Fort Lauderdale Strikers
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| Full name | Fort Lauderdale Strikers |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Strikers |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Stadium |
Central Broward Stadium Lauderhill, Florida |
| Capacity | 20,000 |
| Owners | Paulo Cesso Rafael Bertani Ronaldo |
| Head Coach | Caio Zanardi |
| League | North American Soccer League |
| 2016 | Spring Championship: 6th Fall Championship: 6th Combined: 6th Playoffs: DNQ |
| Website | Club home page |
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers are an American professional soccer team based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Founded in 2006, they play in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American soccer pyramid. The Strikers are named for the original Strikers, who played in the old North American Soccer League from 1977 to 1983. They play their home games in Central Broward Stadium.
The team was known as Miami FC from 2006 until 2011 before re-branding as the Strikers in 2011. They have a fierce in-state rivalry with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers were founded in 1977 when the Robbie family relocated the Miami Toros north to Fort Lauderdale and rebranded the team. The team competed in the old North American Soccer League and played its home matches at Lockhart Stadium.
Between 1977 and 1983, the Strikers fielded many of the world's best players including Gerd Müller, Teófilo Cubillas, Elías Figueroa George Best and Gordon Banks. The team was captained by Ray Hudson, who led the Strikers to the playoffs in their seven seasons in Fort Lauderdale.
In 1984, the Strikers relocated to Minneapolis as the Minnesota Strikers.
Following the Strikers departure to Minnesota, former Striker Ronnie Sharp launched the Fort Lauderdale Sun of the newly formed United Soccer League. The Sun played their home games at Lockhart Stadium. With new ownership the team was rebranded the South Florida Sun for the 1985 season and won the USL title both years before league collapsed. Over two seasons 17 ex-NASLers wore a Sun jersey, nine of whom were former Strikers, including Cubillas, Thomas Rongen, Colin Fowles, Curtis Leeper, Jim Tietjens and player/coach Keith Weller.
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