The last season’s U.S. Open Cup champions and the 9th best team in the West, Houston Dynamo are getting ready for their 13th season of the MLS in their history. In the 12 years of competing in the MLS, Houston have won the MLS Cup two times, in 2006 and 2007, while finishing as the runners-up in 2011 and 2012. In 2008, Dynamo finished as the 1st team in the West which is their last and only other “big achievement” since the inaugural season of 2006.
Head Coach: Wílmer Cabrera
Former Colombian professional football player has got a long and successful coaching season behind him. Before being appointed as Houston Dynamo head coach, Wílmer Cabrera was an assistant in Suffolk College, head coach of B.W. Gottschee, led the United States national youth team U18 and U17 with whom he won the CONCACAF Championship in 2011. After that, Wílmer Cabrera was an assistant at Colorado Rapids, head coach of Chivas USA, Rio Grande Valley FC Toros and finally Houston Dynamo in 2016. His biggest achievement as a coach at Dynamo was the U.S. Open Cup title last season.
Transfers
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| Date | Name | Moving from | Moving to | Mode of Transfer |
| December 22, 2018 | Adolfo Machado | Houston Dynamo | The Strongest | Free |
| January 11, 2019 | Chris Seitz | Houston Dynamo | D.C. United | Trade |
| December 11, 2018 | Eric Alexander | Houston Dynamo | FC Cincinnati | Expansion Draft |
| January 17, 2019 | Mac Steeves | Houston Dynamo | Hartford Athletic | Free |
| December 21, 2018 | Matías Vera | San Lorenzo | Houston Dynamo | Transfer |
| January 11, 2019 | Marlon Hairston | Colorado Rapids | Houston Dynamo | Trade |
| January 30, 2019 | Maynor Figueroa | FC Dallas | Houston Dynamo | Free |
| December 24, 2018 | Aljaž Struna | Palermo | Houston Dynamo | Transfer |
| December 17, 2018 | Chris Duvall | Montreal Impact | Houston Dynamo | Trade |
| December 20, 2018 | Tommy McNamara | New York City | Houston Dynamo | Re-Entry Draft |
| January 22, 2019 | Sam Junqua | California Golden Bears | Houston Dynamo | SuperDraft |
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Expectations for the 2019 season
There are some worrying news for Dynamo Houston, as their relationship with Alberth Elis seems to get worse. Alberth Elis who wants to go out of the team, eventually will, but what then? How will Houston replace him? I’m not saying it’s impossible, but it will be hard. Really hard. However, on the bright side, the front office has added some much-needed depth and replaced some of the players with younger, and in my opinion higher quality players. All in all, Dynamo come off as a team that will fight for a playoffs spot, in fact, I would be surprised if they don’t finish in the top 7. With the new coach who is known for his defensive approach to the games, Dynamo can expect to concede fewer goals and with that comes winning more games. In conclusion, I still believe their defence is lacking, but nonetheless, Dynamo has a chance of reaching playoffs.
