Miami_FC

Miami FC

Miami FC

American soccer team

For the Football Club known as Miami FC from 2006 to 2010, see Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2006–2016).
Not to be confused with FC Miami City, Miami Fusion, or Inter Miami CF.

The Miami FC is an American professional soccer team based in Miami, Florida that competes in the USL Championship, the second tier of the American soccer pyramid.

Quick Facts Full name, Founded ...

The club began play in the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the 2016 season. Following the demise of the NASL, the club participated in the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) and the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) before moving to the USL Championship for the 2020 season. The team currently plays its home games at Riccardo Silva Stadium on the campus of Florida International University.

History

North American Soccer League

The club was announced on May 20, 2015, as the 12th North American Soccer League franchise with plans to begin play in the 2016 season and later confirmed it would play out of "Ocean First Stadiums" (Now Riccardo Silva Stadium) on the campus of FIU.[1][2] The team, co-owned by media entrepreneur Riccardo Silva and former Italy national team defender Paolo Maldini, came only one year after former England national team star and Major League Soccer legend David Beckham announced his intent to launch an MLS team in city.[3][4]

In September 2015, Alessandro Nesta was appointed as the club's first coach.[citation needed] On November 20, 2015, Italian sportswear company Macron were announced as the club's kit suppliers on a three-year deal.[5]

Nesta resigned as coach following the completion of the 2017 season, on 17 November.[6]

Miami FC 2 logo

National Premier Soccer League and 'Miami FC 2'

In January 2018, following the suspension and later cancellation of the 2018 NASL season, the organization announced the creation of "The Miami FC 2" in the National Premier Soccer League with 12 members of its 2017 NASL roster.[7][8] The intention was for Miami FC's players to play with Miami FC 2 while waiting for the NASL's proposed winter schedule to take effect.[9][10] The team hired Paul Dalglish as the new head coach on January 25.[11] The team played its home matches at its former training grounds on the campus of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens.[12]

The team went on to dominate the regular season in the NPSL's Sunshine Conference. Only one loss to Jacksonville Armada FC in the regular season led the team to finish top of the table and in the conference playoffs the beat the Armada, 3–1, to win its first NPSL trophy.[13][14] After advancing in the national playoffs, including winning the NPSL South Region, Miami FC 2 won the organization's first ever league championship when it defeated FC Motown, 3–1, for the NPSL National Championship on August 4.[15]

For the 2019 NPSL season, the team returned to playing as Miami FC and repeated its previous year's success by finishing atop the regular season table and winning the Sunshine Conference over Miami United FC, 3–2.[16] It won the South Region for a second straight year before becoming the first club to win a second NPSL National Championship when it defeated the New York Cosmos B, 3–1, and earning the organization's eighth trophy in three years.[17][18]

Historical chart of Miami's regular season performance within the American soccer pyramid

National Independent Soccer Association

On November 15, 2018, the NPSL announced that Miami would be a founding member in a new professional league, commencing with the "NPSL Founders Cup" competition from August to November 2019, followed by a full league schedule in 2020 at either division 2 or 3 level.[19][20][21] However, on July 24, 2019, it was announced that Miami would instead join the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA) for the inaugural Fall 2019 season.[22][23] The team went undefeated through seven games during the regular season, clinching the top playoff spot in the East Coast Conference. On November 9, Miami won the NISA East Coast Championship over Stumptown Athletic, its ninth trophy in three years.[24][25]

USL Championship

On December 11, 2019, former USL Championship club Ottawa Fury FC announced that it had sold its franchise rights to the Miami FC ownership group, and the club would begin competition in the league beginning with the 2020 season.[26][27]

Following the conclusion of the 2021 season, head coach and technical director Paul Dalglish left the team.[28] On November 29, former Inter Miami CF assistant coach Anthony Pulis was named Miami FC's new head coach.[29] In 2023, halfway through the season, Pulis stepped down as Head Coach. Lewis Neal was named Interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[30] Antonio Nocerino, a former AC Milan and Orlando City SC player, became the next head coach.

