Montreal Impact to Field USL PRO Team
November 17, 2014 - United Soccer League Championship (USL) News Release
TAMPA, Fla. - USL PRO continued its unprecedented off-season growth with the announcement that FC Montreal, owned and operated by the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer, will be the 10th new team to join for the 2015 season. The Impact are led by Owner & President Joey Saputo.
FC Montreal is the fourth MLS-owned expansion club for 2015, following the Portland Timbers (T2), Real Salt Lake (Real Monarchs SLC) and Seattle Sounders FC (S2). The LA Galaxy II will compete in their second USL PRO season in 2015.
"The addition of FC Montreal represents another exciting step in the expansion of USL PRO," USL CEO Alec Papadakis said. "With proven and established ownership, operations, and performance through its parent club, FC Montreal is an ideal member to help further progress USL PRO on and off the field. By continuing to expand our competition structure, USL PRO is providing exciting rivalries for our fans while creating an attractive economic model for our ownership. In the coming weeks, we look forward to making further significant announcements on and off the field."
FC Montreal will play the majority of its home games at Stade Saputo, home to the MLS club.
"We are pleased to confirm that the USL PRO agreement was finalized with the league and our team will be ready for its first game in March," Vice-President of Soccer Operations Richard Legendre said. "This new professional team will become a major asset for the development of our young players at the international level."
Prior to joining MLS, the Impact were one of the marquee teams in USL history. The club claimed championships in 1994, 2004 and 2009, and also claimed five regular-season championships during its history in the league. The Impact also won the Voyageurs Cup seven consecutive times between 2002 and 2008, and in 2008-09 also reached the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League.
"With numerous league titles and other organizational accolades, the Montreal Impact are one of the most storied and successful clubs in our league's history," USL President Tim Holt said. "Over two decades, Mr. Saputo and the Impact have been leaders through example and action in elevating the sport at local, provincial, and national levels. Thus, it is fitting that the Impact are launching FC Montreal in USL PRO to continue this tradition of excellence in a way that will simultaneously strengthen our league and support the performance of their MLS team."
Philippe Eullaffroy, Impact Academy Director, has been named FC Montreal's first head coach. He served as assistant coach for the MLS team in 2013 after having also been head coach of the U21 team during the previous three seasons. In 2014 he led the Impact PDL squad to 7-5-2 mark in its first season.
Additional information will be available at www.ImpactMontreal.com, with more FC Montreal announcements expected in the coming months as the club prepares for its first season in USL PRO.
USL PRO featured 14 teams in 2014 with new franchises already announced for 2015 in Austin, Charlotte, Colorado Springs, Louisville, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, St. Louis, and Tulsa.
United Soccer League Championship Stories from November 17, 2014
- Montreal Impact to Field USL PRO Team - USL
- Philippe Eullaffroy Named Head Coach of FC Montreal - FC Montreal
- Wygant Joins STL FC Front Office - Saint Louis FC
- Orange County Blues FC Defeats International Foe with a 4-2 Win - Orange County SC
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