Soccer has enjoyed longstanding popularity in Los Angeles. As of 2018 there are two professional soccer clubs in the city that play in Major League Soccer: LA Galaxy and Los Angeles FC. The Los Angeles area is also home to two lower tier professional teams in the United Soccer League: Orange County SC and LA Galaxy II, the reserve side of LA Galaxy, and many semi-professional clubs and leagues including the United Premier Soccer League, SoCal Premier League and National Premier League, among others.
Video Soccer in Los Angeles
History
Soccer in Los Angeles began in the 19th century when the Southern California Football League was founded in 1902.
Historic clubs
Los Angeles Kickers
The LA Kickers were the first LA area team to win the National Challenge Cup, known today as the U.S. Open Cup.
Maccabi Los Angeles
LA Maccabi won the U.S. Open Cup, known in their time as the National Challenge Cup, a record number five times.
Orange County Soccer Club
The Orange County Soccer Club was a two-time consecutive finalist of the National Challenge Cup, in 1966 and '67. OCSC played Bayern Munich at Santa Ana Stadium in 1966.
Los Angeles Aztecs
The LA Aztecs won the NASL National Championship in their inaugural season, 1974. They played in many stadiums, including the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Aztecs folded in 1981.
California Sunshine
The California Sunshine, an Orange County based pro team, played in the ASL.
Chivas USA
Club Deportivo Chivas USA was a joint venture between Chivas de Guadalajara owner Jorge Vergara, partner Antonio Cué, and Major League Soccer, that operated Chivas trademarks in the United States through the Delaware entity called Chivas de Guadalajara Licensing, LLC. The team folded in 2014.
Historic season records
Los Angeles Wolves (USA and NASL) (1967-1968)
Los Angeles Aztecs (NASL) (1974-81)
Several years after the formation of the North American Soccer League in 1968, the Los Angeles Aztecs joined NASL as an expansion team in 1974, and played from 1974 until 1981, folding after the 1981 season. The team featured international superstars such as George Best and Johan Cruyff. The team was at its most popular in 1979 and 1980, averaging over 12,000 fans both seasons.
California Surf (NASL) (1978-1981)
Chivas USA (MLS) (2005-2014)
Maps Soccer in Los Angeles
Professional clubs, Modern era
LA Galaxy (MLS) (1996-present)
The launch of Major League Soccer in 1996 included the newly formed Los Angeles Galaxy as one of the founding teams. LA Soccer Partners were the original owners; Anschutz Entertainment Group is the current owner. The Galaxy won the CONCACAF Champions Cup in 2000.
Los Angeles FC (MLS) (2018-present)
Los Angeles derbies
LA Galaxy vs Chivas USA (2008-2014)
The rivalry ended in 2014 when Chivas ceased operations.
LA Galaxy vs Los Angeles FC (2018-present)
Los Angeles FC joined the league in 2018 and a crosstown rivalry, El Tráfico, was created.
Amateur and Semi-professional
Amateur and Semi-professional leagues
- United Premier Soccer League
- SoCal Premier League
- Premier Development League
- National Premier Soccer League
Amateur and Semi-professional clubs
- California United FC II (UPSL)
- Cal FC (UPSL, proposed for Summer 2018)
- Deportivo Coras USA (NPSL)
- FC Golden State Force (NPSL/PDL)
- FC Santa Clarita (UPSL)
- La Máquina FC (UPSL)
- L.A. Wolves FC (UPSL)
- Orange County FC (NPSL)
- Oxnard Guerreros FC (NPSL)
- San Nicolas FC (UPSL)
- Santa Ana Winds FC (UPSL)
- Temecula FC (NPSL)
- Ventura County Fusion (PDL)
Most successful clubs overall
Teams in italics are no longer active.
Stadia
- Rose Bowl: Hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup Final
- StubHub Center: Second American sports arena designed specifically for soccer in the MLS era. Used historically by the LA Galaxy and Chivas USA.
- Banc of California Stadium: Stadium for Los Angeles FC, plans to open April 29, 2018.
- Santa Ana Stadium: A site for historic soccer exhibition games. The historic Orange County Soccer Club played Bayern Munich at this stadium in 1966. Other games included the following:
Women's soccer
In 2009, Los Angeles became home to a third top-level professional team, the Los Angeles Sol, a charter member of Women's Professional Soccer. WPS was the second attempt to establish a fully professional women's league in the U.S., after the demise of the Women's United Soccer Association (which did not have an L.A. representative). The Sol shared The Home Depot Center, now known as StubHub Center, with the Galaxy and Chivas USA, before ceasing operations in January 2010.
WPS folded after the 2011 season; its effective successor, the National Women's Soccer League, does not have a franchise in Los Angeles, nor in California.
See also
- Soccer in the United States
- Soccer in Houston
- Soccer in New York City
- History of professional soccer in Seattle
References
Source of article : Wikipedia
0 Comments