Sponsorship

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Record

Year-by-year

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Average attendance

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Stadium

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Players and staff

Current roster

Miami FC President and co-owner, Riccardo Silva (center) with Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima (left) and former head coach, Alessandro Nesta (right)
As of April 18, 2024[38]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract

Staff

As of November 14, 2023[39]
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Individual records

Top goalscorers

As of match played October 14, 2023

(Appearances listed in parentheses next to total)

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Most appearances

As of match played October 14, 2023

(Goals scored listed in parentheses next to total)

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Managerial records

As of match played October 14, 2023
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Club culture

Miami FC draw the bulk of their support from the suburbs in the south and west of Miami.[citation needed]

The club's mascot is Golazo, a seven-foot-tall Kingfisher bird with blue and orange feathers.[49]

Rivalries

The closest team geographically was the Fort Lauderdale Strikers with games between the two sides often labelled the FL Clásico.[50] Fixtures with the other two teams in Florida, the Tampa Bay Rowdies and Jacksonville Armada are also keenly contested. These four teams competed for the Coastal Cup over the course of the 2016 season.

After the 2016 season Tampa Bay left the NASL for the United Soccer League and Fort Lauderdale ceased operations because of financial issues. That left Jacksonville as Miami FC's only in-state rival in the NASL. Miami did however face Tampa Bay in the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open Cup, defeating the Rowdies by a score of 2–0.

When the NASL cancelled the 2018 season, Miami and Jacksonville continued their rivalry in the NPSL in both 2018 and 2019 as both clubs continued operation. The two teams would meet again in the 2023 U.S. Open Cup, which saw Miami FC winning 3–1. The team also began a rivalry against Miami United FC dubbed "Magic City Clasico". The teams met in the Second Round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup where United shocked FC, 3–1, to advance.[51] They would also meet in the 2022 Edition of the U.S. Open Cup, which Miami FC won 3–0.

They also have a local rivalry with MLS team Inter Miami, who they have played twice the US Open Cup in 2022 and 2023.

Supporters group

Dade Brigade are the official supporters group of Miami FC and they occupy the east stand of FIU Stadium which is known as the Brigade End for home games.[52] They are named for Miami-Dade County.

Honors

North American Soccer League

  • Spring championship (1): 2017
  • Fall championship (1): 2017

National Premier Soccer League

  • Sunshine Conference Championship (2): 2018, 2019
  • South Region Championship (2): 2018, 2019
  • National Championship (2): 2018, 2019

National Independent Soccer Association

  • East Coast Championship (1): 2019

Notes

  1. Competed as Miami FC 2
  2. Only competed in Fall 2019 portion of the season
  3. Until August 10, 2020
  4. Until June 20, 2023
  5. Only includes National Independent Soccer Association attendances
  6. Games were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic
  7. First seven home matches were played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were not used to find the average
  8. One regular season National Independent Soccer Association match & the 2019 NISA East Coast Championship[32][33]
  9. During the 2021 USL Championship season Dalglish tested positive for COVID-19 and was unable to perform his duties as head coach. Assistant coach Andy Thomson ran the squad for three matches between July 7 and July 17 and earned a record of 3-0-0.[45] However, USL does not acknowledge this and still lists Dalglish as the head coach during this time.

