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MIAMI (November 29, 2021) – The Miami FC is pleased to announce that the club has hired Anthony Pulis as head coach ahead of the 2022 USL Championship season. He will begin coaching duties on Wednesday, December 1. 

“We are excited to bring in an experienced and talented coach like Anthony to lead this team,” said Miami FC CEO Michael Williamson. “In our conversations, it was clear that he shares the same values and goals as Miami FC both on and off the pitch. Anthony has a proven track record of developing players and maximizing individual and team performance, which is critical for success on the pitch. I am confident that under his leadership, the club will continue its winning tradition for our Miami community and fútbol305 fans.”

The Bristol, England native takes the helm after spending the last two seasons as First Team Assistant Coach at Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami CF. Pulis originally joined Inter Miami ahead of the club’s inaugural 2020 season under head coach Diego Alonso, helping the club reach the MLS Playoffs in their first season. Pulis holds both a U.S. Soccer Pro License and a UEFA Pro License. 

“Firstly, I’d like to thank Riccardo Silva & Michael Williamson for this fantastic opportunity,” said Pulis. “Their passion and commitment to this project at Miami FC is inspiring and I’m excited to begin working together. I’d also like to thank Inter Miami CF for allowing me to pursue this next step in my career. I’ve learned plenty from the experience and everyone I’ve worked with in the two years.”

Pulis is no stranger to the USL Championship, having joined Orlando City back in 2012 as a player coach. He spent three seasons in the role, playing in over 50 official matches and winning the USL Cup in 2013. During this time, he also started coaching in the Orlando City’s academy. After the 2014 season concluded, Pulis decided to hang up the boots and join the coaching staff at the club, where he’d eventually be named Head Coach of Orlando City B (OCB) ahead of the 2016 USL Championship season. During his preparations he also served as a first team assistant coach in the club’s first MLS season.

While focusing on developing talent for the MLS team, Pulis led OCB to the USL Playoffs in 2016, eventually bowing out to that year’s USL Cup winner New York Red Bulls II. In 2017, the club continued its success by finishing the regular season with a better record than the year before. His success at OCB paved the road to being named as head coach of USL Championship club Saint Louis FC in 2018.

With Pulis on the touchline, Saint Louis FC reached the USL Playoffs in his first season at the club. In 2019, his success continued as Saint Louis FC reached the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals, defeating MLS’ Chicago Fire and FC Cincinnati in previous rounds. Pulis departed Saint Louis FC after the 2019 season to join Inter Miami CF as assistant coach.

“I’m really excited for the challenge ahead of us at a club that I believe has the potential to be one of, if not the best in the USL Championship,” commented Pulis. “There is already the nucleus of a good squad of players here who I can’t wait to start working with on the training field. The immediate focus is to make sure we are intentional about recruiting the right players to compliment those we have to ensure we start on the front foot and have a successful 2022 season. Building a strong culture and collective team identity will be critical to ensuring we put a team on the field that the community of Miami-Dade can be proud of.”

Prior to coming over to the United States, Pulis played over 12 seasons in England. 

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FOR MEDIA INQUIRES:
Nico Castillo – Director of Communications
Nico.castillo@miamifc.com

MIAMI (November 23, 2021) — The Miami FC defender Paco Craig has been named to the USL Championship All-League First Team, the league announced on Tuesday.

The 2021 USL Championship All-League Team was voted on by club management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market.

“I am extremely happy for receiving this honor,” said Craig. “This award is a testament to the hard work and sacrifice of the whole team, not just me. It feels amazing to come back to the USL Championship and be able to earn a spot on the All-League First Team. I have huge respect for my teammates and without them this wouldn’t be possible. I am looking forward to growing off this and using it as fuel in our upcoming 2022 season.”

Craig returned to the league in 2021 and earned a third All-League First Team selection as he starred in the center of Miami’s back line. The English center back finished tied for the league-lead among defenders with 198 recoveries and fourth overall with 134 clearances, while also posting a 63.9 percent duel success rate and 62.6 aerial duel success rate, earning a +7.50 Goals Added mark to lead all center backs in the Championship.

The finalists for the 2021 Championship Awards will be announced on Tuesday, preceding the 2021 USL Championship Final, which will air live on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and SiriusXM FC in the United States on Sunday, November 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

2021 USL Championship All-League First Team

GK – Evan Louro, Tampa Bay Rowdies: In his second season in Tampa Bay, Evan Louro led the Championship with 14 shutouts – good for second-most in a regular season in league history – and posted a 0.74 goals-against average while playing 31 of 32 regular season games for the Atlantic Division winner. 

D – Paco Craig, Miami FC: Making his return to the Championship in Miami, Paco Craig earned a third All-League First Team selection as he starred in the center of his new club’s back line. The English center back finished tied for the league-lead among defenders with 198 recoveries and fourth overall with 134 clearances, while also posting a 63.9 percent duel success rate and 62.6 aerial duel success rate, earning a +7.50 Goals Added mark to lead all center backs in the Championship.

