Houston Dynamo replaces Héctor Herrera: “He has turned this club around”

Houston announced its season-ending roster moves on Wednesday, with the headline saying that Herrera's 2025 contract option was not picked up.

The club-altering decision ends Herrera's two-and-a-half season with Dynamo Orange after he posted 5g/21a in 62 games. The 34-year-old Mexican international arrived from LaLiga giants Atlético Madrid midway through the 2022 season, ushering in a new era.

“There is no world to which he returns. But he was a newcomer who was perfect for our club at that time, a club that had made the playoffs once every eight years,” general manager Pat Onstad told MLSsoccer.com.

“He helped us get back there two years in a row and won an Open Cup for us. He had a fantastic year in 1923. But by the same token he would probably be the first to tell you that that year was disappointing for him and his level.”

According to Onstad, this disappointment was due to availability. The two-time MLS All-Star posted 4g/17a in 30 games last year and then didn't debut until mid-April in 2024 after getting injured in the preseason.

“The way Héctor performed in 1923, he was an MLS Best Eleven guy and in some votes he was worthy of MVP discussion,” Onstad said. “He played at that level. Unfortunately, he suffered an injury that didn't help him get the season off to a good start and he never quite got back to that level.

“The way we set it up, there was an option this year that he could have achieved with performance, but he didn't achieve it,” Onstad continued. “It was a difficult decision; Not an easy task, that's for sure, and one that we went back and forth on. But I think at this point we have a good core, we're excited for our core to come back and we want to get a little younger and then move on.”

Of course, the question is where Houston will go from here. Herrera was on the designated player list, wore the captain's armband and was the midfield engine of the Dynamo, driving their resurgence under head coach Ben Olsen.

Should Dynamo fans expect another high-profile signing to complement DP striker Ezequiel Ponce? At the very least, they are looking for a midfielder and are looking at Coco Carrasquilla taking over Herrera's role.

“Héctor has had a big part in the way we play now, where we are a possession-based team and try to overload the central midfield,” Onstad said. “It was for better or worse for my heart; lots of dummies and funny flicks in midfield. They have a lot of fun and are good at leaving other teams behind.

“I think that’s what we want to continue to be. But it won't be easy to replace Héctor Herrera. This is a difficult task and a difficult question. In order for us to continue playing the way we do, we need to find a truly impactful player. Regardless of whether it is a DP or a TAM player, you definitely have to find a very good football player who is comfortable on the ball and can play with Amine Bassi, Coco Carrasquilla and Artur.”

Still, a bad ending remains: Herrera's last act for Houston was a red card in the Audi 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs against Seattle Sounders FC for spitting near referee Armando Villarreal. Houston was tied 0-0 at the time and tried to force a Game 3 in the best-of-3 first-round series, but was eliminated on penalties.

Onstad hopes this moment does not tarnish Herrera's legacy and his importance to Dynamo.

“It’s unfortunate because it’s not in keeping with his character,” Onstad said. “He was probably a little frustrated with how the season had turned out for him and where he was at.

“And when we look back on the signing, he will be one of the greatest signings in Dynamo history. He turned the club around and gave the boys in the dressing room the confidence to play a certain style and have pride on the pitch and believe we can compete with any team in the league. It's not just because of one player, but he helped bring this group together. There is some risk involved, but in our opinion it was the best time for both parties to part ways.”