California Victory
 |
|
| Full name | California Victory |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Victory, Vics |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Dissolved | 2007 |
| Stadium |
Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California, United States |
| Capacity | 10,000 |
| 2007 | 12th Playoffs: DNQ |
The California Victory was a USL First Division professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California. It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés withdrew its support.
On October 12, 2006, USL President Francisco Marcos announced Dmitry Piterman, a Ukrainian American and chairman of Spanish club Deportivo Alavés, had officially acquired a USL First Division franchise beginning in the 2007 season. The Victory was the first European owned team to compete at any level of the United Soccer Leagues, and also the first USL First Division team in California since the demise of the San Diego Flash in 2001. The club played at Kezar Stadium, the former home of the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers.
The name Victory is derived from Alavés’ home city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, the capital city of both the province of Álava and the Basque Country of Spain.
Terry Fisher, a longtime soccer executive and coach, was the team's first general manager. The team was managed and coached by Glenn van Straatum, while US international Hugo Perez was an assistant.
1906 Supporters was the blanket term for the supporters of the California Victory. The term 1906 referred to the 1906 earthquake and fire of San Francisco. The 1906 had its roots in early fan support of the San Francisco Seals soccer team and the San Jose Earthquakes, who were on hiatus from MLS when the Victory began play. They were identifiable by their custom T-shirts, colorful chants and banners draped over the rails.
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