Wikipedia

Charlotte FC

Charlotte Football Clubis an American professionalsoccerclub based in the city ofCharlotte.The club competes inMajor League Soccer(MLS) as a member of theEastern Conference.The team is owned byDavid Tepper,who was awarded the expansion franchise on December 17, 2019. It began play in the2022 MLS seasonas the league's 28th franchise. Charlotte FC plays atBank of America Stadium,which it shares with theCarolina Panthersof theNational Football League,a team also owned by Tepper; the stadium capacity is reduced to 38,000 for most matches.

Charlotte FC
Full nameCharlotte Football Club
Nickname(s)The Crown[1]
Short nameCLTFC
FoundedDecember 17, 2019;5 years ago(2019-12-17)
StadiumBank of America Stadium
Charlotte, North Carolina
Capacity38,000 (expandable to 74,867)
OwnerDavid Tepper
PresidentJoe LaBue
Head coachDean Smith
LeagueMajor League Soccer
2025Eastern Conference:5th
Overall: 10th
Playoffs:First round
Websitecharlottefootballclub
Current season

History

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Soccer in Charlotte

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The Charlotte area has been home to several lower-division soccer teams, dating back to theCarolina Lightnin'in the early 1980s. The Lightnin' won theAmerican Soccer Leaguechampionship in 1981 in front of 20,163 people atAmerican Legion Memorial Stadium.It marked Charlotte's first professional sports championship.[2]After the league folded in 1983, the team played for one season as the Charlotte Gold inUnited Soccer Leaguebefore ceasing operations.[3]Professional soccer did not return to Charlotte until the founding of theCharlotte Eaglesin 1991, who joined theUSISLin 1993.[4][5]

Charlotte was on the list of cities interested in joiningMajor League Soccer(MLS) in 1994, prior to the league's inaugural season, but was not awarded a franchise.[6]Charlotte was also named as a potential home for an expansion team in both 1996 and 1998, but was passed over in favor of other cities.[7][8]TheCharlotte Convention Centerhosted theMLS SuperDraftandNational Soccer Coaches Association of Americaconference in January 2004.[9]Since a renovation toBank of America Stadiumin 2014, the city has hosted several friendly and international matches, including theCONCACAF Gold Cupand theInternational Champions Cup,which drew strong attendance figures.[4][10]The area also has a large soccer-playing population, centered around recreational leagues that have led other efforts to attract a professional team to Charlotte.[11]

Unsuccessful MLS bids

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A separate professional team, theCharlotte Independence,was founded in 2014 and replaced the Eagles in the second division (now named theUSL Championship).[12]The team moved into apermanent soccer stadiuminMatthews, North Carolina,in 2017.[13]The Independence's ownership group had expressed their goal of winning an MLS expansion team when the club was founded,[5]and proposed a major renovation to American Legion Memorial Stadium in 2015 that would make it intosoccer-specific stadium.[14]The team hired a sports investment firm in October 2016 to advertise the MLS bid to potential investors while preparing further stadium plans.[15]

A separate Charlotte bid was formed in late 2016 byMarcus G. SmithofSpeedway Motorsports,the owners of theCharlotte Motor Speedway,with support from local business leaders.[16]The bid proposed building a new stadium at the Memorial Stadium site with 20,000 to 30,000 seats that would cost $175 million, including $87.5 million funded by the city and county governments and a $75 million loan to the ownership group.[17]TheMecklenburg CountyBoard of Commissioners voted 5–3 in favor of the stadium plan, while theCharlotte City Councildecided against a vote on the issue before the bid deadline on January 31, 2017.[18][19]

Smith submitted the bid without the city council's support, instead relying on the county government's funding plan.[20]Several league officials toured Charlotte in July 2017, but the city council and county commissioners both canceled their meetings during the tour.[21][22]Charlotte also faced competition from a bid submitted byRaleigh, North Carolina,who were also part of the twelve-city shortlist and had support from the state government.[23]The Mecklenburg County government voted in August against their financial contribution to the stadium project in favor of deferring the issue to the city government, who declined to vote on the issue.[24][25]MLS narrowed its shortlist of candidates in November 2017 to four cities, leaving out Charlotte.[26]

Expansion bid under Tepper

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Carolina PanthersownerDavid Tepper(pictured in 2006) submitted the expansion bid for Charlotte FC in 2019

