Jeff Cunningham had reasons to smile late in 2009. (Getty Images)

This season was certainly a tale of two halves for FC Dallas. Things got off to the rockiest of starts that saw fans across North Texas grew more upset with the way things were being run in Frisco while the end of the year sure seemed to show things could actually be headed into the right direction for 2010.

Click to continue reading...

With the end of the line in sight for FCD General Manager Michael Hitchcock, I thought I might discuss ticket sales and customer service. It's not secret that FCD has lacked in that department the last few years. One of the General Managers I respect most from the early days of MLS is the ex-Fire Gm Peter Wilt. Click to continue reading...

So the first off-season head has rolled, and it's not even a manager.

FC Dallas GM Michael Hitchcock was relieved of his duties on Tuesday – a move every bit as surprising as Michael Moore making another movie about establishment greed in America. (They won't actually replace Hitchcock, per se; they'll rearrange duties, hiring a technical director and retaining John Wagner as head of the front office.

Click to continue reading...

I just got word from the FC Dallas front office that Michael Hitchcock is out as General Manager. A letter was sent to season ticket holders with the news. In the letter Clark lays out the plan to replace Hitchcock, which includes President John Wagner officially taking over full control operations.

Click to continue reading...

FC Dallas has will not be renewing the contract of General Manager Michael Hitchcock. Clark Hunt today sent a letter to season ticket holders announcing the change. In the letter Clark lays out the plan to replace Hitchcock, which includes President John Wagner officially taking over full control operations, as he had already taken over unofficially. Click to continue reading...

Looks like Schellas Hyndman wanted another former SMU player on his roster...this is almost as ridiculous as the Bruno Guarda trade, with the only real difference being that Ihemelu has at least played in MLS.
FC DALLAS PRESS RELEASE
FRISCO, Texas (Monday, August 31, 2009) – FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock announced today that team has acquired defender Ugo Ihemelu from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for defender Drew Moor, the team's natural second round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and allocation money. Click to continue reading...

FC Dallas has just sent out a press release with the following news:

FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock announced today that team has acquired defender Ugo Ihemelu from the Colorado Rapids in exchange for defender Drew Moor, the team's natural second round pick in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and allocation money.

Click to continue reading...

Things have been a little uncomfortable for Major League Soccer's FC Dallas lately. Poor performances, bad results, a badly-located stadium and low attendances have led to outspoken criticism of the front office by supporters not only of FCD, but of MLS as a whole. The cold, hard truth of football is you can get away with almost anything if you're winning on the pitch.

Click to continue reading...

This man is excited to have officially grasped his chance to make a run in MLS.
As my colleagues posted two days ago (click here for the original post), FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock today announced that the team has signed Honduran forward/midfielder Marvin Chávez on loan from Club Deportivo Marathon of Honduras' Primera División. Click to continue reading...

Below is today's press release from FC Dallas concerning the signing of Marvin Chávez...
FC DALLAS SIGNS HONDURAN INTERNATIONAL MARVIN CHÁVEZ
FRISCO, TX (Tuesday, August 18, 2009) – FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock today announced that the team has signed Honduran forward/midfielder Marvin Chávez on loan from Club Deportivo Marathon of Honduras' Primera División. Click to continue reading...

The odds on FC Dallas sneaking into the MLS playoffs got longer today with the news that they have agreed to sell Kenny Cooper to Bundesliga team TSV 1860 Munich. As per MLS policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Cooper, 24, has spent three seasons with FC Dallas, racking up an impressive 40 goals in 90 appearances, which is good for the team's all-time top spot.

Click to continue reading...

NEWS RELEASE

www.FCDallas.com

FC DALLAS TRANSFERS KENNY COOPER TO TSV 1860 MUNICH

FRISCO, Texas (Friday, July 31, 2009) – FC Dallas announced today that Forward Kenny Cooper has been transferred to TSV 1860 Munich of the 2.

Click to continue reading...

FCD lost its most dangerous attacking option ahead of tomorrow night's match at Pizza Hut Park. Read their press release for the details:
FC Dallas announced today that Forward Kenny Cooper has been transferred to TSV 1860 Munich of the 2. Bundesliga pending a medical examination. Per club policy, terms of the deal were not announced. Click to continue reading...

Ending weeks of speculation, FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock issued a statement on the transfer status of striker Kenny Cooper, saying the club "received offers from multiple international" but "elected to decline them all." (ASN, July 29, 2009).

English Championship side Cardiff and Norwegian club Rosenborg were just two of the clubs said to be bidding for Cooper's services.

Click to continue reading...

New FCD Defender Jair Benitez. (Photo via FCDallas.com)

On the same day that FC Dallas released a defender, they add one. FCD has singed Colombian left back Jair Benitez.� He has been working with the first team in training since he arrived on Monday. To make room for Benitez on the 24-man roster, FCD waived Michael Dello-Russo.

Click to continue reading...

Benitez Pictured Above With Former Deportivo Cali Teammate Fredy Montero

FC DALLAS SIGNS COLOMBIAN LEFT-SIDED DEFENDER JAIR BENITEZ

FRISCO, Texas (Wednesday, July 22, 2009) – FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock announced today that the team has signed Colombian defender Jair Benitez.

Click to continue reading...

FC DALLAS ACQUIRES ATIBA HARRIS FROM CHIVAS USA

IN EXCHANGE FOR MARCELO SARAGOSA

FRISCO, Texas (Friday, July 17, 2009) – FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock today announced that the team has acquired midfielder / forward Atiba Harris from Chivas USA in exchange for midfielder Marcelo Saragosa.

