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 11, 2015 | ||
Stadium |
Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium Bayamón, Puerto Rico | ||
Stadium capacity | 22,000 | ||
Owner | Carmelo Anthony | ||
President | Thomas Payne | ||
Head Coach | Adrian Whitbread | ||
League | North American Soccer League | ||
2016 |
Spring: Did not enter Fall: 9th Combined: 12th Playoffs: Did not qualify | ||
Website | Club home page | ||
| |||
Puerto Rico FC is a Puerto Rican professional football team 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 plays its home games at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium. The team debuted in the 2016 fall season.
History
In June 2015, National Basketball Association (NBA) star Carmelo Anthony bought an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League, to be based in Puerto Rico. The team, named Puerto Rico FC, will debut in the 2016 fall season.[2] On August 14, 2015, Adrian Whitbread was announced as the clubs inaugural coach,[3] with Thomas Payne being appointed as president on November 10, 2015.[4][5]
Commitment to the Community
As part of their commitment to the community on May 2016, Puerto Rico FC had their first three clinics of the season in Dorado, Farjardo and Hatillo with the participation of over a hundred boys and girls. During these clinics the Puerto Rico FC players turned into coaches, teaching the children about ball control, proper goalkeeping and teamwork. After the different workshops the children faced off against the players in a friendly match. The field of Quintas de Dorado was the site of the first clinc with youth clubs Eleven FC and Toa Baja SC. Next, Puerto Rico FC visited the Tomás Donés Sports Complex and the boys and girls of Cariduros FC. To round up the first leg of clinics the players took a trip to the city of Hatillo where they trained with Hatillo SC and Leal Arecibo in the Francisco Deida Sports Complex.[6]
Clásico de Fútbol
As part of the Puerto Rican Day Parade weekend celebration, Puerto Rico FC will travel to New York City to meet the Puerto Rico national team in a friendly match. This match is part of PRFC’s ongoing preseason and build up to their inaugural match at the Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium next July 2 in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Crest and colors
The official kit provider for the club in their first season will be Nike.[7]
Season | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
2016– | Nike | Claro / Samsung |
Stadium
Puerto Rico FC are set to play their home matches at the recently renovated, Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium located in Bayamón. 10 miles from the capital city of San Juan, the 22,000-seater stadium also serves as the home stadium for the Puerto Rico national football team.
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.
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.[8]
Players and staff
Current roster
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of December 1, 2016.
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Goalkeeper | Pack, AustinAustin Pack | United States |
2 | Defender | , CristianoCristiano (Captain) | Brazil |
3 | Defender | Botero, CamiloCamilo Botero | Colombia |
4 | Defender | Dawson, RudyRudy Dawson | Costa Rica |
5 | Defender | Soria, RamónRamón Soria | Spain |
10 | Midfielder | Marrero, JosephJoseph Marrero | Puerto Rico |
11 | Midfielder | Paulo, Paulo | Brazil |
13 | Defender | Culbertson, KyleKyle Culbertson | United States |
14 | Forward | Bement, BrianBrian Bement | United States |
17 | Forward | , OliverOliver | Brazil |
18 | Goalkeeper | Spangenberg, TrevorTrevor Spangenberg | United States |
19 | Forward | Rivera, JorgeJorge Rivera | Puerto Rico |
20 | Forward | Ramos, HéctorHéctor Ramos | Puerto Rico |
21 | Midfielder | Kafari, MichaelMichael Kafari | Ghana |
23 | Forward | Rivera, SidneySidney Rivera | United States |
26 | Forward | Bardic, BljediBljedi Bardic | Montenegro |
29 | Midfielder | Rudy, TylerTyler Rudy | United States |
Coaching staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Head coach | Adrian Whitbread |
Assistant coach / Goalkeeping coach | Jack Stefanowski |
Assistant coach | Marco Vélez |
Director of community relations | Alexis Rivera[9] |
Athletic trainer | Kevin Indart |
Last updated: December 1, 2016
Source: Puerto Rico FC
Executive staff
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Owner | Carmelo Anthony |
President | Thomas Payne[10] |
Technical director | Neil Sillett[11] |
Last updated: December 1, 2016
Source: Puerto Rico FC
Honors
Domestic
- Copa Luis Villarejo
- Winners: 2016
Records
League and cup records
Season | NASL | Overall | CFU Club Championship | Top goalscorer | Managers | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Name | League | ||||
2016 | Spring | Did not enter | 12th | Did not enter | Héctor Ramos | 8th | Adrian Whitbread | |||||||
Fall | 9th | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 24 |
Top goalscorers
- As of match played October 29, 2016
Name | Years | NASL | Copa Luis Villarejo | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Héctor Ramos | 2016–present | 8 (19) | 0 (0) | 8 (19) |
2 | Sidney Rivera | 2016–present | 3 (16) | 0 (0) | 3 (16) |
3 | Tyler Rudy | 2016–present | 2 (21) | 0 (0) | 2 (21) |
4 | Paulo | 2016–present | 1 (21) | 0 (0) | 1 (21) |
Joseph Marrero | 2016–present | 1 (16) | 0 (0) | 1 (16) | |
Kyle Culbertson | 2016–present | 1 (15) | 0 (0) | 1 (15) | |
Oliver | 2016–present | 1 (9) | 0 (0) | 1 (9) | |
Bljedi Bardic | 2016–present | 1 (3) | 0 (0) | 1 (3) |
Managerial record
Information correct as of match played October 29, 2016. Only competitive matches are counted.
Name | Nat. | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %W | Honours | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adrian Whitbread | England | August 14, 2015[3] | 22 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 19 | 31 | 22.73 |
- 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
- ↑ "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.
- ↑ "Full of fun and joy the first round of PRFC community clinics".
- ↑ "Home - Puerto Rico FC".
- ↑ "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".
- ↑ "Carmelo Anthony Appoints Tom Payne As First Team President In Puerto Rico FC's History".
- ↑ "Puerto Rico Football Club Announces Head Coach And Technical Director".