D.C. United
D.C. United is an American football franchise of the Major League Soccer ( MLS ) in Washington, DC. The franchise was founded in 1994 and participated in the inaugural season in 1996 on the game mode. D.C. United is the most successful team in the MLS. Mascot of the club is an eagle named " Talon ".
- 7.1 Current Senior Squad
- 7.2 Existing Players
- 7.3 Coaching staff
- 7.4 Existing trainer
- 9.1 record this season
- 9.2 Club Records
- 9.3 Visitors section
History
D.C. United was founded in 1995. The team's name refers to Washington DC as the capital of the United States. "United" was chosen because it is a typical British name for a football club. However United in the UK is usually chosen for a club that has emerged from an amalgamation of two clubs.
In the very first MLS season, United secured the Double. In the MLS Cup they beat Los Angeles Galaxy, a week later they won by defeating the Rochester Raging Rhinos of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. A year later brought United the championship again. Thus, the club has managed to date the only title defense. 1998, United won the first American club to the CONCACAF Champions Cup with a 1-0 victory over Mexican side Club Toluca. In the same year the club won the Copa Interamericana relatively insignificant against the Brazilian club Vasco da Gama. After the season, success coach Bruce Arena left the club and was coach of the national football team of the United States.
His successor was the Dutchman Thomas Rongen, who led United in his first season to the third championship. The following two seasons joined the club from the last to the Eastern Division and Rongen had after the 2001 season, taking his hat. Ironically, the club reached in two of the three seasons in which the playoffs were missed, the highest average attendance of the club's history. New coach was Ray Hudson, who at least reached the playoffs after another last place in the Eastern Conference in 2003.
On 18 November 2003 wrote D.C. United sporting history, when the club the then four -year-old Freddy Adu took them under contract. On 16 January 2004 United Adu chose the MLS SuperDraft as the first player out. His MLS debut Adu on 3 April 2004 as a substitute. He became the youngest U.S. professional athletes since 1887.
In 2004, Piotr Nowak as coach. Despite major injury concerns and a variety of complaints from players about Nowak's methods of training the team reached through a final sprint back to the playoffs. The Argentine Christian Gomez, who was signed during the season, proved to be hit. In the semifinals, United New England Revolution beat on penalties. This game is considered by many MLS fans as the best game of the league history. Subsequently, United won the MLS Cup with a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Wizards.
In 2005, D.C. United is the first U.S. team to the South American Copa Sudamericana part. In the second round would retire just against the Chilean representatives Club Deportivo Universidad Católica of Santiago de Chile. A year later won D.C. United MLS Supporter 's Shield, and did again in 2007 part of the CONCACAF Champions Cup. 2006 was United friendlies against top European teams. The Scottish champions Celtic FC was beaten 4-0. Against Real Madrid there was a 1-1 draw.
In December 2006, Piotr Nowak resigned as coach and was assistant coach of the U.S. national team. New coach Tom Soehn was. Also in December 2006, the exchange of Freddy Adu to Real Salt Lake was known. On 8 January 2007, the operational orders over DC United from the previous owner Anschutz Entertainment Group to the DC were United Holding, a newly established group of investors sold.
DC United qualified as the best team in the MLS Regular Season 2007 for the CONCACAF Champions League 2008 /09. After the 4th round of group stage, the team had no chance to get into the next round. Also in the North American SuperLiga United could not get the group stage. In the three games the team did not manage a single point gain.
2008 DC United won for the second time in its history the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. On 3 September 2008, Washington, Charleston Battery beat 2-1. The scorers were the two Brazilian Luciano Emilio and Fred.
In the 2008 MLS season DC United, with only the 6th place in the Eastern Conference and could thus be the first time since 2002 to qualify for the play-offs. September 2, 2009 DC United was again in the final of the U.S. Open Cup. The team from Washington defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2-1. The MLS season in 2009 had the capital city without qualifying for the play-offs end.
In the CONCACAF Champions League 2009/10 the team finished in third place in Group B. This eliminated United from.
The 2010 season was the worst so far since the founding of the MLS for United. The team ranked 8th in the Eastern Conference and the last place in the overall table. Because of the previous coach Curt Onalfo was released in August 2010. The former MLS player Ben Olsen, previously Assistant coach Onalfo, took over as interim solution the post of head coach. At the end of the season he was officially confirmed as a coach. In the U.S. Open Cup made it to the semifinals DC and retired from there against the Columbus Crew.
Colours and Coat of Arms
The team colors and logo of the club were presented on 17 October 1995. Black and red are primary colors of D.C. United. The home jerseys are decorated in red, outwardly plays the team in white. The three stripes on the shoulder of the jerseys to symbolize the three major administrative units in the Washington Metropolitan Area: District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland. For the home jersey they are white and on the Away Jerseys they are red. White and red are also the colors of the flag of Washington, DC and the strips are also found in the image flags.
The original coat of arms was the team name, DC United, and a black eagle seen on red ground. In addition, in the lower part of the coat of arms three stars were imaged with three soccer balls, which in turn represented the three administrative areas Washington DC, Virginia and Maryland. The bald eagle on the emblem symbolizes the one Washington as the capital of the U.S., on the other hand, the properties of the team: speed and power. Before the 2008 season, the logo was revised. The eagle is now shown shadowy and the three stars are gone. Now only sports a star in the center of the bird. This football star symbolizes winning the MLS Cup in 1996.
