Minnesota United FC (2010–2016)
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| Full name | NSC Minnesota Stars | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Stars | ||
| Founded | 2010 | ||
| Ground | National Sports Center Blaine, Minnesota | ||
| Capacity | 12,000 | ||
| Owner |  NASL | ||
| Head Coach | Manny Lagos | ||
| League | North American Soccer League | ||
| 2010 (USSFD2) | Regular Season: 4th, USL Overall: 7th Playoffs: Quarterfinals | ||
| Website | http://www.nscminnesota.org/ | ||
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NSC Minnesota Stars is an American professional soccer team based in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area in Minnesota, United States. Founded in 2010, the team plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid.
The team plays its home games at the National Sports Center in Blaine, Minnesota, roughly 18 miles north of Minneapolis. The team's colors are dark blue and yellow. Their current head coach is Manny Lagos.
History
The National Sports Center began considering fielding a Division 2 men's professional soccer team in December 2009. The current team, the Minnesota Thunder, were tenants of the National Sports Center and were struggling through financial difficulties.[1] In January 2010, the National Sports Center announced they would field a new team to replace the Minnesota Thunder. The Thunder at the time were not officially folded but were facing financial ruin.[2] Following a team-naming contest, the NSC announced the official team name would be NSC Minnesota, with the team nickname being Stars on February 5, 2010.[3]
The team played its first official game on April 11, 2010, a 2–0 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps.[4][5] The first goal in franchise history was scored by Daniel Wasson in their next game, a 1-0 victory over the Carolina RailHawks.[6] The Stars enjoyed some impressive victories in their debut season, including a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace Baltimore, a 3-0 win over AC St. Louis, and a 3-1 win over FC Tampa Bay, eventually finishing fourth in their conference. Unfortunately for the Stars, they went out of the playoffs at the quarter final stage, 4-0 on aggregate to the Carolina RailHawks,[7] after defender Andres Arango was issued a red card after just 38 minutes. Simone Bracalello and Brian Cvilikas were the Stars' top scorers in 2010, with 5 goals each.
Colors and badge
The Stars' official colors are blue and gold, following the tradition established the Minnesota Thunder of Minnesota soccer teams wearing predominantly blue as their home color. The club logo is a shield in two-tone blue and gold, with a stylized star overlaid by the NSC Minnesota wordmark.
Stadium
- National Sports Center; Blaine, Minnesota (2010–present)
The Stars play their home games in the 12,000-seater stadium at the National Sports Center, a 600-acre (2.4 km²) multi-sport complex located in Blaine, Minnesota, which in addition to the soccer stadium features over 50 full-sized soccer fields, a golf course, a velodrome, a meeting and convention facility, and an eight-sheet ice rink, the Schwan Super Rink, which is the largest ice facility of its type in the world.
The Minnesota Thunder also played at the NSC prior to the 2010 season.
Club culture
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2011) |
Rivalries
The Railway Cup was an inter-division match played between NSC Minnesota Stars and AC St. Louis. The cup was named after the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway (M&StL) which was an American Class I railroad that operated lines radiating south to Saint Louis, Missouri from Minneapolis, Minnesota between 1870 to 1960. The rivalry was disbanded after the 2010 season when AC St. Louis folded.
Broadcasting
| This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (April 2011) |
Players and staff
Current roster
As of July 29, 2011[8]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Staff
Djorn Buchholz - CEO- Manny Lagos - Head Coach/Director of Soccer Operations
Carl Craig - First Assistant Coach- Kevin Friedland - Player/Assistant Coach
Notable former players
- See also All-time NSC Minnesota Stars roster
Head coaches
- Manny Lagos (2010–present)[9]
Record
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Avg. Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 2 | USSF D-2 Pro League | 4th, USL (7th) | Quarterfinals | 2nd Round | 1,374 |
| 2011 | 2 | NASL |
References
- ^ From news services (November 11, 2009) "NSC plans don't include Thunder" Saint Paul Pioneer Press
- ^ Leighton, Tim (January 8, 2010) "Soccer - New team will replace Thunder" Saint Paul Pioneer Press
- ^ [1]
- ^ http://www.whitecapsfc.com/men/schedule/2010_04_11_v_NSC_Minnesota_Stars.aspx
- ^ LA VAQUE, DAVID (April 25, 2010) "Stars launch franchise with a win - The team, the successor to the Thunder, scored its first goal on a penalty kick and made it hold up." Star Tribune
- ^ http://ussf.demosphere.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::73193+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+1634148
- ^ http://ussf.demosphere.com/stats/2010/2072057.html
- ^ http://www.nscminnesota.com/team/2011_roster/index_E.html
- ^ http://www.nscsports.org/news-info/media_info/releases/manny_coach.htm
External links
- NSC Minnesota Stars team home page
- North American Soccer League NSC Minnesota page
- Dan's Soccer Zone, history of Minnesota soccer
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