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1996 Major League Soccer season

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Inaugural season of Major League Soccer

Football league season
1996 Major League Soccer season
Season1996
MLS CupD.C. United (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldTampa Bay Mutiny (1st shield)
CONCACAF Champions' CupD.C. United
Los Angeles Galaxy
Matches played160
Goals scored539 (3.37 per match)
Top goalscorerRoy Lassiter
(27 goals)
Longest winning runLos Angeles Galaxy
Games: 12
(04/13 – 06/30)
Longest losing runColumbus Crew
Games: 6
(05/15 – 06/22)
Highest attendance92,216
LA 2–2 TB
(June 16, 1996)
Lowest attendance6,013
COL 4–2 KC
(August 7, 1996)
Total attendance2,785,001
Average attendance17,406
1997 →
1996 Major League Soccer season is located in the United StatesD.C. UnitedD.C. UnitedMetroStarsMetroStarsTampa BayTampa BayColumbusColumbusNew EnglandNew EnglandColoradoColoradoDallasDallasLos AngelesLos AngelesKansas CityKansas CitySan JoseSan Joseclass=notpageimage| Locations of teams for the 1996 Major League Soccer season
Western Conference   Eastern Conference

The 1996 Major League Soccer season was the inaugural season of Major League Soccer. It was the 84th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 18th with a national first-division league.

Overview

Preparation for first season

Major League Soccer had originally intended to begin competitive action in 1995. Various difficulties forced the league to postpone its first season until 1996. In preparation for its first season, the league began signing what it called marquee players, beginning with Tab Ramos on January 3, 1995. Beginning in October 1995, the league apportioned the marquee players in the MLS Inaugural Allocations. Each team received two national team and two foreign players in the allocation. The league then invited about 250 players to a tryout the second week of January 1996 on the campus of UC Irvine. On February 6 and 7, 1996, the league held its 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft in which the ten teams selected 160 players over sixteen rounds. The Columbus Crew selected Brian McBride with the first pick of the draft. On March 4, 1996, the league then held the 1996 MLS College Draft followed by the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft later that day. Despite the numerous drafts, the teams were not obligated to sign only players from the drafts.

Preseason

The preseason began the first week of March. The teams reduced their rosters to twenty-two players by March 25 and had to make a final roster reduction to eighteen by April 15. The teams had a $1,200,000 salary cap with no player allowed to receive more than $192,500. In order to promote American players, teams were limited to five foreigners on the roster.

Season

Each of the 10 MLS teams played 32 games. A regulation win was worth three points, a shootout win one point, and zero points for a loss in any manner. Fear of alienating fans with tied games had led the league to adopting the shootout when games ended even. The league also adopted a countdown clock instead of running clock, unlike IFAB's standards. The league also divided the teams equally into two conferences – Eastern and Western.

The league began its first season on Saturday, April 6, 1996, when the San Jose Clash hosted D.C. United at Spartan Stadium. ESPN carried the game live which the Clash won on a goal by Eric Wynalda. That goal was selected as the Goal of the Year. The regular season ended on September 22. The playoffs began two days later.

Stadiums and locations

Main article: List of Major League Soccer stadiums
Team Stadium Capacity
Colorado Rapids Mile High Stadium 76,273
Columbus Crew Ohio Stadium 102,329
D.C. United RFK Stadium 46,000
Dallas Burn Cotton Bowl 92,100
Kansas City Wiz Arrowhead Stadium 81,425
Los Angeles Galaxy Rose Bowl 92,542
New England Revolution Foxboro Stadium 60,292
NY/NJ MetroStars Giants Stadium 80,200
San Jose Clash Spartan Stadium 30,456
Tampa Bay Mutiny Houlihan's Stadium 74,301

Personnel and sponsorships

Team Head coach Captain Shirt sponsor
Colorado Rapids United States Roy Wegerle Budweiser
Columbus Crew United States Tom Fitzgerald South Africa Doctor Khumalo Snickers
D.C. United United States Bruce Arena MasterCard
Dallas Burn United States Dave Dir AT&T
Kansas City Wiz England Ron Newman AT&T
Los Angeles Galaxy Germany Lothar Osiander Budweiser
New England Revolution Republic of Ireland Frank Stapleton BIC
NY/NJ MetroStars Portugal Carlos Queiroz United States Peter Vermes Fujifilm
San Jose Clash England Laurie Calloway United States John Doyle Honda
Tampa Bay Mutiny Netherlands Thomas Rongen Bandai

