2024 North State Journal pro team of the year

Charlotte FC takes leap in third season

Charlotte FC forward Karol Świderski, center, is congratulated by teammate forward Liel Abada (11) and midfielder Djibril Diani,left, after scoring against Orlando City during the first round MLS Cup playoff series. (Kevin Kolczynski / AP Photo)

While this past year marked another series of disappointments for some North Carolina professional sports teams, the state’s newest pro squad managed to reel off its most successful season to date.

Charlotte FC took a step forward in its third campaign as first-year coach Dean Smith guided the club to a fifth-place spot in the Eastern Conference standings while securing a berth in the Major League Soccer Cup Playoffs.

Although The Crown’s postseason ended prematurely in Round One after a penalty shootout loss to Orlando City at the conclusion of a best-of-three series, Charlotte FC (14-11-9, 51 points) showed a general sense of improvement in 2024 under its new coach, tallying a franchise-record 51 points and 46 goals scored.

The club jumped from ninth to fifth in the MLS Eastern Conference standings — compared to its 2023 record — while finishing second in the entire MLS with just 37 goals allowed.

In November, Croatian shot-stopper Kristijan Kahlina was named the 2024 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year, marking the first time a Charlotte FC player had earned an individual year-end award.

The 32-year-old, who impressively garnered 121 saves and 12 shutouts during the season, signed a contract extension with the club a month prior, keeping him in the Queen City through the 2026 season with an option for 2027.

“All season, I think I played really, really good, on a high level,” Kahlina told reporters following the announcement of his award. “It’s incredible, because who can say at the end of the last year, that we would be one of the best defensive teams in MLS? The biggest change was Dean Smith, who changed our style and how we played defensively.”

Kahlina was the only keeper in the MLS to rank top five in saves and goals against average (1.09), while also ranking top five in save percentage (75.63%) and minutes played (3,060).

Forwards Patrick Agyemang and Karol Swiderski also had strong showings for The Crown, with the former leading the club with 10 goals and the latter coming on late in the season to score seven of his own.

On the other side of the field, captain Ashley Westwood, defender Adilson Malanda, and midfielder Brandt Bronico — a 29-year-old former Charlotte 49er — each had their own moments of glory as they solidified one of the league’s top burgeoning defenses.

The club’s ability to regularly stop opposing offenses proved to be a defining feature that separated itself from its previous two seasons.

Charlotte FC earned its first MLS Cup Playoffs berth in team history in 2023, but fell short in the wild card round to the New York Red Bulls. Former coach Christian Lattanzio was ultimately fired two weeks after the playoff loss, bringing on the Smith era as owner David Tepper signaled a change in the club’s direction.

After this recent season, Smith addressed the club’s supporters and thanked the fan base for providing a consistent presence in Bank of America Stadium, which ranked second in attendance within the MLS.

“It’s been extraordinary,” Smith said. “We’ve had what we believe is a really good season. Unfortunately, we didn’t get as far as we wanted to go in the playoffs, but your support has been tremendous for us and has driven us on. Kahlina getting the goalkeeper of the season is from the support of you. Us becoming the best defensive record in the Eastern Conference is also because of you all, so a massive thank you to all of you for season 2024.”

With expiring player contracts looming, options have been exercised and declined as the next incarnation of Charlotte FC shapes up during this offseason.

The club revealed last month that it had declined to make midfielder Pep Biel’s loan deal a permanent transfer, opening up a designated player spot for Charlotte’s winter window. It was an ambitious move that signals the club could be in the market for a superstar if it wants to gamble and go that route.

During the MLS SuperDraft 2025 on Dec. 20, teams selected 90 players from college soccer and other avenues. Charlotte drafted Connecticut defender Mikah Thomas with the ninth selection in Round 1, followed by Cornell defender Andrew Johnson in Round 2 (No. 47), and Mercer forward Barzee Blama in Round 3 (No. 77).

Charlotte FC is set to travel to Seattle to open the 2025 season against Seattle Sounders FC on Feb. 22, returning to Charlotte on March 1 against Eastern Conference rivals Atlanta United FC.