Puerto Rico FC
Full name | Puerto Rico Football Club[1] | ||
---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Naranjas | ||
Short name | PRFC | ||
Founded | June 11, 2015 | ||
Stadium | Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium Bayamón, Puerto Rico | ||
Capacity | 22,000 | ||
Owner | Carmelo Anthony | ||
President | Thomas Payne | ||
Head Coach | Adrian Whitbread | ||
League | North American Soccer League | ||
2016 | Spring: Did not enter Fall: TBD Combined: TBD Playoffs: TBD | ||
Website | http://puertoricofc.com | ||
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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
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. Squad correct as of July 23, 2016.
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Out on loan
No. | Position | Player | Nation |
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Staff
- Adrian Whitbread – Head Coach
- Jack Stefanowski – Assistant/GK Coach
- Marco Vélez – Assistant Coach
- Thomas Payne – President[9]
- Neil Sillett – Technical Director[10]
- Alexis Rivera – Community Relations Director[11]
- Kevin Indart – Athletic Trainer
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 | - | Adrian Whitbread | ||||||||||
Fall |
Top goalscorers
- As of match played August 3, 2016
Name | Years | NASL | CFU Club Championship | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Héctor Ramos | 2016–present | 5 (7) | 0 (0) | 5 (7) |
2 | Tyler Rudy | 2016–present | 1 (7) | 0 (0) | 1 (7) |
Managerial record
Information correct as of match played August 3, 2016. Only competitive matches are counted.
Name | Nat. | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %W | Honours | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adrian Whitbread | England | 14 August 2015[3] | 7 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 14.29 |
- 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. June 11, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Puerto Rico Football Club announced head coach and technical director". NASL. August 24, 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.
- ^ http://www.puertoricofc.com/news/2016/05/23/full-of-fun-and-joy-the-first-round-of-prfc-community-clinics
- ^ http://www.puertoricofc.com
- ^ "PUERTO RICO FC ANNOUNCES TV PARTNERSHIP WITH WAPA 2". puertoricofc.com. Puerto Rico FC. June 29, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
- ^ http://www.nasl.com/news/2015/11/10/carmelo-anthony-appoints-tom-payne-as-puerto-rico-fcs-first-president
- ^ http://www.nasl.com/news/2015/08/24/puerto-rico-football-club-announces-head-coach-and-technical-director-
- ^ http://www.puertoricofc.com/news/2016/05/05/puerto-rico-national-team-legend-joins-puerto-rico-fcs-front-office