Coaching changes

Team Outgoing coach Manner of departure Date of vacancy Incoming coach Date of appointment
NY/NJ MetroStars Italy Eddie Firmani Fired May 24, 1996 Portugal Carlos Queiroz May 30, 1996
Columbus Crew Finland Timo Liekoski Resigned August 2, 1996 United States Tom Fitzgerald August 2, 1996
Colorado Rapids England Bob Houghton Fired September 10, 1996 United States Roy Wegerle September 13, 1996

Standings

Eastern Conference

Pos Team Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 32 19 1 12 66 51 +15 58 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 D.C. United 32 15 1 16 62 56 +6 46
3 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 12 3 17 45 47 −2 39
4 Columbus Crew 32 11 4 17 59 60 −1 37
5 New England Revolution 32 9 6 17 43 56 −13 33
Source: MLS

Western Conference

Pos Team Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 15 4 13 59 49 +10 49 MLS Cup Playoffs
2 Dallas Burn 32 12 5 15 50 48 +2 41
3 Kansas City Wiz 32 12 5 15 61 63 −2 41
4 San Jose Clash 32 12 3 17 50 50 0 39
5 Colorado Rapids 32 9 2 21 44 59 −15 29
Source: MLS

Overall standings

Pos Team Pld W SOW L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Tampa Bay Mutiny (S) 32 19 1 12 66 51 +15 58
2 Los Angeles Galaxy 32 15 4 13 59 49 +10 49 CONCACAF Champions' Cup
3 D.C. United (C) 32 15 1 16 62 56 +6 46
4 Dallas Burn 32 12 5 15 50 48 +2 41
5 Kansas City Wiz 32 12 5 15 61 63 −2 41
6 NY/NJ MetroStars 32 12 3 17 45 47 −2 39
7 San Jose Clash 32 12 3 17 50 50 0 39
8 Columbus Crew 32 11 4 17 59 60 −1 37
9 New England Revolution 32 9 6 17 43 56 −13 33
10 Colorado Rapids 32 9 2 21 44 59 −15 29
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

Conference semifinals Conference finals MLS Cup
             
E1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 2 1 4
E4 Columbus Crew 0 2 1
E1 Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 1 x
Eastern Conference
E2 D.C. United 4 2 x
E2 D.C. United 2 (5) 1 2
E3 NY/NJ MetroStars *(pen.) 2 (6)* 0 1
E2 D.C. United (aet) 3
W1 Los Angeles Galaxy 2
W1 Los Angeles Galaxy 0 2 2
W4 San Jose Clash 1 0 0
W1 Los Angeles Galaxy *(pen.) 2 1 (3)* x
Western Conference
W3 Kansas City Wiz 1 1 (1) x
W2 Dallas Burn 2 2 2 (2)
W3 Kansas City Wiz *(pen.) 3 1 2 (3)*
  • Best of Three series winners will advance.

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

Game 1
NY/NJ MetroStars2–2D.C. United
Report
Penalties
6–5
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New JerseyAttendance: 14,416Referee: Esse Baharmast Game 2
D.C. United1–0NY/NJ MetroStars
Report
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.Attendance: 21,442Referee: Paul Tamberino Game 3
D.C. United2–1NY/NJ MetroStars
Report
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.Attendance: 20,423Referee: Brian Hall
  • D.C. United wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
Columbus Crew0–2Tampa Bay Mutiny
Report
Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OhioAttendance: 20,807Referee: Brian Hall Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2Columbus Crew
Report
Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa, FloridaAttendance: 13,009Referee: Rich Grady Game 3
Tampa Bay Mutiny4–1Columbus Crew
Report
Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa, FloridaAttendance: 6,871Referee: Tim Weyland
  • Tampa Bay Mutiny wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Western Conference

