Six MLS clubs have lived life in lower divisions
As we know, MLS is an expanding league. With Los Angeles FC joining in 2018 and commissioner Don Garber’s intentions to continue to accept new teams in the coming years, some clubs in USL and NASL can entertain hopes of one day joining the big leagues. Until now, six organizations, including the Montreal Impact and Minnesota United FC, who will both be under the spotlight at Stade Saputo this Saturday at 7:30pm (TVA Sports, 98,5fm, TSN Radio 690 – TICKETS), have made this jump towards the top of the North American football pyramid.
Eastern Conference
Montreal Impact
- Founded in: 1993
- First MLS season: 2012
- D2 championships: 3
- D2 players still active with the club in MLS: Evan Bush, Hassoun Camara (as well as Mauro Biello, Adam Braz, Nick De Santis, Massimo Di Ioia, Jason Di Tullio, Simon Gatti and Eduardo Sebrango who are still with the Bleu-blanc-noir)
- The bleu-blanc-noir will have known many versions of the old second division, from the A-League to USL. The club has faced every team that has gotten a ticket for Major League Soccer before entering the first division, except Orlando City SC.
Orlando City SC
- Founded in: 2010
- First MLS season: 2015
- D2 championships: 2
- D2 players still active with the club in MLS: Tommy Redding, Rafael Ramos
- The Lions did not follow the Impact’s plan: they opened their own stadium, Orlando City Stadium, after having joined MLS. Despite that, with two USL championships in three years, we can say they prepared in the right way to join the major league.
Western Conference
Minnesota United FC
- Founded in: 2010
- First MLS season: 2017
- D2 championships: 1
- D2 players still active with the club in MLS: Bernardo Añor, Justin Davis, Ibson, Ismaila Jome, Brent Kallman, Christian Ramirez, Kevin Venegas
- Unlike Atlanta United FC, the other expansion club in 2017, Minnesota United FC has second-division experience. Originally named NSC Minnesota, the team from Minneapolis has lifted one D2 championship.
Portland Timbers FC
- Founded in: 2001
- First MLS season: 2011
- D2 championships: 0
- D2 players still active with the club in MLS: none (Cameron Knowles and Adin Brown are in the technical staff)
- The Timbers’ current iteration was founded in 2001, but football in Portland is deeply rooted in the community since the 1970s. This great Cascadia rivalry has traveled through time and divisions.
Seattle Sounders FC
- Founded in: 1994
- First MLS season: 2009
- D2 championships: 4
- D2 players still active with the club in MLS: none
- Likewise, Seattle has seen its club exist in the ‘70s, under diverse identities, but always named as Sounders. The Washington state team was also the last hurdle between the Impact and the 2004 USL title, a final that finished 2-0 in favour of Montreal.
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
- Founded in: 1974
- First MLS season: 2011
- D2 championships: 3
- D2 players still active with the club in MLS: Russell Teibert
- The ‘Caps have joined MLS at the same time as their Portland rivals, but also exist since 1974, playing 10 seasons in the first version of NASL. The Bleu-blanc-noir often has had to play it out against Vancouver, notably in the 2009 USL final, which is coincidentally the Impact’s last D2 championship.
