Throwback to the first-ever tifo from the Q2 Stadium supporters' section, depicting legends of Austin old and new Credit: Austin FC

As jarring as the fact may be, Austin FC completed its fifth season of Major League Soccer this fall, meaning it has officially outlived Breaking Bad, Friday Night Lights, and Vine. In celebration of that milestone, let’s reflect back on the top 10 most significant moments – both the good and the bad – in Austin FC’s young history.

10) Copa Tejas Triumph 

We’ll begin in the happy column with Austin FC lifting its first-ever (unofficial) trophy, the 2022 edition of Copa Tejas, in the parking lot of FC Dallas’ Toyota Stadium. Not only did this moment give ATX fans a taste of what it feels like to win shiny stuff, but it also symbolized the club’s efforts to become the flagship MLS club in the Lone Star State.

9) Fagundez Farewell 

If likability was a rated attribute on FIFA, Diego Fagundez would be comfortably in the high 90s. Seeing the club trade away a fan favorite and highly productive player like Fagundez – scorer of the first goal in Austin FC history – midseason in 2023 was a jarring reminder of the harsh business of pro sports.

8) Trouble in Paradise

Austin FC made its first (and so far only) appearance in the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2023, and appeared to luck out by drawing Violette A.C. as its first opponent. The Haitian club’s league was on indefinite hiatus due to unrest in the island nation, and it had to play its “home” leg in the Dominican Republic. Incredibly, Violette defeated Austin FC 3-0 in the first leg and eliminated the MLS club the following week at Q2 Stadium.

7) Driussi Dior

Designated players – you know, the ones that make all the money? – haven’t exactly been Austin FC’s forte. But the club got one right in Sebastián Driussi, who was signed for $7 million from Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer of 2021. Driussi is the club’s record goalscorer by a country mile, despite leaving Austin in 2024.

6) Party in the Playoffs

Driven largely by Driussi’s mega year, 2022 remains the high-water mark in Austin FC history. It culminated in a pair of dramatic playoff victories at Q2 Stadium, first against Real Salt Lake in a penalty shootout, then against rivals FC Dallas to advance to the Western Conference final, where the club fell to eventual champs LAFC.

5) DP Shuffle

Austin FC made some serious money moves in the 2024-25 offseason, selling Driussi for a whopping $10 million and using that cash to sign Brandon Vázquez, while spending an additional $12 million on Myrto Uzuni, completely reshaping the top of the club’s roster.

4) He’s a Keeper

The most important move in Austin FC’s inaugural roster construction might’ve been the most unassuming. Brad Stuver – a journeyman goalkeeper signed as a free agent, and expected by most to serve as Andrew Tarbell’s backup – has emerged as the face and voice of the club, and an All-Star.

3) #WolffOut

After months of frustration from the Austin FC fan base, culminating in the infamously under-proofread “#WOLFDUT” airplane banner, the club cut ties with its first-ever head coach, Josh Wolff, following another disappointing season in 2024. Wolff’s replacement, Nico Estévez, returned the club to the playoffs this past season.

2) Rodo to the Rescue

After Claudio Reyna disgraced himself in the Berhalter brouhaha of January 2023, Austin FC’s sporting director office became vacant. That is until Rodolfo Borrell signed on the dotted line, taking the role after spells coaching at some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Legend has it, Borrell is still working tirelessly to undo the damage that Reyna inflicted on the roster prior to his exit.

1) Let There Be Verde

Of course, nothing can top the significance of Austin FC’s inaugural season. Despite much more struggle than prosperity on the pitch, the season of firsts felt like a seven-month pinch-me moment for Austinites who longed for major league sports to come to town.

For more Austin FC news and analysis, visit The Austin Chronicle’s Austin FC hub. Sign up for The Verde Report newsletter to get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox, and follow The Verde Report columnist Eric Goodman on X: @goodman.

This article appears in December 19 • 2025.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

SUPPORT US

Eric Goodman has covered Austin FC for the Austin Chronicle since before the club first kicked a ball in 2021. His column, The Verde Report, continues the Chronicle's decades-long tradition of soccer-focused commentary, serving as a spiritual successor to Nick Barbaro's Soccer Watch column. Eric has also covered multiple Olympic Games and FIFA World Cups as a freelance sports journalist, and is a two-time Emmy-winning producer.