For The Love Of Soccer | Dentro Del Rebano

D.C. United – United in Victory at the Nation’s Capital

Soccer is the most-watched sport on worldwide television. Much of the popularity is drawn in Europe and Latin America. In the United States, soccer is still making its foothold among the more popular pastimes like baseball and gridiron football. Today, there are 19 teams in Major League Soccer and ten of them were founded prior to the league’s inaugural season of 1996.
One of these teams is a part of the MLS’s ‘Original Ten’, and is currently playing in the American capital city of Washington D.C.

D.C. United is considered as the most successful soccer club in Major League Soccer. The club has won four MLS Cup titles, four MLS Supporters Shield titles, two US Open Cup titles, one CONCACAF Champions Cup, and one Inter-American Cup. Along with their championship success, they have also made legends out of the likes of Jaime Moreno, Marco Etcheverry and Eddie Pope, and record-breaking signings like Freddy Adu. Their nickname evokes those of British soccer clubs like Manchester United. With their success in both domestic and foreign competition, D.C. United is considered as a flagship franchise in Major League Soccer.

Get to Know D.C. United

Major League Soccer was founded following the successful hosting of the 1994 FIFA World Cup by the United States. One of the cities selected for the league’s inaugural season was Washington D.C. The owners decided to name the club in reference to British soccer clubs bearing the ‘United’ name, along with the reputation as the American capital, and so D.C.
United was born. Black and red were chosen as the team colors, and the primary kits are black while the secondary kits are white, both of which have red accents. A red third kit was later introduced in 2011.

The original and current home of the club is the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, otherwise known as the RFK Stadium. The capacity of the stadium, which sits 45,596 spectators, is reduced to only 19,467 for D.C. United matches. The club has been owned by William H.C.
Chang since 2007.

D.C. United – Championship Success

D.C. White Smoke Electronic Cigarette ReviewsUnited first made history by playing in the first ever MLS game against the San Jose Crush (now San Jose Earthquakes) on April 6, 1996. That year, the club became the first ever winners of the MLS Cup, while achieving the first American ‘double’ by winning the domestic U.S. Open Cup competition. Another MLS Cup title followed the next year, and they later achieved another ‘double’ by adding an MLS Supporters Shield title to their haul. In 1998, they

added two intercontinental cup championships: the Copa Interamericana and the CONCACAF Champions Cup, though they only managed a runner-up finish in both the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield competitions, They capped off an initial run of success by winning both the MLS Cup and Supporters Shield trophies in 1999.

In the years since championship victories were few and far between. They won the MLS Cup in 2004 and the Supporters Shield in 2006 and 2007. They also won the U.S. Open Cup for the second time in 2008, while making history by becoming the first American soccer club to compete in the Copa Sudamericana. And while the fortunes of the team were not as good as it was in the early years, hopes for a future run at success remain at an all-time high.

D.C. United – Notable Players

The most decorated player in the history of the club has been Jaime Moreno. The Bolivian-born forward played twelve seasons with the club, on two separate six-year stints, and has been involved in every title D.C. United won. Moreno owns a majority of the club’s records, including goals, games played, assists and minutes.

The club made history by drafting 14-year old Freddy Adu in 2004, and later became the youngest professional player in modern U.S. sports history. Adu helped the team win the MLS Cup that season, before departing on a trade to Real Salt Lake in 2006.

Currently, the club is led by Canadian Dwayne De Rosario, who joined United from rival New York Red Bulls. De Rosario has a reputation for being one of the most feared clutch players in Major League Soccer. He was named league MVP and won the Golden Boot in 2011.

Other notable players who spent time with the club include Marco Etcheverry, Eddie Pope, and goalkeeper Nick Rimando.

D.C. United – Fan Support

D.C. United maintains a strong, loyal following within the Washington D.C. area. Since the initial run of success at the nation’s capital, every home game has been sold out. Four notable club supporters include the Latino-flavored La Barra Bravia, the Screaming Eagles, La Norte and the District Ultras. Talon, an anthropomorphic bald eagle, is the club mascot.

With all their championships, fan loyalty and storied tradition, D.C. United continues to be one of the most storied franchises in the history of Major League Soccer.

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Tags: concacaf champions cup, d.c. united, dwayne de rosario, freddy adu, inter-american cup, intercontinental cup championships, jaime moreno