The 2017 FC Cincinnati season was the club's second season of existence, and their second in the United Soccer League (USL). It was FC Cincinnati's first season as a second-tier team in the U.S. soccer pyramid, as the United States Soccer Federation provisionally promoted the USL from Division III to Division II for the 2017 season. FC Cincinnati plays in the Eastern Division of USL.
The season is best remembered for FC Cincinnati's championship run in the U.S. Open Cup. They won matches against five teams, including Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire of MLS (the highest division of U.S. soccer), to advance to the semifinals, a feat not achieved by a lower-division team since 2009. Their run was also noted for setting many attendance records; their matches against the New York Red Bulls and Chicago Fire were respectively the 2nd and 3rd highest-attended U.S. Open Cup matches ever, beaten only by the 2011 Final.[1] Their match against Chicago Fire aired on ESPN, marking the first time a match from the Round of 16 received a national television broadcast.[2]
The club announced on October 21, 2016 that assistant coach Ryan Martin would not be returning for the 2017 season.[3] On December 14, 2016, the club announced that Alan Koch, former head coach of the Whitecaps FC 2, would be taking Martin's place as an assistant coach, in addition to acting as the director of scouting and analytics.[4]
On February 17, 2017, the club announced that head coach John Harkes was relieved of his coaching duties and replaced with Alan Koch. On March 28, 2017, Yoann Damet was added to the staff as assistant coach.[5]
Roster
As of December 15, 2016, FC Cincinnati has confirmed the return of seventeen players from the 2016 roster, as well as the signing of one new player. Fifteen of these players were announced on November 14, and goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt was announced three days later.[6][7] On December 15, the return of Eric Stevenson and the new signing of Kadeem Dacres were announced.[8] The club held a public tryout with over eighty participants on December 18, 2016.[9] On January 6, 2017, the club announced the signings of Andy Craven, Marco Dominguez, and Aaron Walker (who was selected from the public tryout).[10] On February 6, 2017, the club announced they acquired striker, Victor Mansaray, on loan from Seattle Sounders FC.[11] On March 29, 2017, the club signed Justin Hoyte, a former defender for Premier League club Arsenal.[12] On May 10, 2017, the club traded forward Andy Craven to the OKC Energy FC for forward Danni König.[13] On May 15, 2017, the club announced the signing of defender Josu.[14]
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth.[15]
Stadium: MUSC Health Stadium Attendance: 2,247 Referee: Geoff Gamble Assistant referees: Brian Marshall Assistant referees: Jordan Davis Fourth official: Wayne Pavlischek
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 23,144 Referee: Brandon Artis Assistant referees: James Duling Assistant referees: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein Fourth official: Eric Tattersall
Stadium: Goodman Stadium Attendance: 3,086 Referee: Danielle Chesky Assistant referees: Brian Dunn Assistant referees: Patrick Casey Fourth official: Matthew Vodzak
Stadium: City Stadium Attendance: 4,008 Referee: Charles Murphy Assistant referees: Gregory Brigman Assistant referees: Ryan Graves Fourth official: James Walker
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 19,310 Referee: Calin Radosav Assistant referees: Benjamin Hall-Volpenhein Assistant referees: Matthew Fotia Fourth official: Benjamin Miller
Stadium: Nippert Stadium Attendance: 21,074 Referee: Eric Tattersall Assistant referees: Maggie Short Assistant referees: Matthew Rodman Fourth official: Kevin Fikar
Stadium: Louisville Slugger Field Attendance: 13,812 Referee: Charles Murphy Assistant referees: Walter Heatherly Assistant referees: Maggie Short Fourth official: Kevin Fikar
Source: 2017 USL standings Rules for classification: 1) total wins; 2) total goal differential; 3) total goals scored; 4) points earned against top four Conference finishers; 5) disciplinary points; 6) coin toss or drawing of lots (C) Champions
^Switzer, D.J. (December 23, 2016). "2016 Open Tryout Recap". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on December 31, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2016.