Game 1
Kansas City Wiz3–2Dallas Burn
Report
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MissouriAttendance: 4,466Referee: Tim Weyland Game 2
Dallas Burn2–1Kansas City Wiz
Report Preki 30'
Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TexasAttendance: 10,125Referee: Esse Baharmast Game 3
Dallas Burn2–2Kansas City Wiz
Report
Penalties
2–3
Cotton Bowl, Dallas, TexasAttendance: 9,802Referee: Rich Grady
  • Kansas City Wiz wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
San Jose Clash1–0Los Angeles Galaxy
Report
Spartan Stadium, San Jose, CaliforniaAttendance: 17,209Referee: Kevin Stott Game 2
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
Report
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CaliforniaAttendance: 27,833Referee: Joshua Patlak Game 3
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
Report
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CaliforniaAttendance: 30,231Referee: Esse Baharmast
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

Game 1
D.C. United4–1Tampa Bay Mutiny
Report
RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.Attendance: 23,566Referee: Kevin Stott Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2D.C. United
Report
Houlihan's Stadium, Tampa, FloridaAttendance: 9,339Referee: Rich Grady
  • D.C. United wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup.

Western Conference

Game 1
Los Angeles Galaxy2–1Kansas City Wiz
Report Preki 52'
Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CaliforniaAttendance: 25,212Referee: Brian Hall Game 2
Kansas City Wiz1–1Los Angeles Galaxy
Report
Penalties
1–3
Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MissouriAttendance: 11,041Referee: Zimmerman Boulos
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup.

MLS Cup

Main article: MLS Cup 1996
Los Angeles Galaxy2–3 (a.e.t.)D.C. United
Report
Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, MassachusettsAttendance: 34,643Referee: Esse Baharmast

Player statistics

Goals

Rank Player Club Goals
1 United States Roy Lassiter Tampa Bay Mutiny 27
2 El Salvador Raúl Díaz Arce D.C. United 23
3 Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy 21
4 United States Preki Kansas City Wiz 18
5 United States Brian McBride Columbus Crew 17
6 United States Steve Rammel D.C. United 14
7 United States Paul Bravo San Jose Clash 13
United States Jason Kreis Dallas Burn
Venezuela Giovanni Savarese NY/NJ MetroStars
Zimbabwe Vitalis Takawira Kansas City Wiz

Hat-tricks

Main article: List of Major League Soccer hat-tricks
Player Club Against Result Date
United States Steve Rammel D.C. United Columbus Crew 5–2 May 15
Venezuela Giovanni Savarese NY/NJ MetroStars Colorado Rapids 3–0 May 16
Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy NY/NJ MetroStars 4–0 June 9
Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy Colorado Rapids 3–1 June 26
El Salvador Raúl Díaz Arce D.C. United Dallas Burn 6–1 July 7
United States Cobi Jones Los Angeles Galaxy Tampa Bay Mutiny 3–4 July 27
United States Roy Lassiter Tampa Bay Mutiny Colorado Rapids 3–1 August 3
United States Brian Maisonneuve Columbus Crew Kansas City Wiz 5–1 September 7

Assists

Rank Player Club Assists
1 Bolivia Marco Etcheverry D.C. United 16
2 United States Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash 11
Colombia Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny
4 El Salvador Mauricio Cienfuegos Los Angeles Galaxy 10
5 United States Preki Kansas City Wiz 9
United States Mark Chung Kansas City Wiz
United States Tab Ramos NY/NJ Metrostars
8 Uruguay Adrián Paz Columbus Crew 8
Italy Roberto Donadoni NY/NJ MetroStars
United States John Harkes D.C. United

Clean sheets

Rank Player Club Clean
sheets
1 United States Tony Meola NY/NJ Metrostars 9
2 United States Mark Dodd Dallas Burn 6
3 Mexico Jorge Campos Los Angeles Galaxy 4
United States Brad Friedel Columbus Crew
England Aidan Heaney New England Revolution
United States Tom Liner San Jose Clash
United States Dave Salzwedel San Jose Clash
8 United States Mark Dougherty Tampa Bay Mutiny 3
United States Garth Lagerway Kansas City Wiz
United States Mark Simpson D.C. United

Awards

Individual awards

Award Player Club
Most Valuable Player Colombia Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny
Defender of the Year United States John Doyle San Jose Clash
Goalkeeper of the Year United States Mark Dodd Dallas Burn
Coach of the Year Netherlands Thomas Rongen Tampa Bay Mutiny
Rookie of the Year United States Steve Ralston Tampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring Champion United States Roy Lassiter Tampa Bay Mutiny
Goal of the Year United States Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash

