- 1997
- 2000
- 2000
- 2001
- 2001
- 2002
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Fusion Team Formation 1997
Major League Soccer announced a South Florida team in 1997 as one of its first two expansions, along with the Chicago Fire. Miami businessman Ken Horowitz served as owner, the first new investor to join Major League Soccer since its founding in 1995. The team ultimately named the Miami Fusion, debuted in the 1998 MLS season, playing in Lockhart Stadium, ... -
Miami Fusion FC finishes third in the Eastern Conference
In 2000: Miami Fusion FC improves slightly, finishing third in the Eastern Conference with a 12–15–5 record and making the playoffs again. -
Ray Hudson as head coach
In 2000: The Miami Fusion FC team fired Wortmann after 25 games and hired Ray Hudson as head coach. The team’s average attendance rises to 9,635. In 2021 Hudson was named MLS Coach of the Year -
Alex Pineda Chacon – wins the MLS MVP award
In 2001: Alex Pineda Chacon wins the MLS MVP award and Diego Serna wins the MLS Golden Boot award. Hudson is named MLS Coach of the Year and Nick Rimando is named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year. -
Miami Fusion FC win the Supporters’ Shield
In 2001: Miami Fusion FC has its best season ever, winning the Supporters’ Shield with the best regular season record of 16–5–5. -
Closing Down Miami Fusion in 2002
MLS announced in January 2002 that it had decided to close the two Florida franchises, the Fusion and the Tampa Bay Mutiny. Both teams were withdrawn from the league, ceased operations, and folded. Major League Soccer’s contraction reduced the league from 12 to 10 teams. The league had chosen to fold the Miami Fusion, in part because the Fusion’s ownership ...
History of the Fusion FC
The Miami Fusion FC was an American professional soccer team that competed in Major League Soccer (MLS) from 1998 to 2001. The team played its home games at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and participated as one of the ten founding teams of MLS when it launched in 1996. Despite having some success on the field, including winning their division twice and reaching the playoffs three times, financial problems led to the franchise folded after just four seasons.
The club’s inaugural season saw them finish third place overall with a record of 16-12-6 under head coach Carlos Cordoba; however, they were eliminated by D.C United 2–1 during their first playoff appearance due to a missed penalty kick late into extra time. During this year, Diego Serna scored 15 goals for Miami, earning him both MLS MVP and Golden Boot honors, making him one of only two players ever to win both awards within the same season, along with former LA Galaxy striker Carlos Ruiz who accomplished the feat 2002 campaign.
In 2000 Fusion made another deep run into the postseason despite finishing fourth place regular season standings with 13 wins, seven losses nine draws; this time around, they defeated Tampa Bay Mutiny and then Chicago Fire before being ousted by eventual champions Kansas City Wizards 3–2 aggregate score over two legs semifinal matchup. Following a successful yet ultimately unsuccessful playoff push, ownership decided not to bring back famous head coach Ivo Wortmann instead opting to hire Ray Hudson, whose tenure would be short-lived due to budget cuts imposed by the league office following the 2001 collapse of the original investor group AIMCO Global Investments, LLC leaving little money available operate competitively resulting dissolution club shortly after that.
Overall while the brief history of Miami Fusion FC may have been relatively short-lived, it still left a lasting legacy behind – particularly among fans South Florida area who continue to cheer memory even today long after the last match was played nearly twenty years ago now testament true passion for sport can inspire amongst those following it closely no matter what challenges come way or how much adversity must face order remain loyal supporters favorite teams!
Established
1997
City
Miami
League History
1998 – 2001 / Major League Soccer
Team History
1998 – 2001 / Miami Fusion Football Club
Nickname
Fusion - Welcome sports fans! Today, we’re exploring the origins of Miami Fusion FC’s nickname in Major League Soccer (MLS). “Fusion” has a unique and special meaning for the team and its supporters.
When MLS was founded in 1996, it sought to create a new soccer experience. It wanted to combine elements worldwide into one unified league — hence its name: Major League Soccer. This idea was also reflected in Miami Fusion FC's choice of their team name: "Fusion."
The term “fusion" describes something that combines two or more distinct parts into a single entity - perfectly encapsulates what MLS set out to do with this new professional soccer league. Connecting players from various countries, cultures, and backgrounds under one banner created something unique - like how fusion creates something new when elements combine.
In addition to symbolizing unity within MLS itself, another layer of meaning behind this nickname resonates strongly with local fans here in South Florida—the spirit of multiculturalism found throughout our region! From Cuban-American culture on Calle Ocho (8th Street), Little Haiti near downtown Miami or even Wynwood Art District nearby—these diverse neighborhoods are home not only to many passionate soccer supporters but also serve as inspiration for why Fusion chose their moniker back when they joined MLS back during 1998 season as part of expansion teams alongside Chicago Fire SC & Tampa Bay Mutiny SC.
So next time you hear someone cheering on your favorite club at Hard Rock Stadium wearing orange & blue colors while shouting FUSION! Remember where it comes from –– uniting people through passion while celebrating diversity across South Florida!
Championship
MLS Cups 0
Stadium
1998 – 2001 / Lockhart Stadium
Owner
1998 - 2002 / Ken Horowitz
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.
Retired Number
*Blue is this team’s history
