Jacksonville Armada
 |
|
| Full name | Jacksonville Armada Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Boys in Blue |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Stadium |
Hodges Stadium (2017–present) Community First Park (2015–2016) |
| Capacity | 9,400 |
| Owner | Mark Frisch |
| Head Coach | Mark Lowry |
| League | North American Soccer League |
| 2016 |
Spring: 10th Fall: 11th Combined: 11th Playoffs: DNQ |
| Website | Club home page |
Jacksonville Armada FC are a professional soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They play in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American soccer pyramid, which they joined for the 2015 season. The Armada play their home games at Hodges Stadium on the campus of the University of North Florida.
In May 2013, Jacksonville businessman Mark Frisch and former Major League Soccer player Darío Sala formed Sunshine Soccer Group with the intention of bringing professional soccer to Jacksonville. The effort was bolstered by several successful soccer matches held at EverBank Field, including two national team games that set records for international friendlies. The North American Soccer League invited the group to present a bid for a 2015 expansion team at their July 25, 2013 board meeting. The bid was accepted, and the NASL announced that Jacksonville and Oklahoma City FC would receive franchises for the 2015 season.
The organization has announced that Sala would serve as general manager, and former NFL Europe and Jacksonville Jaguars executive Steve Livingstone will serve as President. On February 18, 2014, the team announced its name would be Jacksonville Armada FC, and that its colors would be navy blue, royal blue, gold, and white. On June 11, 2014, the team announced it had hired former Argentine player José Luis Villarreal as its first head coach.
The team began playing in the 2015 NASL Spring season. After a few pre-season games in February and March, the club played its first league game, at home, on April 4, 2015, defeating FC Edmonton 3–1. On September 21, 2015, the club announced the dismissal of head coach Guillermo Hoyos, general manager Dario Sala and assistant coaches Edison Ibarra, Sebastian Fabres and Rafael Perez Nino. The Armada stood 11th and last in the North American Soccer League. The decision came just three months after the team had extended Hoyos' contract through the end of 2019. "Following an in-depth analysis of the team and operations, I am confident that a new direction is needed to turn around our team," Armada owner Mark Frisch said in a statement. Director of player development Eric Dade took over through the end of the 2015 NASL season.
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