Sporting Arizona FC is an American soccer team based in Gilbert, Arizona. Founded in 1989, the team was a member of several professional and semi-pro leagues. They are now a member of the Arizona Conference of the United Premier Soccer League.
Video Sporting Arizona FC
History
The club originally started in 1989 as the Phoenix Hearts in the original indoor SISL league. They made an immediate impact on the league when they went to the 1989-1990 SISL indoor championship before falling to the Addison Arrows. Heat coach Peter Barali? was named Coach of the Year. They changed their name to the Arizona Cotton in 1992 and played both indoor and outdoor for one more year in the USISL, before joining the amateur USISL Premier League in 1995. In 1992, they again went to the final of the USISL Indoor season, losing to the Atlanta Magic. The Arizona coach, Zelimar Antonievic, was named Coach of the Year. In 1996, the team became the Arizona Phoenix. In 1997, they changed their name again, this time to Arizona Sahuaros, and moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League. In 1998, the Sahuaros front office named 3 player coaches to take over the Sahuaros Professional franchise, Mate Kozul (Head Coach), Edson Rico and Roger Salazar (Assistant coaches). With their connections in the Valley they assembled a strong team of former HS Gatorade Players of the Year, College All Americans and National JUCO Champions from Yavapai College. That year the Sahuaros were crowned the Western Division Champions and coach Matt Kozul was named USISL Coach of the Year. After the 2002 season, the Sahuaros left the USL D-3 Pro League and helped form the new Men's Premier Soccer League, finishing the season as champions in the first year. The Sahuaros competed in the NPSL until 2004, after which the club chose to play in USASA affiliated leagues. They re-joined the NPSL in 2008. In 2000-2009, the Sahuaros hired Petar Draksin as their head coach, he made a significant contribution to the Sahuaros franchise by bringing in many talented players and winning many significant games in the different leagues.
The Sahuaros were renamed Sporting Arizona FC. They joined the UPSL on January 8, 2017 and were placed in the Arizona Conference along with the Arizona Scorpions FC, El Salto United FC & Super Inter AZ.
Maps Sporting Arizona FC
Players
Notable former players
- Roger Espinoza (2013 - Premier League - Wigan Athletic) (2008 Super Draft - MLS 11th pick in the 1st round - Kansas City)
- Allen Chapman (Professional referee working in MLS since 2012)
- Nick DeLeon (2012 Super Draft - MLS 7th pick in the 1st round - DC United)
- Justin Meram
- Scott Maxwell (1991/92 Indoor Season - acquired from SISL's Amarillo Challengers)
- Randy Soderman
Year-by-year
Outdoor team
Indoor team
Honors
- MPSL Champions 2003
- USL D-3 Pro League West Division Champions 1998
- SISL Cactus Division Champions 1989/90 (Indoor)
- UPSL Arizona Conference Champions 2017 (Spring Season)
- UPSL Southwest Conference Champions 2018 (Spring Season)
Hall of Fame
- Mate Kozul Induction year 2009
- Edson Rico Induction year 2009
- Roger Salazar Induction year 2009
Head coaches/Assistant coaches
- Peter Barali? (1989-1991)
- Cole Antonijevic (1992)
- Zelimar Antonijevic (1993-1995)
- Dave Murray (1996)
- Walter Brusic (1996-1998)
- Mate Kozul (1998-1999)
- Asst. Edson Rico (1998-1999)
- Asst. Roger Salazar (1998-1999)
- Manny Arias (1999-2001)
- Petar Draksin (2002-2009)
- Orhan Kraja (2010-2011)
- Tim Marchisotto (2012-2017)
- Aidan Davison (2017-present)
Stadia
- Stadium at Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona (1989-2012)
- Pioneer Park, Peoria AZ & Grande Sports World, Casa Grande, AZ (2012-2017)
- Chandler-Gilbert Community College (2017-present)
References
External links
- www.sportingaz.com
Source of article : Wikipedia
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