Puerto Rico FC
Puerto Rican NASL club founded by Carmelo Anthony.
Puerto Rico FC was a professional soccer club from Bayamón, Puerto Rico. It was established in 2015 and competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL), which at the time was the second level of professional soccer in the United States. The club began play in the fall of 2016 and held its home matches at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium. That venue suffered severe damage from Hurricane Maria in September 2017, and the team played its final season later that year.
The franchise was announced in June 2015 by NBA star Carmelo Anthony, who aimed to bring professional soccer back to the island. The club was based in Bayamón and planned to start at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium for the 2016 fall season. Adrian Whitbread was named the first head coach in August 2015, and Thomas Payne became president in November of that year.
Puerto Rico FC’s first home game was on July 2, 2016, a 1–1 draw with Indy Eleven in front of 6,474 fans. Héctor Ramos scored the club’s first league goal in the 74th minute. The team’s first win came on July 23, 2016, a 1–0 victory over Rayo OKC. They finished the fall season with a 5–9–8 record and 24 points, moving from 11th to 9th place. Ramos led the team in scoring with eight goals.
In 2017, CONCACAF selected Puerto Rico FC to host Group D of the CFU Club Championship at their stadium. Their first match was a 1–0 win over S.V. Transvaal of Suriname, with Ramos converting a penalty in the 28th minute. They then lost 1–0 to Portmore United of Jamaica in the 88th minute. Before their third match, Puerto Rico was eliminated after Portmore United won all its group games. The club finished the tournament with a 4–0 win over Scholars International SC of the Cayman Islands, with goals from Mike Ramos, Sidney Rivera, Brian Bement, and Cristiano Dias. Their overall record was two wins and one loss.
During the 2017 NASL season, Whitbread was relieved of his coaching duties on May 19, and Marco Vélez was named interim head coach. Tom Payne left the club at the end of November 2017. The NASL suspended operations and canceled its 2018 season in November 2017, and while some other clubs joined different leagues, Puerto Rico FC has not played since. Marco Vélez later coached the Puerto Rico national team and then the under-17 squad.
The team’s colors were orange and white. Their first-season kit supplier was Nike.
Quick Facts
- Clubname
- Puerto Rico FC
- Fullname
- Puerto Rico Football Club
- Short Name
- PRFC
- Nickname
- La Tropa Naranja ("The Orange Troop") / Naranjas ("Oranges")
- Founded
- 2015-06-09
- Dissolved
- 2017
- Stadium
- Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium / Bayamón, Puerto Rico
- Capacity
- 22,000
- Owntitle
- Owner
- Owner
- Carmelo Anthony
- Chrtitle
- President
- Chairman
- Vacant
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Puerto Rico FC was announced in June 2015 by NBA star Carmelo Anthony, who aimed to bring professional soccer back to Puerto Rico. The club began play in the 2016 fall season of the NASL. Their first home match was a 1–1 draw against Indy Eleven on July 2, 2016, with Héctor Ramos scoring the team's first league goal. The club finished its inaugural fall season with a 5–9–8 record and 24 points.
In 2017, Puerto Rico FC participated in the CFU Club Championship, hosting Group D at Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium. They defeated S.V. Transvaal 1–0 and Scholars International SC 4–0, but were eliminated after a 1–0 loss to Portmore United. The NASL season saw coaching changes, with Adrian Whitbread relieved in May 2017 and Marco Velez named interim head coach. The team's last competitive matches were in the 2017 NASL season.
After Hurricane Maria severely damaged their stadium in September 2017, the NASL cancelled its 2018 season in February 2018. Puerto Rico FC has not played since, and players were advised to seek opportunities elsewhere. The club's supporters' groups included La Barra Naranja and La Legión Extranjera.
Reader's Guide
Puerto Rico FC represents a brief but notable chapter in Puerto Rican professional soccer, launched with high-profile backing from Carmelo Anthony. The club's significance lies in its role as the island's second NASL franchise after the Puerto Rico Islanders, and its attempt to revive top-level soccer in Puerto Rico. Despite a short lifespan, the team achieved modest success, including a 2016 Copa Luis Villarejo win and a 2017 Bayamón City Cup victory. The club's legacy is tied to the devastating impact of Hurricane Maria, which damaged their stadium and contributed to the NASL's collapse. Puerto Rico FC's history illustrates the challenges of maintaining professional soccer in a region vulnerable to natural disasters and economic instability. The club's supporters and its brief rivalry with the New York Cosmos (the PR/NY Derby) remain points of interest for soccer historians.
Did You Know?
- Puerto Rico FC was founded by NBA star Carmelo Anthony in June 2015.
- The team's first ever league goal was scored by Héctor Ramos in a 1–1 draw against Indy Eleven on July 2, 2016.
- Hurricane Maria severely damaged the team's home stadium, Juan Ramón Loubriel Stadium, in September 2017.
- Puerto Rico FC had a rivalry with the New York Cosmos called the PR/NY Derby, with a record of zero wins, four losses, and one tie.
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