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Miami United FC

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Miami United FC
Full nameMiami United Football Club
Founded2012; 12 years ago (2012)
StadiumTed Hendricks Stadium
Capacity5,221[1]
CEO & FounderRoberto Sacca
Head CoachClaudio Frean
LeagueUnited Premier Soccer League
WebsiteClub website

Miami United Football Club is an association football team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Founded in late 2012, the team made its debut in the Sunshine Conference of the National Premier Soccer League (NPSL) in 2013. The team currently competes in the United Premier Soccer League and plays their home games at Ted Hendrick Stadium, located in Hialeah, Florida.

History

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2013

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Miami United played and won their first ever game in club history vs Cape Coral Hurricanes, 3–0, May 4, 2013. Miami finished the season in 3rd place in the NPSL Sunshine Conference.

2013 brought with it the creation of the youth and women's teams, along with new head coach Ferdinando De Matthaeis. Miami United FC also struck up a partnership with nearby Miami Dade College in a joint effort to develop youth soccer in Miami.[dubiousdiscuss][citation needed]

2014

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In 2014 Miami United's official jersey and equipment supplier changed. No longer was the team's jersey and equipment supplied by Admiral, but instead by the Italian sports apparel company Garman. Italian watch and jewelry maker Gaga Milano also became the team's jersey sponsor. Miami remained heavily engaged in the community forging successful 2nd, youth and women's teams. Miami's 1st team also improved on the field by creating a club that had a mixture of veteran players and younger local players. The club finished the regular season undefeated on top of Sunshine Conference. Miami defeated both Storm FC and Tampa Marauders to claim the 2014 Sunshine Conference title. Miami then went on to face Chattanooga FC in the NPSL Southern Regional Finals, but was defeated. Despite losing to Chattanooga, because Miami won the Sunshine Conference the club still qualified for a slot in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup the following year.

After the NPSL post season, Miami United competed in an international friendly with Italian clubs Calcio Catania, Brescia Calcio and Novara Calcio. Miami won two of the three games.[dubiousdiscuss][citation needed]

2015

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In January, Miami United played the most important game in their short history, vs San Lorenzo de Almagro, the last champion of "Copa Libertadores" (the top continental club trophy in South America).

In the Spring of 2015, Miami United FC became partners with the Portuguese club C.S. Marítimo and Japanese club FC Osaka. [dubiousdiscuss][citation needed]

2016

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In January 2016, Miami United signed former Brazil international Adriano and Honduran international Julio César de León a.k.a. "Rambo" De Leon.

Miami United were crowned Champions of the Sunshine Conference. The club went on to defeat Atlanta Silverbacks in the Southern Semi-Regional Finals. After defeating Atlanta, Miami United traveled north to Tennessee to face Chattanooga FC in the NPSL Southern Regional Finals yet again. Despite losing to Chattanooga in a PK shootout, because Miami won the Sunshine Conference the club still qualified for a slot in the 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

2017

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In August 2017, Miami United were announced as one of 8 applicant teams to join the National Independent Soccer Association, subject to United States Soccer Federation approval.

2018

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Miami United reached the fourth round of the 2018 U.S. Open Cup with a 2–0 over fellow Floridian side Jacksonville Armada,[2] setting up a fourth-round tie with Major League Soccer side Orlando City SC.[3]

Name and club identity

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Due to the ever evolving diversity of Miami and the rest of South Florida in general, the name United was chosen as a means of unifying the many different peoples that make up the city, hence one of the club's mottos "Bringing the community together for the LOVE of the game." Unlike other clubs that use the title "United" as an indicator of the amalgamation of two or more clubs to form the one, as in the case of the well known English side Newcastle United, the use of the title "United" serves more as a celebratory and honorary salute to the multiple histories, legacies, players and fans of the four previous clubs that have represented the city over the years, i.e. Miami Gatos, Miami Toros, Miami Fusion, and lastly Miami FC. While Miami United F.C. has no official affiliation, nor claims to have any affiliation with any of the previous teams, the commitment to honor and celebrate the city's soccer past and cultural diversity remains a great part of the club's identity.

Kits

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Period Clothing sponsor Shirt sponsor
2012–2013 Admiral Admiral
2013–2016 Garman GaGa Milano
2017– 2023 Skyros Sports City of Hialeah
2023 – Hummel Zativa Life

Year-by-year

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Year Division League Regular Season Season Record Playoffs US Open Cup
2013 4 NPSL 3rd, Sunshine 3–2–3 did not qualify did not qualify
2014 4 NPSL 1st, Sunshine 7–3–0 Southern Regional did not qualify
2015 4 NPSL 2nd, Sunshine 6–0–4 did not qualify 2nd round
2016 4 NPSL 1st, Sunshine 9–0–1 Southern Regional did not qualify
2017 4 NPSL 2nd, Sunshine 7–4–1 did not qualify 2nd round
2018 4 NPSL 3rd, Sunshine 6–1–5 Conference Final 4th round
2019 4 NPSL 3rd, Sunshine 7–3–0 Conference Final did not qualify
2020 4 NPSL N/A 0-0-0 N/A N/A
2021 4 NPSL 1st, Sunshine 7–2–1 Conference Final 2nd Round
2024 4 UPSL 1st, Florida South 9–3–1 N/A 3rd Round

Honors

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  • Sunshine Conference Champion: 2014, 2016
  • Everglades Cup Champion: 2013, 2014

Stadium

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Miami United play their home matches at Ted Hendricks Stadium, located in Milander Park in Hialeah, Florida.

Coaching staff

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Current coaching staff

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Role Name
Head coach Argentina Claudio Frean
Assistant coach Venezuela Jose Andres Barrio


Head coaches

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Name Nation Tenure
Ricardo Alcerro  Honduras 2012–13
Ferdinando De Matthaeis  Italy 2014
Sérgio Manoel  Brazil 2015
Ricardo Páez  Venezuela 2016
Stefano Agresti  Italy 2017
Gerardo Reinoso  Argentina 2018
Ferdinando De Matthaeis  Italy 2019–2021
Claudio Frean  Argentina 2023-

References

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  1. ^ "Ted Hendricks Stadium - Hialeah, Florida".
  2. ^ Mendola, Nicholas (May 23, 2018). "WATCH: Miami United midfielder unleashes Open Cup laser". soccer.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  3. ^ Mendola, Nicholas (May 24, 2018). "U.S. Open Cup fourth round draw: New York Derby, Minnesota-Cincinnati". soccer.nbcsports.com. NBC Sports. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
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