Best XI

Goalkeeper Defenders Midfielders Forwards
United States Mark Dodd, Dallas Colombia Leonel Álvarez, Dallas
United States John Doyle, San Jose
United States Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy 		El Salvador Mauricio Cienfuegos, LA Galaxy
Italy Roberto Donadoni, MetroStars
Bolivia Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United
United States Preki, Kansas City
Colombia Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay 		Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado, LA Galaxy
United States Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay

Player of the Month

Month Player Club Stats
April El Salvador Mauricio Cienfuegos Los Angeles Galaxy 2G
May Colombia Carlos Valderrama Tampa Bay Mutiny 2G, 4A
June Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy 7G, 1A
July United States Jason Kreis Dallas Burn 5G
August Bolivia Marco Etcheverry D.C. United 1G, 8A
September United States Brad Friedel Columbus Crew 2GA

Weekly awards

Player of the Week
Week Player Club
Week 1 United States Eric Wynalda San Jose Clash
Week 2 United States Brian McBride Columbus Crew
Week 3 United States Marcelo Balboa Colorado Rapids
Week 4 United States Bo Oshoniyi Columbus Crew
Week 5 Venezuela Giovanni Savarese NY/NJ MetroStars
Week 6 United States Brian McBride Columbus Crew
Week 7 Mexico Jorge Campos Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 8 United States Preki Kansas City Wiz
Week 9 United States John Doyle San Jose Clash
Week 10 Ecuador Eduardo Hurtado Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 11 United States Mark Dodd Dallas Burn
Week 12 United States Mark Chung Kansas City Wiz
Week 13 United States Tony Meola NY/NJ MetroStars
Week 14 El Salvador Raúl Díaz Arce D.C. United
Week 15 United States Paul Bravo San Jose Clash
Week 16 United States Cobi Jones Los Angeles Galaxy
Week 17 United States Joe-Max Moore New England Revolution
Week 18 United States Tony Meola NY/NJ MetroStars
Week 19 Uruguay Adrián Paz Columbus Crew
Week 20 Bolivia Marco Etcheverry D.C. United
Week 21 United States Brad Friedel Columbus Crew
Week 22 United States Brian Maisonneuve Columbus Crew
Week 23 Canada Frank Yallop Tampa Bay Mutiny
Week 24 United States Brad Friedel Columbus Crew

Attendance

Main article: Major League Soccer attendance
Rank Team GP Cumulative High Low Mean
1 Los Angeles Galaxy 16 462,650 92,216 8,561 28,916
2 NY/NJ Metrostars 16 382,360 53,250 14,007 23,898
3 New England Revolution 16 304,392 38,633 11,009 19,025
4 Columbus Crew 16 303,202 31,550 12,832 18,950
5 San Jose Clash 16 275,712 31,728 10,894 17,232
6 Dallas Burn 16 256,173 35,250 7,338 16,011
7 D.C. United 16 244,199 35,032 7,360 15,262
8 Kansas City Wiz 16 206,044 21,141 8,062 12,878
9 Tampa Bay Mutiny 16 186,856 26,473 6,281 11,679
10 Colorado Rapids 16 163,413 21,711 6,013 10,213
Total 160 2,785,001 92,216 6,013 17,406

References

  1. 1996 marquee players - 90soccer.com- Ken Salmon
  2. "SPORTS PEOPLE: SOCCER; Ramos Signs With Major League Soccer (Published 1995)". The New York Times. January 5, 1995. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023.
  3. Yannis, Alex (October 17, 1995). "SOCCER; Major League Soccer Gets Set for Unveilings (Published 1995)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
  4. Yannis, Alex (October 18, 1995). "SOCCER;Giants Stadium Will Go Natural Again (Published 1995)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 8, 2023.
  5. Pro Soccer Combine Begins Today at UC Irvine
  6. 1996 draft - latimes.com
  7. RAPIDS RELEASE THREE PLAYERS
  8. "The Year in American Soccer - 1995". Archived from the original on February 26, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2012.

External links

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