Click to continue reading...

On Tuesday night in Midland, FC Dallas eased past PDL-side West Texas United Sockers 2-0 before 3,751 at Grande Communications stadium on second half goals from Anthony Wallace and Andre Rocha. Behind the players, General Manager Michael Hitchcock and Coach Hyndman stood, smiling and greeting anyone, including myself, who simply wanted to say hello.

Click to continue reading...

Prior to the Columbus Crew game on Saturday, FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock and Head Coach Schellas Hyndman held a town hall type meeting with season ticket holders. The meeting was moderated by Justin McCord, Interactive Services Manager.

Click to continue reading...

All FC Dallas season ticket holders will be thrilled to learn that "Bonus Game B" has been scheduled! This time, FCD fans can head out to Pizza Hut Park and enjoy a match played by a bunch of trialist and no-name players in FC Dallas shirts against a team no one has ever heard of.
While other MLS clubs get international friendlies against Barcelona or Real Madrid, FC Dallas fans get another Central American team that nobody gives a shit about! Click to continue reading...

Let's face it, this is going to be a long year. FCD is firmly entrenched at the bottom of the standings, and while there is some small hope, it's not likely at this point FCD will make the playoffs. It's a 30 game season and FCD is almost to the halfway point with only 10 points. 40 is the normal target to make the playoffs and the odds FCD can get 30 points in 17 games is slim. Click to continue reading...

So what do you do if you are the Front Office of an MLS Club who recently drew under 6,000 people to a regular season match in beautiful weather? Why you call call a town meeting of course. But is this a town meeting of Dallas soccer fanaticos? Nope. It's a town meeting of existing FC Dallas season ticket holders. Click to continue reading...

This email was received last week by FC Dallas season ticket holders...

You are valued. And your voice is important. That's why we're inviting you to a special Season Ticket Holder Town Hall meeting in the Stadium Club on Saturday, June 20.
The Town Hall will begin at 4:30pm and last for one hour.

Click to continue reading...

Kyle Davies secures his move to USA with Dallas FC.� FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock has announced that the team has acquired U.S. Under-20 men's national team defender and captain Kyle Davies from Real Salt Lake in exchange for the lower of FCD's second round picks in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

Click to continue reading...

DALLAS ACQUIRES U.S. U-20 NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAIN KYLE DAVIES

FRISCO, Texas (Tuesday, April 28, 2009) – FC Dallas General Manager Michael Hitchcock today announced that the team has acquired U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team defender and captain Kyle Davies from Real Salt Lake in exchange for the lower of FCD's second round picks in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft.

Click to continue reading...

Now we know what Hitch was was doing down in Brazil. Click to continue reading...

Ok, he has not been sacked but who doesn't see that coming?
Things have not been good in Dallas.
And apparently Michael Hitchcock wasn't good enough to keep around selling tickets or doing anything else other than overseeing soccer operations.
This comes via the most excellent FC Dallas blog, 3rd Degree. Click to continue reading...

According to multiple 3rd Degree sources, FC Dallas front office personnel were informed at a meeting just over a week ago (give or take) that General Manager Michael Hitchcock was removed from responsibility for ticket sales. The impetus for the move, according to our sources, is that as of a week ago less than 5000 tickets had been sold for the FCD opening day against the Chicago Fire. Click to continue reading...

Time is running out for FCD to make changes this spring. Ok, you got me. Technically it's not, FCD can make changes for quite some time cause the spring window doesn't close till April 15th and they can of course make trades for most of the season. But time is running out before the start of the season. Click to continue reading...

The big winter changes at FC Dallas under Schellas Hyndman have begun as FC Dallas has moved to end Duilio Davino's time with the Red Stripes. The move comes as somewhat of a surprise, albeit a welcome one, as Davino was guaranteed at $400,000 plus for 2009. Davino arrived as the big signing under Steve Morrow last winter to shore up the back line as well as assisting General Manager Michael Hitchcock in his quest to sell more tickets. Click to continue reading...

Causing headaches for FC Dallas for the second straight of season is the continued request by Pablo Ricchetti to receive the larger contract he says he was promised when he signed with Dallas. Ricchetti has recently requested a trade to the LA Galaxy or a release so he can join a team in Mexico. FCD head coach Schellas Hyndman says he's not pleased by Ricchetti's most recent move.

Click to continue reading...

Multiple 3rd Degree sources have confirmed that FC Dallas has hired Kelly Weller away from the Dallas Morning News to be the new head of Marketing and Sponsorships for the franchise. Weller has left her position as Director of Sales and Marketing for Quick, Belo's free daily news sheet targeted at the 20 to 30 demographic, to move into the sports arena with FCD. Click to continue reading...

Several juicy little bits in the Dallas Morning News yesterday. Click to continue reading...

After giving up yet another lead, this time on the road at DC United, most FC Dallas fans should have realized that 2008 is largely done. There will be no playoffs. There was the early exit to a USL-1 club in the U.S. Open. Then there was the three freakin' coaches in one year and yet there is Michael Hitchcock, smiling and smiling and looking as safe as a baby in a crib. Click to continue reading...

FC Dallas confirmed on Friday afternoon that midfielder Juan Toja had successfully completed a transfer to Romanian club FC Steaua Bucuresti.
Toja, 23, has become one of the league's most promising stars since joining the Hoops from legendary Argentinean club River Plate before the start of last season. Click to continue reading...