Vazquez Settles in, Estévez Stays Sunny, and Other Stories We’re Following
Keeping up with the Verde
By Eric Goodman, Fri., May 16, 2025
With both the MLS regular season and U.S. Open Cup in full swing, the month of May continues to be an all-out barrage of matches for Austin FC, who will take to the pitch a minimum of nine times before things slow down in June. The games come so fast, our print schedule can’t keep up with it all – this column went to press before the club’s Wednesday night home match versus Atlanta United.
That said, let’s check in with some bigger-picture topics we’ve had our eye on as the year’s gone on.
Striker Gets Comfortable
When Austin FC went out and spent big money to acquire USMNT striker and former MLS All-Star Brandon Vazquez, the immediate hope was that the 26-year-old would become the first-ever ATXFC No. 9 to bag double-digit goals in a season.
After scoring just one goal through his first eight matches in Verde, things have seemingly begun to open up for Vazquez in recent weeks. At time of writing, the San Diego native had found the back of the net four times in his last four matches, including a crucial brace that helped Austin advance past the El Paso Locomotive in the U.S. Open Cup.
Vazquez said this week that he’s feeling more comfortable leading the club’s attack with each passing week.
“I think we’re building. We’re still building that chemistry. I think it’s getting better and better each game,” Vazquez said.
Vazquez also talked about feeling settled in his new home of Austin with his wife Jessie and 1-year-old son Luca.
“Austin has been amazing. The reception we’ve gotten here from the fans, my family and I feel super, super welcomed. And it’s been a great city to live in. There’s so much to do. And my son’s growing up so quick, so we’re always out at different parks, doing new activities with him.”
Beacon of Positivity
It’s been clear in his brief time in Austin that ATXFC coach Nico Estévez makes a constant effort to accentuate the positive, even when things are looking particularly rough. We’ve criticized this tendency on a couple of occasions already. But Estévez this week shed some light on the purpose behind his upbeat attitude.
“I’m a positive guy, and I’m gonna always be, even though we have tough moments as coaches,” Estévez said. “I’m positive because I’ve never seen [someone] change something with a negative mood, with a negative mentality... Of course, if something is wrong, I have to address it right away in the mood that is needed. But after that, positivity. Believing in the qualities that we have, the roster that we have.”
Estévez added that he relishes the opportunity his club has to inspire the community by persevering through difficult stretches.
“We are in a position that we can change the narrative and the things that are going with our effort, with our mentality, and this is when things are not going in our way,” he said.
No KDB for ATX
After 10 spectacular seasons, Premier League superstar Kevin De Bruyne is set to leave Manchester City this summer and has his eyes on a potential move to MLS.
It was always unlikely that Austin FC would be in play for the 33-year-old Belgian midfielder due to the club recently filling all its designated player spots, though some speculated whether ATX sporting director (and former Man City assistant coach) Rodolfo Borrell’s personal ties to De Bruyne might come into play.
An MLS source tells me that De Bruyne’s representatives did in fact reach out to Austin FC expressing interest in the Verde and Black, though with salary expectations that the club simply could not consider.
If another MLS club does sign De Bruyne, it will likely be at a salary figure that rivals the highest-paid players in the league.
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