D – Jonathan Gomez, Louisville City FC: The 18-year-old standout had a remarkable year that saw him named in the preliminary roster for the United States to the 2021 Concacaf Gold Cup, and individually Jonathan Gomez proved a standout two-way player for LouCity as he recorded two goals, eight assists and 44 key passes offensively while recording 43 interceptions and a 75 percent tackle success rate defensively.

D – Forrest Lasso, Tampa Bay Rowdies: Voted to the All-League First Team for a fifth consecutive season, Forrest Lasso was the centerpiece of a three-man back line that was the best defense in the league for Tampa Bay. Lasso led the league with 153 clearances and 132 aerial duels won, the latter coming at a 73.3 percent success rate, while also winning 67.7 percent of duels and blocking 26 shots.

D – Sean Totsch, Louisville City FC: LouCity stalwart Sean Totsch was one of only three players to play every minute of the regular season as he earned his second consecutive All-League First Team selection. Totsch completed a league-high 1,765 of 2,079 passes in the regular season while also recording 195 recoveries and winning 114 aerial duels – second among defenders – at a 69.5 percent success rate as LouCity faced a league-fewest 263 shots. 

M – Danny Barrera, Hartford Athletic: Earning his second All-League First Team honor, Danny Barrera led the league with 12 assists and ranked third with 82 key passes while also scoring eight goals, good for second on the Athletic. The 31-year-old native of Colombia also completed 1,001 passes at a 78.1 percent accuracy rate to post a +6.58 Goals Added mark over the regular season.

M – Jorge Hernandez, LA Galaxy II: The 20-year-old playmaker had a breakthrough season for Los Dos as he recorded 12 goals and six assists while leading the league with 91 chances created in the regular season. Hernandez’s play helped propel the Galaxy II attack as he finished with the highest Expected Assists mark in the league at 8.52xA while tying for the league lead with three goals directly from free kicks and a league-high five goals from outside the penalty area.

M – Aodhan Quinn, Phoenix Rising FC: One of the league’s major offseason moves as he joined Phoenix, Aodhan Quinn earned the second All-League First Team selection of his career with a standout season for the Pacific Division winners. Quinn finished tied for second in the league with 11 assists and notched six goals for Rising FC while ranking second in the Championship with 84 key passes and second on Rising FC with a +7.89 Goals Added mark.

F – Hadji Barry, Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC: The Guinean forward equaled the Championship’s single-season scoring record with 25 goals in a remarkable campaign that helped the Switchbacks earn their first postseason berth since 2016. Hadji Barry averaged a goal every 114.9 minutes while also notching five assists and 49 key passes to lead a rejuvenated squad to success at Colorado Springs’ new downtown home.

F – Sebastian Guenzatti, Tampa Bay Rowdies: The Rowdies’ captain earned his first All-League First Team selection as he scored a career-best 21 goals in the regular season while also recording six assists to lead the club in both categories. Sebastian Guenzatti’s work-rate as the first line of defense also drew plaudits throughout the season as he recorded 24 interceptions and notched a Goals Added mark of +10.86 to lead all players in the Championship.

F – Santi Moar, Phoenix Rising FC: The Spaniard had a career-high 16 goals in his second season with Rising FC, leading the team, while also recording four assists and 63 key passes to sit tied for fourth in the league. Santi Moar’s decision-making in the final third also played a major role in Rising FC’s success as he completed 49 dribbles and recorded four goals from beyond the penalty area, tied for second in the league.

MIAMI (November 15, 2021) – The Miami FC announced on Monday that Paul Dalglish is no longer the club’s Head Coach and Technical Director after having reached an agreement for his departure.

For Media Inquires Contact:
Nico Castillo – Director of Communication
Nico.Castillo@miamifc.com

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Miami FC saw their 2021 USL Championship come to an end on Saturday night, losing 1-0 to Louisville City at Lynn Family Stadium.

A second-half goal by Jorge Gonzalez in his postseason debut proved the difference as Louisville City FC took a 1-0 victory against Miami FC to advance on Saturday night before a crowd of 9,097 at Lynn Family Stadium in the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals of the 2021 USL Championship Playoffs, presented by TwinSpires.

Facing its hosts for the first time, Miami almost got out to an ideal start when Cuban forward Ariel Martinez outran LouCity’s Sean Totsch to get to a misplaced pass into the left channel, but was unable to direct his chipped finish on target as Louisville goalkeeper Chris Hubbard came off his line well to head off the opportunity, forcing Martinez to his right as cover arrived before the shot.

LouCity got its own early look at goal, too, as in the fifth minute a ball into Cameron Lancaster by Oscar Jimenez gave the English marksman a chance to fire to the left corner that Miami goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell got down well to save. The danger the visitors could create was on display again 10 minutes later, though, when former LouCity player Richie Ballard was played into the left side of the penalty area by Pierre Da Silva but sent his finish into the near side-netting.