David Tepper,who had purchased a 5% stake in thePittsburgh Steelersin 2009, became the owner of theNational Football League'sCarolina Panthersin July 2018 and suggested his interest in bringing Major League Soccer to Charlotte.[27][28]The Panthers' new team president,Tom Glick,was formerly the chief operating officer ofManchester City F.C.and was also involved in the MLS expansion bid forNew York City FC.[29][30]Glick was placed in charge of organizing an MLS expansion bid for Tepper, who had several meetings with league officials before the next bidding window was opened in April 2019.[31][32]

Tepper presented a formal expansion bid for Charlotte to the league in July 2019, shortly before meetings with league officials and additional tours of Bank of America Stadium.[33]He announced plans in September to upgrade the existing Bank of America Stadium to make it suitable for an MLS team, which would include up to $210 million in contributions from the city government.[34]Tepper also discussed constructing a new stadium for the Panthers and a soccer team that would have aretractable roof.[35][36]In November, MLS commissionerDon Garbernamed Charlotte as the frontrunner to earn the slot for the 30th team, praising Tepper's efforts and the bid's plans.[37]

The Charlotte City Council approved $110 million in stadium and franchise funding in late November, using revenue from ahospitality tax.[38]MLS's board of governors convened in early December to discuss the Charlotte bid and authorized final negotiations with Tepper.[39][40]The expansion team was officially awarded to Charlotte by MLS at an event at theMint Museumon December 17, 2019, with the team to begin play in 2021.[41]The expansion fee to be paid by Tepper is reported to be near $325 million, a 62.5 percent increase from what was paid by the successful bids forSt. LouisandSacramentoearlier in the year.[42][43]The team sold 7,000season ticketdeposits in the first 24 hours after the expansion announcement.[44]On July 17, 2020, MLS announced that the Charlotte expansion team's debut would be delayed by a year to 2022 due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[45]

Inaugural season

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Further information:2022 Charlotte FC season
Polish forwardKarol Świderskiwas signed as Charlotte FC's firstDesignated Playerprior to the 2022 season

The club signed its first player, Spanish midfielderSergio Ruiz,fromRacing Santanderon July 8, 2020; he was immediately loaned out toUD Las Palmasfor 18 months, with an expected arrival in Charlotte in January 2022.[46]Spanish managerMiguel Ángel Ramírezwas hired as the team's first head coach in July 2021.[47]During the2021 MLS Expansion Draft,Charlotte FC selected five players and traded away two forgeneral allocation money;the three picks they kept were used on veteran defendersAnton WalkesandJoseph Moraalong with wingerMcKinze Gaines.[48]The club signed its firstDesignated Player,Polish forwardKarol Świderski,on January 26, 2022.[49]Joe LaBue, a Carolina Panthers sales executive, was appointed club president in February 2022 to replace Glick after his departure.[29][50]According to aFIFAreport, Charlotte FC spent the most intransfer feesof any club in theCONCACAFregion in 2022.[51]

Charlotte FC played their first MLS regular season match on February 26, 2022, losing 3–0 toD.C. UnitedatAudi Field.[52]The club's home debut at Bank of America Stadium, a 1–0 loss to theLA Galaxyon March 5, was played before a crowd of 74,479–at the time, the largest single-match crowd in MLS history. For a time, it was the second-largest crowd to attend a match anywhere in the world in 2022.[53][54]Adam Armourscored the club's first goal on March 13 in a 2–1 loss toAtlanta United FC;Charlotte's first win, a 3–1 result at home, was a week later against the defendingSupporters ShieldholdersNew England Revolution.[55]

Ramírez was fired on May 31 after 14 league matches due to conflicts with the front office according to media reports;[56]at the time, Charlotte was tied for eighth in the Eastern Conference, one place below a playoff berth.[57]The club had also been eliminated from the2022 U.S. Open Cupin the round of 16 a few days earlier.[58]Assistant coachChristian Lattanziowas named interim head coach and led the club to defeat theNew York Red Bullsin his first match.[59]Charlotte FC earned their first away win, a 2–1 victory overHouston Dynamo FC,on July 3 after seven losses and two draws.[60]

Charlotte FC played their first internationalfriendlyon July 20, 2022, against England'sChelsea;the match was tied 1–1 after regulation time and decided by apenalty shootout,which Charlotte FC won 5–3.[61]The team's firsthat-trickwas earned byDaniel Ríos,who scored four goals against thePhiladelphia Unionon October 1.[62]The club remained in contention for a playoff spot until the penultimate matchday of the season, but were eliminated after a 2–2 draw with theColumbus Crew.[63]Charlotte FC finished their inaugural season at ninth place in the Eastern Conference with 13 wins, 18 losses, and 3 draws;[64]the team drew an average attendance of 35,260 per match, the second-highest figure in MLS behind Atlanta United FC.[65]During the offseason, Lattanzio was signed as permanent head coach through 2024, having amassed an 8–10–2 record;[66]he added retired captainChristian Fuchsto his staff as an assistant coach.[67]

