New York Red Bulls are one of two MLS sides undefeated in
2015 and sit second in the Eastern Conference with a game in hand on leaders D.C. United.
Life under new coach Jesse Marsch has begun well, but success
this year means silverware as the Red Bulls look to capitalise on a strong
start to the season.
Previous coach Mike Petke led the side to their first
Supporters’ Shield but could 2015 be the year they finally claim the MLS Cup?
As they prepare to defend their unbeaten record against San
Jose Earthquakes this evening, we look back at their MLS history...
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| The Red Bulls' 2013 Supporters' Shield winning side |
Factfile:
Previous Name: New York
MetroStars
Founded: 1995
Stadium: Red Bull Arena
(25,000)
Best MLS regular season
finish: Supporters’ Shield winners 2013
Head Coach: Jesse Marsch
Captain: Pedro Morales
Top MLS goalscorer: Juan
Pablo Angel - 58
Most MLS appearances: Mike
Petke - 169
MLS History:
New York Red Bulls were among MLS’s founding members and
were the first club to sign a player when they acquired Uruguayan midfielder
Tab Ramos in 1996.
Despite employing a string of high profile players and
coaches, including Lothar Matthaus, Rafael Marquez and Carlos Queiroz, the Red
Bulls have traditionally underachieved in MLS.
They have won the Eastern Conference on three occasions and
claimed their first major trophy when lifting the Supporters’ Shield in 2013.
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| Marsch only retired from football in 2009 |
However they have never won the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup or
the MLS Cup – their best post season performance came in 2008 when they were
beaten 3-1 by Columbus Crew in the MLS Cup final.
Head Coach:
A veteran of 14 MLS seasons as a player, Jesse Marsch knows
the league inside out following a career that saw him win three MLS Cups and
four Lamar Hunt US Open Cups.
The 41-year-old joined the Red Bulls under a great deal of
controversy after Sporting Director Ali Curtis sacked club legend Mike Petke in
the post season.
However, Marsch, who last coached Montreal Impact in 2012,
has settled into the role well and his side have made a strong start with a four-game unbeaten streak.
Marsch will be expected to take the Red Bulls to the
play-offs as a minimum, but a second Supporters’ Shield could also be on the
cards in a weak Eastern Conference.
Prize Bulls:
v
Lloyd Sam
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| Wright-Phillips celebrates scoring v DC United |
Sam spent ten years with Charlton and then
Leeds, before joining the Red Bulls in 2012 and scored on the final day of the Supporters’ Shield winning season.
After Thierry Henry’s retirement, the winger
has found a new level in 2015 – last week a 90th minute equaliser vs
DC United, his third of the season, showing Red Bulls' never say die attitude.
v Bradley Wright-Phillips
The son of Arsenal legend Ian Wright, Wright-Phillips broke New York’s regular season goal record, scoring three hat-tricks as he equalled an MLS high of 27, in 2014.
Wright-Phillips’ goal-scoring exploits earned a Designated Player contract, and the striker, who played for Manchester City, Southampton and Charlton, has two already this campaign.
Rivalries:
v
DC United:
The four-time MLS Cup and Supporters’
Shield winners have enjoyed the best of one of MLS’s fiercest rivalries – they boast
a winning 41-24-10 record over the Red Bulls.
Since 2002 the sides have contested the
Atlantic Cup, claimed by the aggregate winner of their regular season fixtures –
DC won the first eight in a row and boast 10 of 13 titles so far.
v
New York City FC:
Jointly funded by the New York Yankees and
Manchester City, New York City FC signed David Villa and Frank Lampard ahead of
joining MLS for the 2015 season.
The two sides meet for the first time on May
10 and will meet three times a season in the Eastern Conference in what
promises to be an intense local rivalry.
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| Henry in action for the Red Bulls where he scored 52 times |
Club Legends:
v
Thierry Henry:
Henry joined the Red Bulls from Barcelona
in 2010 and went on to score 52 times in 135 appearances for the club.
The Frenchman made his debut against
Houston Dynamo and assisted both Juan Pablo Angel goals as New York earned a 2-2
draw.
Arsenal’s record goalscorer would go on to
become the Red Bulls record assist maker with 42 in total, including a club
record 14 in his final season.
Henry formed a lethal partnership with
Wright-Phillips before joining Sky Sports after playing for the MLS All-Stars four
times and being named in the MLS Best XI on three occasions.
v
Mike Petke:
Petke was a first round SuperDraft pick in
1998 and went on to play 196 times for the Red Bulls during two spells before
coaching them to their first major silverware.
A central defender by trade, Petke had a
two week trial with Bayern Munich in 2000 and turned down Kaiserslauten to stay
in New York where he won the Eastern Conference twice.
Upon his appointment in 2013 he became the
first former player to manage the club, winning the Supporters’ Shield in his
first season.
Despite leading New York to the Eastern
Conference play-off finals, he was sacked in the off season leading to a huge
backlash from Red Bulls fans.
Premier League
influences:
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| Angel celebrates scoring for Aston Villa |
Along with Henry and Wright-Phillips, former Manchester City
midfielder Claudio Reyna, Charlton striker Shaun Bartlett, and Bolton and
France star Youri Djorkaeff have all played for the Red Bulls.
More recently ex-Tottenham and Finland midfielder Teemu
Tainio spent two years with the club, while Tim Howard kept goal in New York
for five years before joining Man United in 2003.
Another Everton star, Tim Cahill, spent three years with the
club before retiring at the end of last season after scoring 16 goals in 72
games and winning the Supporters’ Shield in 2013.
However, former Aston Villa star Juan Pablo Angel is perhaps
their best Premier League import – the Colombian scored 58 MLS goals for the
Red Bulls making him their all-time record scorer.
Did you know?
v
New York Red Bulls have had 15 head coaches in
their 20 year history.
v
The Red Bull’s first game at the Red Bull Arena
saw them beat Brazilian side Santos FC 3-1.
v
In two CONCACAF Champions League appearances,
the Red Bulls have never made it past the group stage.
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New York have only failed to qualify for the
post season on four occasions in MLS’s 19-year history.
v
Former Liverpool, Aston Villa and France manager
Gerard Houllier has been the Red Bulls head of global football since 2012.
Images courtesy of betancourt, Jamie Squire, Jeff Zelevansky, Drew Dies and Clive Brunskill, with thanks.
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