Established
1994
City
New York
League History
1996 – Present / Major League Soccer
Team History
2006 – Present / New York Red Bulls
1998 - 2005 / MetroStars
1996 - 1997 / New York/New Jersey MetroStars
Nickname
MetroStars - Regarding Major League Soccer, few teams have as much history and tradition as the MetroStars. The team was founded in 1996 and has been a staple of MLS ever since. But what many may not know is that the nickname “MetroStars” originated from an unlikely source: New York City subway riders!
The story goes that when the team first formed, they held a contest for fans to come up with their official name. One fan suggested “Metrostars” about all those who ride on NYC's famous transit system daily – commuters, businesspeople, and tourists – all united by their love for soccer (and public transportation).
It made perfect sense given how passionate New Yorkers are about soccer; several amateur teams around town already played under various names, such as NY Cosmos or Manhattan Kickers. However, none had entirely caught on as MetroStars did! This unique name distinguished them from other clubs while also paying homage to its home city - something which resonated deeply with supporters both near and far alike.
As time went on, this catchy moniker became firmly entrenched within MLS culture, eventually becoming synonymous with everything great about America's top-tier professional league - exciting, action-packed matches full of skillful play combined with passionate fandom across multiple generations & cultures nationwide (not just limited to NYC!). To this day, you can still find references being made towards "the Metros" whenever people discuss one of America's most beloved sports leagues... proving yet again why sometimes even seemingly small decisions can significantly impact down the line!
Championship
MLS Cups 0
Stadium
2010 – Present / Red Bull Arena
1996 - 2009 / Giants Stadium
Owner
2006 - Present / Red Bull GmbH
2001 - 2006 / Anschutz Entertainment Group
1995 - 2001 / John Kluge and Stuart Subotnick
- 1998
- 2000
- 2001
- 2003
- 2004
-
Drop the NY/NJ from the Name in 1998
Starting in 1998, the team stopped referring to itself as New York/New Jersey, but it took a few years for the media and fans to catch up. The team went by just MetroStars, with no city, state, or regional geographic name attached to it, a rarity in American sports. The MetroStars bottomed out in 1999 with a record of 7–25 ... -
The MetroStars club finished first in the Eastern Conference
In 2000: The MetroStars club has a turnaround season, finishing first in the Eastern Conference and reaching the semi-finals of both the playoffs and the U.S. Open Cup. Adolfo Valencia scores 21 goals. Clint Mathis joins the club and becomes a fan favorite. -
MetroStars participated in its first international competition – The Copa Merconorte
In 2001: The club participates in its first international competition, the Copa Merconorte, but fails to advance from the group stage. Rodrigo Faria is the top scorer with 11 goals. Zambrano is replaced by Alfonso Mondelo as head coach. -
The MetroStars reaches the U.S Open Cup Final
In 2003: The MetroStars club reaches its first U.S. Open Cup final, but loses to Chicago Fire. Clint Mathis is the top scorer with 10 goals. Tim Howard leaves the club and joins Manchester United. -
Eddie Gaven – youngest player to score a goal in MLS history
In 2004: The club signs French legend Youri Djorkaeff and reaches the quarter-finals of the playoffs. Amado Guevara and John Wolyniec share the top scorer title with 10 goals each. Eddie Gaven becomes the youngest player to score a goal in MLS history at 16 years old.
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
History of the MetroStars
The MetroStars, now known as the New York Red Bulls, has a long and storied history in Major League Soccer. Founded in 1996 as one of the original ten teams that formed MLS, they were owned by Metromedia and played their home games at Giants Stadium. They quickly became one of the most recognizable franchises in MLS due to their star-studded roster, which featured players like Tab Ramos and Roberto Donadoni.
The early years for the MetroStars were not particularly successful on or off the field; despite having some talented players, they failed to make it past the conference semifinals from 1996-2001. However, this changed when former USMNT coach Bob Bradley took over as head coach before the 2002 season; he led them to three consecutive Eastern Conference Championships between 2003–2005. Unfortunately, they fell short of winning an MLS Cup title each time.
Despite never winning an MLS Cup with Bradley at the helm (he left after the 2005 season), his tenure marked a new era for the franchise—one filled with success on both sides pitch—as well as increased interest among local fans throughout the tri-state area who had previously been indifferent towards team’s fortunes before his arrival. Since then, the club has gone through several changes, including a name change in 2008 (from “Metrostars” to “New York Red Bulls”) but continues to be a competitive force league today thanks mainly to the part legacy created by Bob Bradley during his four-year stint charge back mid-2000.
Sports Fan Products
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history