Stadium
- Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium; Washington, D.C. (1996 -)
- Klöckner Stadium; Charlottesville, Virginia ( 1996) 1 game in U.S. Open Cup
- Maryland SoccerPlex; German Town, Maryland (2001 -) various games in U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions ' Cup
- Richmond City Stadium; Richmond, Virginia ( 2001) 1 game in U.S. Open Cup
- George Mason Stadium; Fairfax, Virginia ( 2010) 1 game in U.S. Open Cup
Since the club was founded the club (abbreviated RFK often ) plays in the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium. The stadium can accommodate 56,454 spectators. By 2007, told D.C. United stadium with the Washington Nationals of Major League Baseball, has now had some play in the newly built Nationals Park. The D.C. United Training Complex is located north of the stadium. There plays the reserve team of MLS franchises.
It has long run plans for a soccer -specific stadium, but so far, no site could be found. After projects have failed at two sites ( in the metropolitan area of Washington DC on the Anacostia River and neighboring Prince George's County ( Maryland)), the fans were worried that the team could therefore move to another city. A set arrived in late 2009 proposal is to build in nearby Baltimore ( Maryland), a new home. A result is not yet available.
Fans, sponsors and rivalries
Fan groups
The club has three large fan: The " Barra Brava ", the " Screaming Eagles " and "La Norte ".
Sponsor
Since 6 May 2008, Volkswagen Group of America is the official shirt sponsor of the club. The U.S. subsidiary of Volkswagen AG signed a five- year contract for $ 14 million from with United. Other sponsors include Adidas, GEICO, Verizon Wireless, and Papa John 's Pizza.
Rivalries
Archrival of D.C. United are New York Red Bulls (formerly the NY / NJ MetroStars and MetroStars ). Both clubs play in each season with the "Atlantic Cup". This competition was introduced by the management of both clubs. The winner is the team that wins the most points from the direct comparisons of both teams.
Moreover, there is a unique for the MLS rivalry with Charleston Battery of the USL First Division. The fans of both clubs established the " Coffee Pot Cup" to play the two clubs a year in friendlies.
The billionaire George Soros was the director of Washington Soccer LP, which in 1995 the rights to DC United held. Soto was the main funder of the franchise. The current President and Chief Executive Officer of DC United, Kevin Payne, was then already part of the group of owners. Since 1998, has been looking for new investors. On 15 February 2001 it was decided the rights to DC United to sell to the Anschutz Entertainment Group. Until 2007 the club was operating under this owner.
On 8 January 2007, D.C. bought United Holdings, a group of investors to Victor MacFarlane and William HC Chang, the rights to the MLS franchise. The other investors were the current president Kevin Payne and the two former basketball players Brian Davis and Christian Laettner. In April 2009, Victor MacFarlane sold his share to Chang after his two stadiums proposals were rejected. Thus Chang were 98% of the D.C. United Holdings. In October of the same year Chang bought also the remaining 2 % of the shares of Davis and Laettner. In addition to DC United, he is also the main investor of the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball.
Media
All matches of D.C. United will be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet regional stations network. Selected home games can also be seen in high definition. The national sports channel ESPN 2 and ESPN 2 HD transfer the top matches of the team. About the radio station WDCN LP the games can in Spanish in Washington, DC be received.
Players and staff
Current Senior Squad
As of June 26, 2013
Existing players
Coaching staff
As of June 26, 2013
- United States Ben Olsen ( Trainer)
- United States Chad Ashton ( assistant coach )
- United States Josh Wolff ( assistant coach )
- United States Preston Burpo (assistant coach )
Previous coach
- United States Bruce Arena (1996-1998)
- Thomas Rongen Netherlands (1999-2001)
- England Ray Hudson (2002-2003)
- Poland Piotr Nowak (2004-2006)
- United States Tom Soehn (2006-2009)
- United States Curt Onalfo (2009-2010)
- United States Ben Olsen (2010 -)
Achievements
- CONCACAF Champions ' Cup Winner ( 1): 1998
- MLS Cup Winners ( 4): 1996, 1997, 1999, 2004
- Finale ( 1): 1998
- MLS Supporters' Shield Winners (4): 1997, 1999, 2006, 2007
- Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Winners ( 3): 1996, 2008, 2013
- Finale ( 2): 1997, 2009
- CONCACAF Giants Cup Finale ( 1): 2001
- Copa Interamericana Winner ( 1): 1998
- Other successes Atlantic Cup ( 7): 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
- Carolina Challenge Cup (1 ): 2010
- MLS Reserve Division ( 1): 2005
Statistics
Record this season
Club Records
These records relate to the regular season up to and including the 2008 season:
- Most Games: Bolivia Jaime Moreno, 279
- Top goals: Bolivia Jaime Moreno, 121
- Most Assists: Marco Etcheverry of Bolivia, 101
- Most clean sheets: United States Nick Rimando, 29