Club identity

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In December 2019, several media outlets reported that Tepper Sports had submitted atrademarkfiling that included eight potential names: Charlotte FC, Charlotte Crown FC, Charlotte Fortune FC, Charlotte Monarchs FC, Charlotte Athletic FC, Charlotte Town FC, Carolina Gliders FC, and All Carolina FC.[68]A name announcement was scheduled for June 2020, but was delayed a month due to theCOVID-19 pandemic.[69]The name and crest were revealed during a livestream event on July 22, 2020, with Charlotte Football Club (shortened to Charlotte FC) chosen as the winner.[70][71]

The club's crest was designed by Doubleday & Cartwright and consists of a black roundel with a Process Blue center, the same shade of blue used by theCarolina Panthers.[70][72]The shape, resembling acoin,and use of "Minted 2022" in the crest are references to the city's banking industry and the historicCharlotte Mint,the firstU.S. Mintbranch.[73]At the center is a four-pointed crown, referencing the fourwardsofUptown Charlotteand the city's nickname of the "Queen City", itself referencing namesakeCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz.[73][74]The team is sometimes referred to as "The Crown" due to its crest; this nickname was incorporated into the name of the club's affiliated reserve team,Crown Legacy FC.[75]

The bid organizers signed a multi-yearkitsponsorship agreement withAlly Financialin July 2019 for the then-unannounced MLS team.[76]A sleeve sponsorship fromCentene Corporation,a health insurance company, was announced in October 2021 with undisclosed financial terms. The deal includes a donation to pay for 1,900 personal seat licenses at Bank of America Stadium to reduce the cost of season tickets for some fans; the donation also funds community programs in the Charlotte area and the construction of mini-pitches in the Carolinas.[77][78]

Charlotte FC's first primary jersey, named the "Carolina Kit", was unveiled in December 2021. It is primarily blue with white sleeves and a darker blue stripe around the neck and sleeve cuffs; the jersey also features the outlines of North Carolina and South Carolina in the lower-left corner.[79]The club's secondary "Newly Minted" community kit—a black jersey with mint-colored highlights—was released in February 2022 and used for one season.[80]Its design includes a patternedcoin edgethat references the Charlotte Mint.[81]A new secondary jersey, named the "Crown Jewel", was unveiled ahead of the 2023 season; it is primarily purple with blue highlights and pink stripes in an homage to Queen Charlotte according to team president Joe LaBue.[80]

Stadium

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Bank of America Stadium,the club's home

Charlotte FC plays atBank of America Stadium,a 74,867-seat stadium that is also home to theCarolina Panthersof theNational Football League;the Panthers are also owned by Tepper.[82][83]For most matches, the club only uses the lower bowl and club sections of the stadium, capping capacity at 38,000 seats.[84][85]For major matches, such as the 2022 home opener, the club expands the stadium to full capacity by opening the upper bowl.[82]

A renovation to accommodate the club began in March 2021 and was completed in early 2022, adding dedicatedlocker roomsand training rooms for soccer, a player tunnel at midfield, and a larger concourse area. It cost $50 million to construct, with funding from Tepper Sports and the city government.[86]A dedicated section forsupporters' groupsis located behind the goal on the east side of the stadium.[86]The stadium's grass surface was replaced withFieldTurfin 2021 due to the additional wear expected from hosting MLS matches.[87]

In February 2021, Charlotte FC announced that it would be the first MLS team to usepersonal seat licensesto reserve season tickets in most sections; the cost of seat licenses for the inaugural season was set at $550 per seat and would not be transferable to a potential new stadium.[88][89]The announcement, along with high season ticket prices for the inaugural season, was met with backlash from fans.[89][90][91]

Headquarters and training facility

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The Atrium Health Performance Park, which houses the headquarters and training facilities for Charlotte FC andCrown Legacy FC

The team's headquarters and practice facilities were initially planned to be located on the former site of theEastland Mall,a city-owned property.[38][92]In October 2020, the planned Eastland Mall facility was cancelled due to a reduction in financial incentives offered by the city government, including a tax reimbursement.[93]The Eastland site was instead proposed as the home of the Charlotte FC Elite Academy, which would occupy 22 acres (8.9 ha) for youth soccer and other public sportsfields.[94]Charlotte FC's headquarters were replaced with a building in the Uptown neighborhood, while the team would train atSportsplex at Matthewsuntil a permanent facility is built.[95]

