History: In the twelve seasons of Major League Soccer, the top division of US Soccer, D.C. United is easily the most decorated club in league history. The winner of four MLS Cups (considered the league championship despite being a playoff cup format) with the last championship in 2004, three supporter's shields (given the team with the best regular season record in a single table) including the 2006 trophy, the 1996 US Open Cup, the 1998 CONCACAF Champions Cup, and the 1998 Interamerican Cup (Defeating Brazil's Vaco de Gama), United's fans expect excellence in the play of their team. International friendlies in the past two years have been played with Chelsea FC (a 2-1 loss), Celtic FC (a 4-nil win for us in a foggy rain, what a fun night!), and Real Madrid (a 1-1 draw in Seattle). We hope to have our own stadium 20K-30K seat stadium in 2009 on the banks of the Anacostia river in DC, but that seems a long way off some days. However, a new ownership group which took charge of the team for this season is committed to the stadium project, and to maintaining the excellence of play we expect.
Fans: D.C. United plays home games in R.F.K. stadium (shared with the Washington Nationals baseball team), in the heart of Washington, D.C. Our fans are passionate and soccer savvy. Organized supporter's groups include The Screaming Eagles (
www.screaming-eagles.com), La Barra Brava (
www.barra-brava.com), La Norte (
lanortedcu.blogspot.com ), and Esquina United. Many fans belong to more than one group, and the atmosphere in the Barra was even praised in a Sports Illustrated article last year
(
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/grant_wahl/08/23/dc.united/index.html). I've attached a picture of "The Nest" where I and my fellow Screaming Eagles take in the game. If anyone is ever in DC, drop by parking Lot 8 for some great food, free beer, and a warm reception. The fans even travel pretty well (image attached of the Barra on the road eight hours away at a New England Revolution game in Foxboro)
Players: Our current stars include: Captain and forward Jamie Moreno (picture attached), who is the active leading goal-scorer in Major League Soccer and two goals away from taking the all-time lead. Christian Gomez (picture attached of him in an Argentina shirt joining the supporters in the stands on a drum while serving a suspension), the 2006 MLS MVP and playmaker of the team. 2006 MLS Keeper of the Year Troy Perkins and 2006 MLS Defender of the Year Bobby Boswell (who blogs at
www.bobbyboswell.com if you want more information on him) anchor our defense. Other major players include new signing Brazilian Luciano Emilio, midfielder Fred, and midfielder Ben Olsen . Former players that made their way to Europe include Reading's Bobby Convey and Blackburn's Ryan Nelsen, and the retired Bolivian legend Marco Etcheverry still retains patron saint status among many fans for his play in the early years of the team. Head coach Tom Soehn is in his first season, after being an assistant coach for several years. He replaced Piotr Nowak, who left the team to take the position of US National Team Assistant Coach to Bob Bradley.
The season so far: After a semi-final finish in the CONCACAF Champions Cup to start the year, (involving a heatbreaking 3-2 loss to the Mexican CD Chivas of Guadalajara after we had a 2-1 aggregate lead) United has stumbled out of the gates with three straight losses and collecting four points in the first five games played. However, I feel like this start can be overcome, and with matches against Tornoto and defending MLS Champions Houston in the remainder of May, we'll get a good sense of whether United has righted the ship. We've got 25 games remaining to show some class. That's enough time, but spotting opponents points has to stop. This summer, the team will also be participating in the first ever "Superliga" featuring teams from Major League Soccer and the Mexican Primera Division. United is grouped with Club America, the Houston Dynamo, and Monarcas Morelia.
Odd Quirk: The team is always referred to as "D.C. United" and not "THE D.C. United" or "The United". It's just a thing that gets people's hackles up. Sadly, even our local sports announcers don't get the hang of it sometimes.
In DC? The city has a ton to offer, from free museums, good clubs, a wide variety of shopping, and excellent cosmopolitan food choices. If you're in the Nation's Capital, let us know, and we'll show you around town and try and get you to a game. Honestly, I can't think of any football experience in the USA that's better than watching DC United play with its supporters. Heed Army, and Vamos United, to all!
A massive thank you to the DCenters for the great write up on their fans and club.
Gateshead have signed Heed Legend Stevie Bowey for the Second time, Bowey has been at Queen of the South (where he was captain) and York City during his 5 years away from the Heed.
