Puerto Rico FC
Full name | Puerto Rico Football Club[1] | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) |
La Tropa Naranja ("The Orange Troop") Naranjas ("Oranges") | |||
Short name | PRFC | |||
Founded | June 9, 2015 | |||
Stadium |
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium Bayamón, Puerto Rico | |||
Capacity | 22,000 | |||
Owner | Carmelo Anthony | |||
President | Vacant | |||
Head coach | Marco Vélez | |||
League | North American Soccer League | |||
2017 |
Spring: 8th Fall: 6th Combined: 8th Playoffs: Did not qualify | |||
Website | Club website | |||
| ||||
Puerto Rico FC is a professional football club based in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. Founded in 2015, the team plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The team debuted in the 2016 fall season. The team played its home games at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium until the stadium was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in September 2017.[2]
History
In June 2015, National Basketball Association (NBA) star Carmelo Anthony announced that he is bringing football back to Puerto Rico with a new North American Soccer League expansion franchise. The announcement took place in Bayamon, Puerto Rico; the future home base of Puerto Rico FC, scheduled to begin its first season at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium in the 2016 fall season.[3]
2016 season
On August 14, 2015, Adrian Whitbread was announced as the club's inaugural coach,[4] with Thomas Payne being appointed as president on November 10, 2015.[5][6]
North American Soccer League season
Puerto Rico FC made their home debut on July 2, 2016 at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, drawing 1-1 to Indy Eleven, in front of a crowd of 6,474. Hector Ramos scored the team's first ever league goal in the 74th minute. Their first victory came against Rayo OKC on July 23, 2016, winning 1–0. They won 4 of their last 7 games to move up from 12th place to 9th, and ended their Fall season with 24 points finishing with a 5-9-8 record.
Puerto Rican international player; Hector Ramos led the team in scoring with 8 goals.
2017 season
On January 26, CONCACAF announced PRFC would host group D in the 2017 CFU Club Championship at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium starting March 14.[7]
CFU Club Championship
Their first match in the tournament came against S.V. Transvaal of Suriname; whom they beat 1-0, thanks to Hector Ramos hitting the penalty shot in the 28th minute. The second match up came against Portmore United of Jamaica. They lost 1-0 late in the 88th minute. Shortly before the start of third match, Puerto Rico was eliminated from the tournament due to Portmore United finishing the group stage with three wins from games. PRFC played well defeating Scholars International SC of the Cayman Islands 4-0; with goals coming from debuted Mike Ramos, Sidney Rivera, Brian Bement, Cristiano Dias.
Puerto Rico finished the tournament 2-0-1.
North American Soccer League season
On May 19, 2017; Puerto Rico FC announced that Adrian Whitbread had been relieved of coaching duties and Neil Sillett as technical dirctor; Marco Velez was named as interim Head Coach.[8]
Crest and colors
The team's colors are orange and white.
Kit evolution
Home and away kits.
- Home
2016-
|
- Away
2016
|
2017-
|
Sponsorship
The official kit provider for the club in their first season will be Nike.[9]
Season | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
2016–present | Nike | Front: Claro Back: Samsung Secondary: |
- Logo 2015–present
Stadium
Puerto Rico FC played their home matches at the renovated Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium located in Bayamón. 10 miles from the capital city of San Juan, The "JRL", as it is now known, was originally a baseball stadium scheduled for demolition, and in 2003, it was converted into a football stadium for the Islanders. Until it was damaged by Hurricane Maria, the 22,000-seater stadium also served as the home to all levels of the Puerto Rico national football team as well as the Bayamon' affiliate team in the Puerto Rico Soccer League, Bayamón FC.
Club culture
Supporters
Puerto Rico FC has two supporters' groups: La Barra Naranja and the United States-based group La Legión Extranjera. Puerto Rico FC supporters' groups were founded during the times of the Puerto Rico Islanders.
Rivalries
The club's main rivalry is the New York Cosmos, when the club announced a PR/NY Derby for the first game of the 2017 season.[10] The Oranges currently have a record of 0 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie against their New York rivals.