A new plan to renovate a southeastern Charlotte office building into the club's headquarters and training facility was announced in 2022.[96]The campus, named the Atrium Health Performance Park, opened in August 2023 and is used by Charlotte FC, reserve team Crown Legacy FC, and academy teams. It includes 52,000 square feet (4,800 m2) of space, a 45-seat auditorium, and eight fields split between grass and turf.[97]

Broadcasting

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Since 2023,Apple TVhas had worldwide broadcast rights for all MLS matches in both English and Spanish. TheirMLS Season Passplatform includes all league and playoff matches for Charlotte FC.[98]

Charlotte FC had a local television partnership with theCox Media Groupthat was announced in April 2021. Most English broadcasts in the Charlotte market aired onWAXN-TV,with the remainder onWSOC-TV;stations in eleven other markets in the Carolinas also carried broadcasts. The Spanish broadcast was exclusive toTelemundo Charlotte.Raycom Sportshandled local production and syndication for the Charlotte FC television network.[99][100]The English television broadcasting team comprisedplay-by-play announcerEric Krakauer, formerly ofBeIN Sports;andcolor commentatorLloyd Sam,a former MLS player. The Spanish team consisted of play-by-play announcer Jamie Moreno and color analyst Antonio Ramos.[101][102]Matches broadcast locally were also streamed on the club's website for viewers in most of the Carolinas.[99]

In January 2022, Charlotte FC announced a radio partnership withRadio One,who would carry matches on various local stations. Most English-language radio broadcasts air onWFNZ-FM,with the remainder on sister stationWBT.[103]WFNZ-FM and WBT front a network of seven stations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.[99][103]The English radio commentators on these stations are play-by-play announcer Will Palaszczuk and color analyst Jessica Charman.[101]Radio broadcasts in Spanish are carried onWOLSand syndicated by Norsan Media to eleven stations in the Carolinas.[99][104]

Ownership and management

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Charlotte FC is owned byDavid Tepper,a billionaire hedge fund manager and businessman who bought the National Football League'sCarolina Panthersin 2018.[105]Tepper, was at the time; the wealthiest owner in the NFL, with an estimatednet worthof $12 billion.[35]Zoran Krneta, a professionalscout,was hired as the club'ssporting directorin December 2019.[106]FormerCarolina Dynamohead coachMarc Nichollswas named the club's technical director in January 2020 and was head of the youth academy system until his departure two years later, prior to the inaugural season.[107][108]

Miguel Ángel Ramírez,formerly manager of Brazil'sSport Club Internacional,was hired as the team's first head coach in July 2021.[47]On May 31, 2022, the club announced that Ramírez had been fired. Assistant coachChristian Lattanziowas named interim head coach for the remainder of the season.[59]He was hired as permanent head coach at the end of the season and signed a two-year contract.[109]On November 8, 2023, the club announced that head coach Christian Lattanzio and assistant coach Andy Quy would leave Charlotte FC.[110]

Dean Smith,former manager ofAston Villa F.C.,was announced as the team's third head coach on December 12, 2023.[111]

Reserves and academy

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See also:Crown Legacy FC

From 2021 to 2022, Charlotte FC had an affiliation agreement withUSL Championship(and laterUSL League One) sideCharlotte Independence,who would serve as a reserve squad and take at least three loaned players to develop and train.[112]The affiliation was terminated at the end of the 2022 season and the Independence were replaced byCrown Legacy FC,a new reserve team inMLS Next Prothat would be operated directly by Charlotte FC. The team, based at theSportsplex at Matthews,began play in 2023.[113]

The club's youth academy was established in July 2020 with squads at the under-17, under-14, under-13, and under-12 levels; the initial signings for the full-time under-17 and under-14 squads were sourced from outside the Carolinas, while other squads were filled by players who transferred from existing Charlotte-area teams and programs.[114]The under-17 and under-15 squads were the first Charlotte FC teams to play at Bank of America Stadium, where they faced squads from theAtlanta United FC Academywith 1,800 spectators in attendance.[115]The senior team signed their firsthomegrown players,Brian RomeroandNimfasha Berchimas,in 2022.[116]

Club culture

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View from supporters' section at Bank of America Stadium in March 2022

Charlotte FC has five officially recognizedsupporters groupsseated in the east end at Bank of America Stadium.[117]Some of the recognized groups are Mint City Collective, Southbound and Crown, the Uptown Ultras, Carolina Hooliganz, and Blue Furia, aLatin Americansupporters' group with a band.[117][118]Other supporters clubs include the Queen's Firm, founded in 2017,[119]and the QC Royals, founded in 2015 to support other minor league teams.[29][120]