The hosts looked to up the tempo as the half-hour mark neared as both Corben Bone and Gonzalez had efforts saved, but then in the 30th minute LouCity came the closest it had to taking the lead. An initial shot from the top of the penalty area by Brian Ownby was blocked but was followed by a powerful effort by Jonathan Gomez that Caldwell parried. Paolo DelPiccolo seized on the rebound but was also denied by the goalkeeper before his second effort trying to center from close to the byline was gathered, ending the danger.

Miami had its own goalmouth scramble three minutes later when off a corner kick from the right a flick on by Bolu Akinyode was directed on target by Callum Chapman-Page, forcing an excellent save by Hubbard as he clawed the ball away off the goal line. The visitors then threatened again 12 minutes into the second half as another loose pass by the hosts sent Martinez on his way, only this time for the Cuban’s touch to be heavy as he entered the penalty area allowing Hubbard to smother.

As the half progressed, though, LouCity appeared to take more control. A chance for Gonzalez just past the hour-mark was saved by Caldwell, while in the 69th minute a quickly worked move left to find Gomez saw the young standout deliver a low cross that DelPiccolo flicked on target only for Caldwell to be well positioned to make the stop.

With 16 minutes to go, the breakthrough arrived. After Lancaster held up play at the top-left edge of the penalty area, he laid a pass back to Gonzalez, who navigated past one defender before sliding a pass to Bone as he moved into the box. A clever return pass into a central space saw Gonzalez get to the ball first ahead of a convergence of defenders and curl a first-time shot just inside the right post.

Miami tried to find a reply but was unable to find the incisiveness it needed in the final third to produce a chance that might have tested Hubbard. Instead, LouCity could have added a second on a counterattack late in the game as first Antoine Hoppenot and then Gomez passed up chances to put the game away before Miami’s defense recovered. There would be no late drama from the visitors, however, as LouCity moved on in comfortable fashion.

MIAMI (November 5, 2021) – The Miami FC has signed goalkeeper Jeff Caldwell on an emergency loan from Hartford Athletic ahead of Saturday’s USL Eastern Conference Quarterfinal match against Louisville City. The club announced the signing on Friday, with goalkeeper Brian Sylvestre being unavailable for Saturday’s clash.

Under USL Championship rules, after the official Roster Freeze date, if a club is reduced to a single available and healthy goalkeeper, that club may petition the league to register an emergency goalkeeper. The subsequent registration will be permitted until such time as one or more of the originally rostered goalkeepers becomes available and healthy.

At 25, Caldwell joined Hartford ahead of the 2021 season from major League Soccer’s New England Revolution. In 2021, Caldwell played in 30 matches, picking up nine clean sheets and recording 109 saves, second most saves in the USL Championship. 

Miami FC faces Louisville City on the road this Saturday at 8 p.m. at Lynn Family Stadium. Fans can watch the match live on ESPN+ or on SiriusXM FC on channel 157.

MIAMI (October 24, 2021) – Goals in either half by Adonijah Reid and Christiano Francois sent Miami FC to a 2-0 victory against the New York Red Bulls II on Sunday night at FIU Stadium as the hosts snapped a two-game run without a goal in their home finale for the regular season.

The hosts had an early chance in the eighth minute when El Salvador international Josh Perez ran onto a long ball upfield by goalkeeper Connor Sparrow and drove into the left side of the penalty area before pulling his finish wide of the right post. Six minutes it was the turn of Red Bulls II as Steven Sserwadda played a good through-ball for Jake LaCava into the left channel that the forward shot to the near post where Sparrow was on hand to turn wide of the upright.

Perez set up the opening goal of the game in the 18th minute, however, as he received possession on the left and beat his marker with a move to the byline before delivering a cross that was chested home at the near post by Reid.

The visitors threatened to level on the half-hour mark when Omar Sowe played Guadeloupe international Luther Archimede into the right side of the penalty area for a low shot that was turned into the side-netting at the near post by Sparrow, while in stoppage time Miami went close again as Callum Chapman-Page headed strongly on target off a corner kick from the right by Pierre Da Silva but was denied by a sharp save from New York goalkeeper AJ Marcucci.

Having set up the visitors’ best chance of the half, Sowe had an opportunity of his own deep in first half stoppage time but clipped his finish into the side-netting from the right side of the penalty area. Miami got back on the front foot to start the second half, however, and New York defender Michael Knapp had to come up with a fine block to deny Reid his second after the Canadian got a clear look at goal off a cutback cross from Lamar Walker seven minutes after the break.

Both Bolu Akinyode and Francois also had chances to add an insurance goal for the hosts with the former shooting off target and the second being denied by a low save by Marcucci, but with eight minutes to go the Red Bulls II almost found an equalizer when Sowe blocked a pass in Miami’s half into the path of LaCava, whose first-time shot toward the left corner was parried away by Sparrow smartly.

A minute later the hosts added their second, though, as on a counterattack Chris Cortez played forward a pass for Francois on which the Haiti international outdueled his marker to win possession before cutting onto his right foot and sending a low finish into the left corner of the net for his team-leading 11th goal of the season. That wrapped up the win for the hosts, who kept their chances of a second-place finish alive with the win.