The Boys Are Back: First Day of St. Louis City SC training in 2026

New St. Louis City SC Head Coach, Yoann Damet, standing at Energizer Park

A New Voice Sets the Tone

Any new leader in an organization must set the tone early. Yoann Damet wasted no time doing exactly that as St. Louis City SC opened training for the 2026 season. He discussed his initial message to the player....

Damet also acknowledged that while he likes the current group, a clear plan is in place to improve the roster as the club continues to shape the team for the season ahead...

While Damet did not go into specifics, he emphasized that there is a clear plan guiding how the roster and the style of play will continue to take shape...

Captain Roman Bürki Sets the Standard For Roman Bürki, the tone of this season will not be set by words but by which players continue to show up with energy and commitment once the grind of preseason truly begins...

Bürki also mentioned that he and Damet have already had honest conversations about what went wrong the last couple of seasons and how open communication will be central to fixing it. ..

Despite missing the postseason the last two years, Bürki said he has no doubt this group is capable of making the playoffs, even if a few additions are still needed...

Bürki added that the front office has its own timeline for delivering on the plan they presented, and that those promises should be evaluated once that time has passed...

Marcel Hartel Steps Into a Bigger Role as STL City SC Resets

Hartel said the tone was set before training even began, describing a coffee meeting with Damet where the new coach laid out exactly how he wants the team to play...

Hartel said that in the first training session today, Damet walked the squad through exactly how he wants the team to play with the ball and against the ball...

Hartel also pointed to the character inside the locker room, saying the group is ready to step out of its comfort zone and take more responsibility after last season’s disappointment...

Now stepping into his new role as vice captain, Hartel said his goal is to lead by example, push standards in training, and help drive the team toward its expectations for the season ahead.

With Damet laying out the plan, Bürki reinforcing the standard, and Hartel stepping into a larger leadership role, STL City SC opens 2026 with a foundation to build on as a long season awaits.