Starting with the inaugural season, a local celebrity is "crowned" as the "monarch" of the match; the first home match featured the crowning of former Panthers playerSteve Smith Sr.[121]After every home win, theman of the matchis crowned by the supporters section.[122]Prior to kick off, fans in the supporters' section lock arms and perform "the Poznań"(a Polish supporters' dance)[118]to theFarukosong "Pepas".[123]The club's official mascot is Sir Minty, an anthropomorphic soccer ball that wears a crown, cape, and an oversized silver chain with an "M" medallion.[124]

Players

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See also:List of Charlotte FC players

Roster

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As of February 1, 2025[125]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK CRO Kristijan Kahlina
3 DF USA Tim Ream
4 MF USA Andrew Privett
6 DF NZL Bill Tuiloma
8 MF ENG Ashley Westwood(captain)
10 FW CIV Wilfried Zaha(on loan fromGalatasaray;DP)
11 FW ISR Liel Abada(DP)
13 MF USA Brandt Bronico
14 DF ENG Nathan Byrne
15 MF USA Ben Bender
16 MF ESP Pep Biel(on loan fromOlympiacos)
17 FW ISR Idan Toklomati
18 FW COL Kerwin Vargas
19 MF USA Eryk Williamson
22 GK USA David Bingham
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF SRB Nikola Petković
24 DF USA Mikah Thomas
25 FW ENG Tyger Smalls
26 GK USA Chituru Odunze
27 FW USA Nimfasha Berchimas(HG)
28 MF FRA Djibril Diani
29 DF FRA Adilson Malanda
31 GK USA George Marks
33 FW USA Patrick Agyemang
35 MF USA Nick Scardina
36 MF CAN Brandon Cambridge(HG)
38 FW CPV Iuri Tavares
39 DF USA Jack Neeley(HG)
40 DF USA Jahlane Forbes
41 FW USA Brian Romero(HG)

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules;some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
20 DF BRA João Pedro(on loan toRio Ave)

Staff

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Current technical staff

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Executive
Owner David Tepper
Team president Joe LaBue
Sporting director Zoran Krneta
Technical director Tommy Wilson
Academy manager Dan Lock
Coaching staff
Head coach Dean Smith
Associate head coach Miles Joseph
Assistant coach Christian Fuchs
Goalkeeping coach Aron Hyde
Video analyst Rohan Sachdev
Head of mental performance Andrea Cannavacciuolo

Last updated: December 12, 2023
Source:Charlotte FC

Team records

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Results of Charlotte FC league and cup competitions by season
Season League[126] Position[126] Playoffsresult[126] USOC[126] Continental/ Other[126] Average
attendance 		Top goalscorer(s)
Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts PPG Conf. Overall Player(s) Goals
2022 34 13 18 3 44 52 –8 42 1.24 9th 19th Did not qualify Ro16 Did not qualify 35,260[65] Karol Swiderski 10[127]
2023 34 10 11 13 45 52 –7 43 1.26 9th 19th Wild Card Ro16 Leagues Cup QF 36,337[128] Karol Swiderski 12[129]
2024 34 14 11 9 46 37 9 51 1.35 5th 11th R1 Did not compete Leagues Cup GS 33,383[130] Patrick Agyemang 10[131]

^a.Avg. attendanceinclude statistics from league matches only.
^b.Top goalscorer(s)includes all goals scored in league, MLS Cup Playoffs,U.S. Open Cup,Leagues Cup,CONCACAF Champions League,FIFA Club World Cup,and other competitive continental matches.

Head coaches

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As of October 22, 2024
  • Includes regular season, playoff, CONCACAF Champions League, Leagues Cup, and U.S. Open Cup games.
All-time Charlotte FC coaching statistics[126]
Coach Nationality Tenure Games Win Loss Draw Win %
Miguel Ángel Ramírez Spain July 7, 2021–May 31, 2022[59] 14 5 8 1 035.71
Christian Lattanzio(interim) Italy May 31, 2022–October 26, 2022[132] 23 10 11 2 043.48
Christian Lattanzio Italy October 26, 2022–November 8, 2023[133] 43 16 14 13 037.21
Dean Smith England December 12, 2023– present[134] 36 14 10 12 038.89

Captains

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Name Nationality Years
Christian Fuchs Austria 2022[67]
Ashley Westwood England 2023–present[135]

References

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