MetroStars
{{MLS team |
Name = MetroStars |
Badge = Metrostars_logo.gif |
Year founded =
1995 | Stadium =
Giants Stadium |
Coach =
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pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=ED000C
Games =
Mike Petke, 134 | Goals =
Giovanni Savarese, 41 | Assists =
Tab Ramos, 36 | Points =
Giovanni Savarese, 94 | Shutouts =
Tony Meola, 20 First game =
Los Angeles Galaxy 2 - 1 MetroStars
(Rose Bowl; April 13, 1996) | Largest win = MetroStars 5 - 0
Los Angeles Galaxy(Giants Stadium; June 15, 2002) | Largest loss =
Kansas City Wizards 6 - 0 MetroStars
(Arrowhead Stadium; June 20, 1999) |
Supporters' Shield = None |
MLS Cup = None |
US Open Cup = None |
The
MetroStars was the name of a
soccer club based in
New Jersey that participated in
Major League Soccer between 1996 and 2005. On
March 9,
2006, the club was purchased by
Red Bull and re-branded as
Red Bull New York with the playing team being known as the
New York Red Bulls.
The club played its home matches at
Giants Stadium located at the
Meadowlands Sports Complex in
East Rutherford; the headquarters were located in
Secaucus. The team colors were red, black, and gold. During the team's first season, the Metrostars had solid black or solid white jerseys and during all other seasons, the home jerseys had red and black vertical stripes. The MetroStars were known as the
New York/New Jersey MetroStars through 1997. The team's name came from
MetroMedia, a company owned by the club's original owner/operator
John Kluge.
Some of the high-profile international players that played for the Metros were
Roberto Donadoni,
Branco,
Lothar Matthäus,
Adolfo Valencia,
Amado Guevara, and
Youri Djorkaeff. The team has had its share of famous coaches as well, including
Carlos Queiroz,
Carlos Alberto Parreira, and
Bora Milutinovic, as well as
Bob Bradley and
Mo Johnston. American stars
Tony Meola,
Tab Ramos,
Alexi Lalas,
Tim Howard,
Clint Mathis,
Eddie Pope, and
Eddie Gaven have all played in the red and black. At the time of the Red Bull purchase, the club's all-time leaders (regular season only) were: games,
Mike Petke, 134; goals,
Giovanni Savarese, 41; assists, Ramos, 36; shutouts, Meola, 20.
When Red Bull purchased the MetroStars in 2006, it decided to completely re-brand the franchise, changing the name, colors, and logo. The sale of the team has been controversial among some fans of the MetroStars, not dissimilar to the situation in
Austria, where Red Bull bought
SV Austria Salzburg and renamed it
Red Bull Salzburg. While some fans were disappointed with the loss of
Metro identity, others found fault in corporate branding, or with labeling the franchise as
New York, when it plays and is headquartered in New Jersey. Other fans have welcomed the change, as the MetroStars franchise had never been particularly successful on the field, and has suffered waning support in the stands; it is anticipated that Red Bull will provide enough cash for the club to be competitive and increase its advertising revenue.
Although most MetroStar supporters decided to follow the re-branded team, a number claim they have abandoned the team altogether. Some fans who are staying with the team would like to keep Metro tradition going, whether it is by singing tradition chants, or using traditional nicknames, or a compromise nickname of
Metro Reds or
Reds. Some are attempting to start a new team called
AFC Metro, possibly to play in the
Premier Developmental League, similar to
AFC Wimbledon or
FC United of Manchester.
Major League Soccer Commissioner
Don Garber has stated that a second franchise in the New York area can come "as early as 2010, but not before that"
[1]. Whether that new team will be known as the MetroStars, and whether it would inherit the club's pre-2006 history from the New York Red Bulls, is not known. Although that seems unlikely since Red Bull has announced that it will acknowledge Metro history from the team's inception, regarding the New York Red Bulls as a continuation of that history and not a separate franchise. There are also rumours that a second New York area team would be named in honor of the former
New York Cosmos of the
NASL.
*
US Open Cup:**
Runners-up (1): 2003
*
La Manga Cup:**
Winners (1): 2004
|
MetroStars' original logo |
*
Antony de Avila (1996-1997)
*
Youri Djorkaeff (2005)
*
Roberto Donadoni (1996-1997)
*
Eddie Gaven (2003-2005)
*
Amado Guevara (2003-2005)
*
Tim Howard (1998-2003)
*
Alexi Lalas (1998)
*
Clint Mathis (2000-2003)
*
Lothar Matthäus (2000)
*
Tony Meola (1996-1998, 2005)
*
Mike Petke (1998-2002)
*
Eddie Pope (2003-2004)
*
Tab Ramos (1996-2002)
*
Giovanni Savarese (1996-1998)
*
Adolfo Valencia (2000-2001)
*
Eddie Firmani (1996)
*
Carlos Queiroz (1996)
*
Carlos Alberto Parreira (1997)
*
Alfonso Mondelo (1998)
*
Bora Milutinovic (1998-1999)
*
Octavio Zambrano (2000-2002)
*
Bob Bradley (2003-2005)
*
Mo Johnston (2005)
*
Charlie Stillitano (1996-1999)
*
Nick Sakiewicz (2000-2005)
*
Alexi Lalas (2005)
*
John Kluge and
Stuart Subotnick (1995-2001)
*
Anschutz Entertainment Group (2001-2006)
| Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | | 1996 | 3rd, East | Quarterfinals | Did not enter |
| 1997 | 5th, East | Did not qualify | Semifinals |
| 1998 | 3rd, East | Quarterfinals | Semifinals |
| 1999 | 6th, East | Did not qualify | Round of 16 |
| 2000 | 1st, East | Semifinals | Semifinals |
| 2001 | 2nd, East | Quarterfinals | Round of 32 |
| 2002 | 4th, East | Did not qualify | Quarterfinals |
| 2003 | 3rd, East | Quarterfinals | Final |
| 2004 | 3rd, East | Quarterfinals | Round of 16 |
| 2005 | 4th, East | Quarterfinals | Round of 16 |
*MLS Regular Season: 125 wins-146 losses-35 ties
*MLS Playoffs: 6-11-2
*US Open Cup: 12-9
*International (2001 Copa Merconorte): 3-3
*All-time Competitive Record: 146-169-37
* 1996: 23,898/14,416
* 1997: 16,899/missed playoffs
* 1998: 16,520/11,686
* 1999: 14,706/missed playoffs
* 2000: 17,621/15,172
* 2001: 20,806/12,817
* 2002: 18,148/missed playoffs
* 2003: 15,822/10,211
* 2004: 17,194/11,161
* 2005: 15,077/10,003
* All-Time: 17,957
Complete history of the franchise: Red Bull New York*
MetroStars players*
History of the team at MetroFanatic.com
