joined the Texan side in 2014 ahead of the 2015 season and saw the team finish 8th in the Western Conference and 16th overall last year.
@HoustonDynamo want to thank Owen for everything that he has done for me as a player grateful for the opportunity to start fresh
— Sheanon Williams (@sheanonwilliams) May 26, 2016
I want to thank Owen and Sandy for helping me grow as a player the last two years and wish them all the best going forward #ForeverOrange
— Zach Steinberger (@ZachSteinberger) May 26, 2016
This season the team started with four points from their opening two games including a 5-0 win at home to local rivals FC Dallas. That result remains the biggest win by a home team this season. Since the opening two games, Houston have lost seven of their ten games, recording only two wins.
Coyle left the club to return home to England to be close to his family. In a statement released on the club's website, the former manager outlined his reasons for leaving the team. "I asked Chris (Canetti, the Houston Dynamo president) if I could speak with him today and I explained to him the challenge of being away from my family and how we all want the best for Houston Dynamo."
The Scottish-born manager has been out of the English game since leaving Wigan in December 2013. By returning to England, he may be returning to club management sooner rather than later.
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