Broadcasting
On June 29, 2016, Puerto Rico FC signed an exclusive deal with local television channel WAPA TV. Puerto Rico FC home and away matches are televised on WAPA 2 Deportes.[11]
Players and staff
Current roster
Following the announcement by the NASL that there would be no 2018 season, the players were advised by Puerto Rico FC to look for playing opportunities beyond Puerto Rico.[2]
Technical staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Head coach | |
Assistant coach / Goalkeeping coach | Vacant |
Director of community relations | |
Athletic trainer | |
Equipment Manager |
Last updated: May 18, 2017
Source: Puerto Rico FC
Executive staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Owner | |
President | Vacant |
Technical director | Vacant |
Last updated: May 18, 2017
Source: Puerto Rico FC
Honors
Domestic
- Copa Luis Villarejo
- Winners: 2016
- Bayamon City Cup
- Winners: 2017
Records
Year-by-year
Season | NASL | Overall | Playoffs | CFU Club Championship | Top goalscorer | Managers | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor | Avg. Attendance | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Name | League | ||||||||
2016 | Spring | Did not enter | 12th | Did not qualify | N/A | 8 | Nike | Claro | 3,801 | |||||||||
Fall | 9th | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 24 | ||||||||||
2017 | Spring | 8th | 16 | 1 | 6 | 9 | 19 | 28 | 9 | 8th | Did not qualify | 1R | 5 | 3,401 [13] | ||||
Fall | 8th | 16 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 23 | 13 |
Top goalscorers
- As of match played February 15, 2017
Name | Years | NASL | Copa Luis Villarejo | CFU Club Championship | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2016–2017 | 18 (40) | 4 (2) | 0 (0) | 12 (19) | |
2 | 2016–2017 | 3 (16) | 1 (1) | 1 (1) | 4 (16) | |
3 | 2016–2017 | 2 (21) | 0 (3) | 0 (0) | 2 (21) | |
4 | 2016 | 1 (21) | 0 (2) | 0 (0) | 1 (21) | |
2016–2017 | 1 (16) | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 2 (16) | ||
2016–2017 | 1 (15) | 1 (2) | 0 (0) | 2 (15) | ||
2016 | 1 (9) | 2 (2) | 0 (0) | 3 (9) | ||
2016 | 1 (3) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 1 (3) | ||
2016–2017 | 0 (0) | 2 (1) | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | ||
2016–2017 | 0 (0) | 2 (0) | 1 (1) | 2 (0) | ||
2016–2017 | 0 (0) | 1 (2) | 1 (1) | 1 (0) | ||
Captains
- Only captains in competitive matches are included.
- Players marked in bold are still playing in the team.
Captain | Nationality | Years |
---|---|---|
Cristiano | 2016–2017 | |
Yuma | 2017 | |
Managerial record
Information correct as of match played August 31, 2017. Only competitive matches are counted.
Name | Nat. | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %W | Honours | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adrian Whitbread | August 14, 2015[4] | May 18, 2017[14] | 29 | 5 | 12 | 12 | 28 | 44 | 17.24 | |||
Marco Vélez Interim | May 18, 2017[14] | August 2, 2017 [15] | 9 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 11.11 | |||
Marco Vélez | August 2, 2017 [15] | 6 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 33.33 | ||||
- Notes:
P – Total of played matches
W – Won matches
D – Drawn matches
L – Lost matches
GS – Goal scored
GA – Goals against
%W – Percentage of matches won
Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).
References
- ↑ http://www.puertoricofc.com/release.pdf
- 1 2 Pagán Rivera, Esteban (27 February 2018). "The Puerto Rico Football Club is left without a league for 2018". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ↑ "NBA star Carmelo Anthony announces purchase of NASL team Puerto Rico FC". espnfc.co.uk. ESPN FC. 11 June 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
- 1 2 "Puerto Rico Football Club announced head coach and technical director". NASL. 24 August 2015.
- ↑ "Carmelo Anthony's Puerto Rico FC Joins North American Soccer League". NASL.com. June 11, 2015. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ↑ Carlisle, Jeff (June 11, 2015). "Carmelo Anthony talks about his new venture, NASL side Puerto Rico FC". ESPN FC. ESPN.com. Retrieved June 11, 2015.
- ↑ "PUERTO RICO FC WILL BE IN THE 2017 CARIBBEAN CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP".
- ↑ "Puerto Rico FC Parts Ways With Coach Adrian Whitbread, Technical Director Neil Sillett". NASL. May 19, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ↑ "Home - Puerto Rico FC".
- ↑ "THE 2017 NASL SCHEDULE IS HERE! FIND OUT WHO IS PRFC'S FIRST RIVAL". Puerto Rico FC. February 6, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ↑ "PUERTO RICO FC ANNOUNCES TV PARTNERSHIP WITH WAPA 2". puertoricofc.com. Puerto Rico FC. June 29, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ↑ "Puerto Rico National Team legend joins Puerto Rico FC's front office".
- ↑ Five home games moved to other venues due to stadium damage caused by Hurricane Maria.
- 1 2 "PRFC PARTS WAYS WITH ADRIAN WHITBREAD AND NEIL SILLETT". Puerto Rico FC. May 18, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- 1 2 "MARCO VÉLEZ NAMED HEAD COACH FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2017 SEASON". Puerto Rico FC. August 2, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.