Charlotte FC Make Roster Decisions and Extend Zoran Krneta's Contract as Christian Fuchs Leaves for England
In addition to end-of-season roster decisions, Charlotte FC announced Zoran Krneta signed a new multi-year contract with the club. Meanwhile, Christian Fuchs took a coaching job at Newport County.
It looks Charlotte FC’s 2025 campaign was good enough for business as usual to continue in the eyes of club owner David Tepper.
Zoran Krneta, Dean Smith, and most of the players you’d expect are here to stay, as the club announced a new, multi-year contract for Krneta, and announced that they’ve picked up the options for goalkeeper Drake Callender, midfielder Djibril Diani, and forward Tyger Smalls.
“Zoran has been an integral part of Charlotte FC’s progression and success since the team was launched,” said Tepper in a statement. “We look forward to having the Club’s sporting operations continue under his leadership and vision as the league enters a pivotal period of growth.”
Krneta joined Charlotte FC on December 31, 2019 and will enter his seventh year in the league. Discussions over the new contract started in July.
“My job is not finished here,” Krneta told reporters, adding that he thought his job would be done when Charlotte wins an MLS Cup or Supporters Shield. “I would love to win Supporters Shield … I’ll be happy with 61 [points next year] … and less losses.”
Though Charlotte’s playoff journey yet again hit a first round ceiling, 2025 brought multiple single-season records for the club, including points (59), wins (19), home wins (13) and goals scored (55). The Crown also matched the MLS record for consecutive wins in a season with nine during a stretch from July through mid-September.
“I genuinely believe this year we would have gone a bit further [in the playoffs],” Krneta told reporters in a press conference today.
Both Old and New Players Depart Charlotte FC
While Callender, Diani, and Smalls are here to stay, the club declined options on Jahlane Forbes, Nick Scardina, and Bill Tuiloma.
“We want to give [Tiger Smalls] another year to see what he can do,” said Krneta, who also voiced his confidence in Diani, who has markedly improved since joining the club.
Adilson Malanda already said goodbye to the club, and popular loanee Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty will return to Montreal CF. Additionally, David Bingham and Eryk Williamson are out of contract and eligible to become free agents. Neither got much playing time over the past year, especially in the closing months of the season.
Hometown hero Brandt Bronico was expected to face a contract decision, with his contract expiring this year with an option for 2026, but he recently inked a new contract through 2027 with an option for 2028.
Here’s where Charlotte FC’s roster currently stands:
The following players are under contract for the 2026 MLS Season:
Goalkeepers (4): Drake Callender, Nick Holliday, Kristijan Kahlina, Chituru Odunze
Defenders (6): Nathan Byrne, Jack Neeley, Andrew Privett, Tim Ream, Mikah Thomas, Harry Toffolo
Midfielders (7): Pep Biel, Brandt Bronico, Baye Coulibaly, Djibril Diani, Nikola Petkovic, Brian Romero, Ashley Westwood
Forwards (7): Nimfasha Berchimas, Liel Abada, Archie Goodwin, Tyger Smalls, Idan Toklomati, Kerwin Vargas, Wilfried Zaha
Despite speculation that designated player Liel Abada has played his last match for the Crown, he is still under contract through 2026, with an option through 2027. If the club decides to part ways, they’ll need to find a new home for the Israeli winger.
One player whose future is still in the air is Brandon Cambridge. Soccer Sheet asked Krneta about where negotiations are with Cambridge, and the club told Soccer Sheet they expect a decision next week.
The sticking point seems to be that while the club likes the player, Cambridge may not get the first team playing time he needs if he stays around.
“We are talking to his representatives right now to find the best solution for Brandon. He’s another [player] who needs to play games.” Krneta told Soccer Sheet. “We also have to be fair and discuss the future with the player.”
What Did the Fox Say?
Charlotte FC’s inaugural-captain-turned-assistant-coach Christian Fuchs has left the building, moving to the English League Two in a move that surprised even club insiders.
Fuchs will take the helm at Newport County AFC, his first head coaching role. Newport is currently in last place in League Two, and had sacked previous manager David Hughes — who had taken the pitch against Dean Smith in his playing days — on November 15.
“I was surprised at the name of the club,” Krneta told Soccer Sheet, though he was not surprised that Fuchs was ready to move on. The Austrian’s assistant coach contract at Charlotte FC was set to expire at the end of the year, and while the Crown had offered Fuchs a new contract, Krneta told Soccer Sheet the club was happy to release him from his contract early so he could pursue the new role.
County Chairman Huw Jenkins, who secured Fuchs after an intensive managerial search over the last five days, said, “We see Christian as the sort of man to lead our club forward. I believe he matches our ambition and goals for Newport County FC.
“I do feel we can now look forward with a great deal of optimism. We’ll look to improve our current situation in League Two and take things from there,” said Jenkins in a press release. “Christian is ambitious and wants, one day, to manage in the Premier League, we believe he shares our strong belief in what Newport County can eventually become.”
Video: Soccer Sheet’s Conversation with GM Zoran Krneta
You can watch our conversation during today’s press conference below, or on YouTube.