The long-term contract agreement between FC Cincinnati and head coach Pat Noonan has been agreed upon, the team announced on Tuesday.

Noonan’s extension secures the club’s long-term future as they build off an Audi MLS Cup Playoffs trip for the second consecutive year and a 2023 MLS Supporters’ Shield championship. Similar deals for general manager Chris Albright and captain Luciano Acosta were also signed in recent weeks.

In 2022, Noonan and Albright—both of whom had previously played for the Philadelphia Union—began molding the team. Since Cincy joined MLS as an expansion team in 2019 and struggled to three consecutive last-place finishes (2019–21), their leadership has led to a dramatic turnaround.

Pat and his family will remain with us at FC Cincinnati, which makes us very happy,” Albright stated in a statement. “His skill, leadership, and calm demeanor have produced amazing on-field outcomes, including our first MLS trophy.”

“We have a lot of years ahead of us, and Pat has quickly established himself as one of our league’s top coaches.

With FC Cincinnati, Noonan has amassed a 39W-16L-25D record overall and, in regular season play, his 63.4% win percentage is the second-best of any head coach in the history of the Major League Soccer (MLS). He only falls short of Tata Martino’s 64.7% performance in 2017–18 with Atlanta United on the latter statistic.

After Martino (36) and Steve Cherundolo of LAFC (35), Noonan’s 32 victories in his first two seasons as a head coach in the league are tied for third most in the MLS post-shootout era. When Cincinnati hosts Atlanta for Decision Day on Saturday (6 pm ET | MLS Season Pass), he has the opportunity to increase that sum.

“Since joining the team two years ago, Pat has elevated this team to unprecedented levels,” stated Carl H. Lindner III, FC Cincinnati’s co-CEO and controlling owner. “With confidence, he has guided our team to the 2023 Supporters’ Shield, leading the club.” We are excited about our future under Pat’s leadership and are happy to extend his contract as FC Cincinnati’s head coach.

Cincinnati has scored 119 goals in league play under Noonan, tied with LAFC for the second-most goals scored in the last two regular seasons (Philadelphia Union, 128). Cincinnati’s distinctive playing style has helped them achieve this feat. With the third-most clean sheets (12) and the fourth-fewest goals (37) allowed this season, FCC’s defense has been among the finest in the league.