References

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    "MIAMI FC BECOMES 12TH NASL CLUB". North American Soccer League. May 20, 2015. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  2. [2]
    Kaufman, Michelle (October 28, 2015). "Miami FC strikes deal to play its home matches at FIU Stadium". The Miami Herald. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  3. [3]
    "David Beckham confirms Miami franchise in Major League Soccer". CNN. February 5, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  4. [4]
    Das, Andrew (May 20, 2015). "N.A.S.L. Will Add Miami Team in 2016, Beating David Beckham Onto Field". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  5. [5]
    "MACRON AND MIAMI FC SIGN FOR A 3 YEARS PARTNERSHIP". macron.com. Macron. November 20, 2015. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  6. [6]
    "Gianluca Di Marzio :: Nesta saluta il Miami: "Grazie di tutto. Sono pronto per una nuova sfida"" (in Italian). November 17, 2017.
  7. [7]
    "MIAMI FC RESPONDS TO NORTH AMERICAN SOCCER LEAGUE CANCELLATION OF 2018 SEASON". MiamiFC.com. Miami FC. February 27, 2018. Archived from the original on December 16, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
  8. [8]
    "THE MIAMI FC 2 SOLIDIFIES INAUGURAL ROSTER WITH 10 ADDITIONS". MiamiFC.com. Miami FC. March 5, 2018. Archived from the original on May 12, 2018. Retrieved April 13, 2018.
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    "MIAMI FC 2 TO DEBUT IN NATIONAL PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE FOR 2018 SEASON". Miami FC. January 30, 2018. Archived from the original on February 13, 2018. Retrieved January 31, 2018.
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    "RECAP: THE MIAMI FC 2 DROPS PHYSICAL MATCH TO ARMADA 1–0". The Miami FC. July 6, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
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    "MIAMI FC 2 CROWNED 2018 NPSL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS". National Premier Soccer League. August 5, 2018. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
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    "ELEVEN FOUNDING MEMBERS TO LAUNCH A NEW LEAGUE IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE NATIONAL PREMIER SOCCER LEAGUE". National Premier Soccer League. November 15, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
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    Official, NISA (July 24, 2019). ""We are very excited @TheMiamiFC is joining @NISALeague and will begin competition this Fall 2019. Miami FC has a legacy of success and we welcome the level of competition they bring to the pitch," – Mr. John Prutch, Commissioner, NISA. #MiamiFC #NISAnationpic.twitter.com/34B7puXcP6". @NISALeague. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
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    "MIAMI FC LIFTS 9TH TROPHY, WINNING NISA EAST COAST CHAMPIONSHIP 3-0 VS. STUMPTOWN ATHLETIC". Miami FC. November 9, 2019. Archived from the original on December 9, 2019. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
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    Carmenate, Achillies (November 10, 2019). "MIAMI FC WINS NISA EASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP, 9TH TROPHY IN FOUR YEARS". Lemon City Live. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
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    "Ottawa Fury FC Announce Relocation, Sale of Franchise Rights to The Miami FC". uslchampionship.com. December 11, 2019. Retrieved December 11, 2019.
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    Kaufman, Michelle (November 29, 2021). "Inter Miami assistant coach Anthony Pulis named head coach of USL club Miami FC". The Miami Herald. Retrieved November 30, 2021.
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    "Miami FC announce departure of Antony Pulis as Head Coach". miamifc.com. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
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    "Miami FC Announces Major Jersey Sponsorship Deal with Presenting Sponsor Helbiz". www.miamifc.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2020.
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    "Miami FC vs. Oakland Roots - 27 October 2019 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  33. [33]
    "Miami FC vs. Stumptown Athletic - 10 November 2019 - Soccerway". us.soccerway.com. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
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  39. [39]
    "Staff". Retrieved November 29, 2021.
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    "THE MIAMI FC APPOINTS PAUL DALGLISH AS GENERAL MANAGER" – The Miami FC, November 13, 2019
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    "Nelson Vargas Appointed as Head Coach of Miami FC". www.miamifc.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
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    "Paul Dalglish Resumes Coaching Responsibilities at Miami FC". www.miamifc.com. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  45. [45]
    Moubayed, Omar (July 12, 2021). "Miami FC Unbeaten In 4 Straight; Thrash Loudoun 4-1". Magic City Soccer. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
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    Cozzoli, Matteo (June 20, 2023). "Miami FC Announces Departure of Anthony Pulis as Head Coach". The Miami FC. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
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    "Coach Lewis Neal departs Miami FC". Miami FC. November 9, 2023. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  48. [48]
    Cozzoli, Matteo (November 14, 2023). "Miami FC Announces Antonio Nocerino as Head Coach". Miami FC. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
  49. [49]
    "Meet Golazo!".
  50. [50]
    "Fort Lauderdale Strikers Look to Win the First-Ever Florida Clasico as They Face Miami FC This Weekend".
  51. [51]
    "2018 US Open Cup round 2: Miami United eliminates shorthanded Miami FC 2". May 20, 2018. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
  52. [52]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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