Miami Fusion
Encyclopedia
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale
, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer
from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium
, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium
. Major League Soccer's contraction following the 2001 season
reduced the league from 12 to 10 teams, with the Fusion and their fellow Florida club, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
, ceasing operations.
* Won MLS Supporters Shield
Average: 9,403
(1999–00) Diego Serna
(1998–01) Carlos Valderrama (1998–99) Ian Bishop
(2001) Ian Woan
(2001) Martín Machón
(2001) Alex Pineda Chacon
(2001) Tyrone Marshall
(1998–01) Scott Budnick
(1998–99)
Jeff Cassar
(1998–01) Leo Cullen (1998–01) Henry Gutierrez
(1998–00) Jay Heaps
(1999–01) Roy Lassiter
(2000) Pablo Mastroeni
(1998–01) Preki
(2001) Nick Rimando
(2000–01) Jim Rooney (1999–01) Eric Wynalda
(1999–00)
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale is a city in the U.S. state of Florida, on the Atlantic coast. It is the county seat of Broward County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 165,521. It is a principal city of the South Florida metropolitan area, which was home to 5,564,635 people at the 2010...
, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium
Lockhart Stadium
Lockhart Stadium is a stadium located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States. It is currently used by Fort Lauderdale High School, Stranahan High School, Northeast High School and Dillard High School for home high school football games, and previously served as the home of the Florida Atlantic...
, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium
Soccer-specific stadium is a term used mainly in the United States, Canada, Australia and South Korea coined by Lamar Hunt, to refer to a sports stadium either purpose built or fundamentally redesigned for soccer and whose primary function is to host soccer matches, as opposed to a multipurpose...
. Major League Soccer's contraction following the 2001 season
Major League Soccer 2001 season
This is a summary of the 2001 Major League Soccer season. The MLS season was shortened due to 9/11 attacks, with the final weeks' regular season's matches canceled.-Final standings:...
reduced the league from 12 to 10 teams, with the Fusion and their fellow Florida club, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
, ceasing operations.
Year-by-year
| Year | Reg. Season | Points | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 4th, East | 35 | Lost Conference Semifinals (D.C. United D.C. United D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the... 0–2) |
Quarterfinals |
| 1999 | 4th, East | 29 | Lost Conference Semifinals (D.C. United D.C. United D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the... 0–2) |
Did not enter |
| 2000 | 3rd, East | 41 | Did not qualify | Final |
| 2001 | 1st, East* | 53 | Won Quarterfinals (Kansas City Kansas City Wizards Sporting Kansas City is an American professional soccer club based in Kansas City, Kansas that competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada... 2–1) Lost Semifinals (San Jose San Jose Earthquakes The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada.... 1–2) |
Round of 16 |
* Won MLS Supporters Shield
Team records
- Games:
Pablo MastroeniPablo MastroeniPablo Mastroeni is an Argentine-born American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, and for the United States national soccer team.-Youth:...
(100)
Diego SernaDiego SernaDiego Serna is a Colombian soccer player currently signed with Syracuse Silver Knights of the American Major Indoor Soccer League...
(100) - Goals: Diego SernaDiego SernaDiego Serna is a Colombian soccer player currently signed with Syracuse Silver Knights of the American Major Indoor Soccer League...
(52) - Assists: Diego SernaDiego SernaDiego Serna is a Colombian soccer player currently signed with Syracuse Silver Knights of the American Major Indoor Soccer League...
(36) - Clean Sheets: Jeff CassarJeff CassarJeff Cassar is a retired American soccer goalkeeper, who last played for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. He is now the Real Salt Lake goalkeeper coach following his retirement from active play....
(7) Nick RimandoNick RimandoNicholas Paul "Nick" Rimando is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and the United States national team-College:...
(7)
Average attendance
- 1998: 10,284
- 1999: 8,689
- 2000: 7,460
- 2001: 11,177
Average: 9,403
Notable players
Marcelo Herrera (1998) Paulinho McLaren (1998) WeltonWelton Melo
Wélton Araújo Melo is a former Brazilian footballer. He last played striker role for the Seattle Sounders of USL First Division....
(1999–00) Diego Serna
Diego Serna
Diego Serna is a Colombian soccer player currently signed with Syracuse Silver Knights of the American Major Indoor Soccer League...
(1998–01) Carlos Valderrama (1998–99) Ian Bishop
Ian Bishop (footballer)
Ian Bishop is a former footballer who played as a midfielder.He was born on the Cantril Farm housing estate in Liverpool and on leaving school in July 1981 he joined Everton, turning professional for the 1983-84 season under the management of Howard Kendall - who had taken over during the same...
(2001) Ian Woan
Ian Woan
Ian Woan is an English former professional footballer and current assistant manager at Watford. He played as a midfielder from 1985 until 2004, starting in non-league football. Signed by Nottingham Forest in 1990, he played for the club for 10 years, including a spell in the Premier League...
(2001) Martín Machón
Martín Machón
Martín Alejandro Machón Guerra is a Guatemalan former professional footballer.He played mostly in the midfield for local club Comunicaciones and Major League Soccer clubs Los Angeles Galaxy and Miami Fusion, and also became a member of the Guatemala national team, which he represented during three...
(2001) Alex Pineda Chacon
Alex Pineda Chacón
Alex Pineda Chacón is a former footballer who is currently the head coach of Atlanta Silverbacks in the North American Soccer League.-Club career:...
(2001) Tyrone Marshall
Tyrone Marshall
Tyrone Marshall is a Jamaican footballer who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:Marshall moved to the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area when he was twelve years old...
(1998–01) Scott Budnick
Scott Budnick
Scott Budnick is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played two seasons in Major League Soccer, one in the USISL and one in the Oberliga....
(1998–99)
Jeff Cassar
Jeff Cassar
Jeff Cassar is a retired American soccer goalkeeper, who last played for FC Dallas of Major League Soccer. He is now the Real Salt Lake goalkeeper coach following his retirement from active play....
(1998–01) Leo Cullen (1998–01) Henry Gutierrez
Henry Gutierrez
Hendrig "Henry" Gutierrez is a retired American soccer player who began his career in the lower French divisions before finishing it in the United States. He was a member of the U.S. teams at the 1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship and the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship...
(1998–00) Jay Heaps
Jay Heaps
Jay Heaps ) is a former American soccer player. He is the current head coach for the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer....
(1999–01) Roy Lassiter
Roy Lassiter
Roy Lassiter is a retired American soccer striker, and Major League Soccer's record holder for goals scored in a season, with 27 in 1996.-Early life:...
(2000) Pablo Mastroeni
Pablo Mastroeni
Pablo Mastroeni is an Argentine-born American soccer player who currently plays for Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer, and for the United States national soccer team.-Youth:...
(1998–01) Preki
Preki
Predrag Radosavljević is a former American international soccer player of Serbian extraction...
(2001) Nick Rimando
Nick Rimando
Nicholas Paul "Nick" Rimando is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer and the United States national team-College:...
(2000–01) Jim Rooney (1999–01) Eric Wynalda
Eric Wynalda
Eric Boswell Wynalda is a retired American soccer player, and former sports broadcaster. He was the co-host of Fox Football Fone-In on Fox Soccer Channel and is currently employeed as the president of international operations at Mexican third division club Murcielagos.Wynalda scored the first goal...
(1999–00)
- See also All-time Miami Fusion F.C. rosterAll-time Miami Fusion F.C. rosterThis list comprises all players who have participated in at least one league match for Miami Fusion from the team's first Major League Soccer season in 1998, until its final season in 2001...