 | |||
| Founded | January 2024 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Stadium | Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,000 | ||
| CEO | Roberto Moreno | ||
| Head Coach | Matt Poland | ||
| League | USL League One | ||
| 2025 |
| ||
| Website | fcnaples | ||
 Current season | |||
FC Naples is a professional Americansoccer club based inNaples,Florida. Founded in January 2024, the club began play in 2025, as part ofUSL League One, the third tier of theAmerican soccer pyramid.[1] Their home stadium is at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex inCollier County, Florida.
The club is the first professional soccer club in Southwest Florida.[2] La Barra 239 is the supporters' group.[3]
FC Naples is the first fully professional soccer club to be based in Naples.[4][5]
The club's official name, crest, and branding were revealed on June 15, 2024.[6]
Roberto Moreno is the club president and co-founder. Formerly a CFO of the fitness and apparel brandZumba, Moreno first became a minority stake investor for EFL League OneLeyton Orient in April 2021. In January 2022 he invested in Belgian lower sidePatro Eisden, and Bundesliga 2 clubPreussen Munster the following year.
Moreno considered buying theTampa Bay Rowdies. Although a deal never happened, he formed a connection with USL deputy CEO Justin Papadakis. After Papadakis made a trip to Naples and visited the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, he was convinced of a new location for a new USL franchise.[7]
Nico Cantor is also a part owner of the club. He contributes to CBS Sports' UEFA Champions League and Europa League coverage and hosts The Golazo! Show.
On July 17, 2024, FC Naples announced Matt Poland as their first head coach.[8] First round of tryouts were held on September 7, 2024.[9]
Despite being in their inaugural season, Naples already have two derbies, the Battle for Paradise withSarasota Paradise and the Derby of the Gulf withTampa Bay Rowdies.[10]
FC Naples started off their inaugural 2025 season very well. They drew 1-1 with theChattanooga Red Wolves in their first ever match with the teams first ever goal being scored by Andres Ferrin. Following this the team collected wins against the likes ofForward Madison FC,Spokane Velocity andTexoma FC. However they were eliminated from theU.S. Open Cup on penalty kicks against theTampa Bay Rowdies and suffered their first league defeat againstOne Knoxville SC. They did recover from this earning a 1-0 victory overUSL Championship sideCharleston Battery in their first everUSL Cup match because of a goal fromKarsen Henderlong. They finished their inaugural regular season in 4th place out of 14 teams qualifying them for the playoffs.
Built in 2020,Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium serves as the club's current home, and holds up to 5,000 spectators.[11] The field surface issynthetic turf.
On February 19, 2024, FC Naples announced a fan outreach initiative in which it would seek input on club branding from local residents.[12]
The club's badge is meant to be representative of Naples as a whole, and the city's defining relationship with the sea. Itself in the shape of alightning whelk, it is adorned in gold with of shapes of aboat keel at its bottom and an art deco shell crown pattern at its top. The 'A' in the 'FC Naples' wordmark is stylized in the shape ofpier pilings.[13]
The club's signature shade of deep blue is representative of the waters along which the city of Naples is located. The club announced thatHummel International will be their kit supplier.Physicians Regional Healthcare System is their primary kit sponsor, along with paradisecoast.com as their back sponsor, PFS Wealth Management as their sleeve sponsor and Tide Cleaners as their short sponsor.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined underFIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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