Austin FC keeps a low budget for first year

Austin FC spent millions less than several breakout clubs, including one of the most successful expansion franchises ever, LAFC. The club spent less than most recent clubs Inter Miami and Nashville SC, both of which expanded in 2020, but spent nearly double that of Minnesota United, which spent just $5.8 million in 2017.

This is despite exponentially increasing salary averages in MLS in the past six years. The average base salary for non-Designated Players on the senior roster has more than doubled in that time frame, according to the MLSPA.

Austin FC spreads the wealth compared to other expansion clubs

Austin FC spent 18.6% percent of its salary on their highest-paid player, Cecilio Dominguez. That's a smaller percentage than six of the eight expansion teams since 2015.

Expansion clubs have a choice when they join the league: build up a roster of mid-range names and homegrown players or bank on a big-name star to build the team's reputation. For instance, Orlando City paid only one player over a million in their inaugural season, Kaka, and they spent a whopping $7 million, more than any other team on the list.

LAFC's successful 2018 campaign was headlined by DP Carlos Vela, who joined the club for a pretty penny ($6.3 million) and built a formidable identity behind him.

Nashville SC, who Austin FC is playing this weekend, was even more frugal than Austin in their first year and still beat their lavishly-spending expansion counterparts, Miami, in the 2020 playoffs. A recent article by The Tennessean recommends that Austin FC follow in the club's footsteps and build on a strong defense.

Austin FC is built not so much on star power but on a mix of young potential and veteran leadership. DP Tomas Pochettino isn't even the second-highest-paid player on the roster; instead, Captain Alex Ring is the second player behind Dominguez to have a $1 million-plus salary. Players that have proven to be key cogs in the Austin FC machine, including Daniel Pereira, Jon Gallagher and Jared Stroud, signed for less than $100,000 apiece. Meanwhile, longtime MLSers Matt Besler ($650,000) and Diego Fagundez ($400,000) balance out the list.

What could come

Austin FC clearly knew who to choose when finding players with potential rather than fame, but it could be time to switch gears.

The club is still without a definitive striker as Danny Hoesen and Gallagher attempt to solidify their place at the front of the pitch. Meanwhile, an injury-ridden defense could mean that the club would sign a rare defender as their next Designated Player.

Still, it's more likely that the club will look for a crowning jewel as they enter the summer transfer window, as Sporting Director Claudio Reyna has said. If the club doesn't find their groove again soon, that window will be more than welcome for the MLSs' newest team.