Racing Louisville FC explained

Clubname:Racing Louisville FC
Upright:0.85
Fullname:Racing Louisville Football Club
Stadium:Lynn Family Stadium
Louisville, Kentucky
Capacity:15,304
Owner:Soccer Holdings, LLC
Chairman:John Neace
Mgrtitle:Head coach
Manager:Bev Yanez
League:National Women's Soccer League
Season:2023
Position:9th of 12
Current:2024 Racing Louisville FC season
American:true
Website:https://www.racingloufc.com/
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Racing Louisville Football Club is a women's soccer team based in Louisville, Kentucky that plays in the National Women's Soccer League. It began playing in 2021 at Lynn Family Stadium. The team is owned by Soccer Holdings LLC. The expansion team was announced on October 22, 2019.[1]

History

Louisville was mentioned as a potential candidate for an expansion team in National Women's Soccer League as early as 2018, shortly after construction began on their soccer-specific venue, Lynn Family Stadium.[2] The ownership group of USL Championship club Louisville City FC began preliminary discussions with the league the following year, with plans to enter in the 2020 season.[3] [4] Louisville's NWSL expansion team was officially announced on October 22, 2019, sharing its ownership group with Louisville City FC. It would begin play in 2021 at Lynn Family Stadium.[5]

In November 2019, NWSL filed a trademark application for "Proof Louisville FC", which was confirmed by Louisville City FC as their preliminary name for the team. The name references the local bourbon whiskey industry by using the term "proof", a measure of alcohol content.[6] The ownership group later announced in April 2020 that they would explore other names with community input after a mixed reception from fans.[7] [8] The club's new name, Racing Louisville FC, was officially unveiled on July 8, 2020.[9] PNC Bank was announced as the club's first kit sponsor on July 1, 2020, with the company's logo appearing on the back of the team's jerseys.[10] On December 17, 2020, Louisville City announced that GE Appliances, which had already been that club's primary shirt sponsor (i.e., on the front of the kit), would expand this sponsorship to include all clubs under the Louisville City umbrella, including Racing.[11]

Former Sky Blue FC head coach Christy Holly was named as Racing Louisville FC's first head coach on August 12, 2020.[12] The club made their NWSL debut in the 2021 NWSL Challenge Cup, where they finished at the bottom of the East Division with two losses and two draws.[13] Racing Louisville FC made their home debut on May 15, 2021, playing to a scoreless draw against Kansas City NWSL.[14]

Holly was fired for cause on August 31, 2021, and the club named Mario Sanchez, head of the club's youth academy and former collegiate coach, as the interim head coach.[15] After the season, veteran Swedish coach Kim Björkegren was named as the permanent replacement.[16] In 2022, a report from U.S. Soccer revealed that Holly had allegedly sexually abused players as coach of Racing.[17]

Racing named former NWSL MVP finalist and Best XI selection Bev Yanez as its new coach in November 2023.[18]

Club identity

Racing Louisville FC is named in reference to the city's horse racing venues, including the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, using the "Racing" moniker used by foreign clubs.[7] The club's circular crest uses a lavender background and a four-pointed fleur-de-lis at its center in violet. It was designed by Matthew Wolff, who had previously worked with Major League Soccer teams New York City FC and Los Angeles FC.[19] [20]

Stadium and facilities

The club shares Lynn Family Stadium and its training facilities with Louisville City FC. The soccer-specific stadium, opened in 2020, has a seated capacity of 11,600, with standing-room capacity up to 15,304.[21] The 20acres training facilities at Louisville Champions Park includes several practice fields and an indoor gymnasium and office complex.[22]

Players and staff

See also: List of Racing Louisville FC players.

Current squad

[23]

Out on loan

Staff

[24]

Head coaches

Record

Year-by-year

SeasonLeagueRegular seasonPlayoffsChallenge CupAverage attendance
scope=row style=text-align:center2021NWSL2457122140229thDid not qualifyGroup stage6,565
scope=row style=text-align:center2022225892335239thDid not qualifyGroup stage6,048
scope=row style=text-align:center2023226972524279thDid not qualifyRunners-up

Notes and References

  1. October 22, 2019 . National Women's Soccer League announces expansion to Louisville in 2021 . . July 8, 2020 . October 27, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211027113957/https://www.nwslsoccer.com/news/article/national-womens-soccer-league-announces-expansion-to-louisville-in-2021 . live .
  2. News: Morris . Neal . August 23, 2018 . NWSL expansion could see teams added in USL cities . WRALSportsFan . . July 8, 2020 . July 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709005647/https://www.wralsportsfan.com/nwsl-expansion-could-see-teams-added-in-usl-cities/17788280/ . live .
  3. News: Lerner . Danielle . August 14, 2019 . NWSL looking at Louisville as a candidate for women's pro soccer expansion . B1 . . July 8, 2020.
  4. News: Linehan . Megan . Rueter . Jeff . August 13, 2019 . Sources: Louisville is the leading candidate for 2020 NWSL expansion . . subscription . July 8, 2020 . November 1, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201101162225/https://theathletic.com/1135701/2019/08/13/ . live .
  5. News: Sullivan . Tim . October 23, 2019 . Louisville is getting a National Women's Soccer League franchise. Here's what to know . A1 . The Courier-Journal . July 8, 2020.
  6. News: Sullivan . Tim . November 12, 2019 . Louisville's NWSL expansion team has a name, and it's a nod to Kentucky's favorite spirit . The Courier-Journal . July 8, 2020.
  7. Creditor . Avi . July 8, 2020 . NWSL Expansion Team to Be Called Racing Louisville FC . . July 8, 2020 . April 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406022327/https://www.si.com/soccer/2020/07/08/racing-louisville-fc-nwsl-expansion-team-name-colors-crest . live .
  8. News: Gardner . Hayes . April 21, 2020 . Proof Louisville FC — the city's NWSL team — may get a new name . The Courier-Journal . July 8, 2020.
  9. News: Aulbach . Lucas . July 8, 2020 . Meet Racing Louisville FC: New NWSL team announces name and colors ahead of 2021 debut . The Courier-Journal . July 8, 2020 . April 19, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220419060357/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/sports/2020/07/08/racing-louisville-fc-nwsl-franchise-name-colors-announced/5396501002/ . live .
  10. News: Finley . Marty . July 1, 2020 . Louisville women's soccer franchise lands first major corporate sponsor . . July 8, 2020.
  11. GE Appliances Extends LouCity Agreement, Expands Support for Soccer . Louisville City FC . December 17, 2020 . December 23, 2020 . December 17, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201217150041/https://www.loucity.com/news_article/show/1137388 . live .
  12. News: Aulbach . Lucas . Yates . Dominique . August 12, 2020 . Christy Holly will lead Racing Louisville FC, the city's new NWSL franchise, in 2021 . The Courier-Journal . August 12, 2020.
  13. News: May 2, 2021 . Racing Louisville FC ends Challenge Cup with 0–0 tie at Gotham FC . WDRB . August 10, 2021 . August 11, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210811055927/https://www.wdrb.com/sports/racing-louisville-fc-ends-challenge-cup-with-0-0-tie-at-gotham-fc/article_57b5e8ec-ab7f-11eb-9c29-7bf5bd9af718.html . live .
  14. News: Saxon . Jonathan . May 15, 2021 . Racing Louisville, Kansas City fight to 0–0 draw in season opener . The Courier-Journal . August 10, 2021.
  15. News: Garnder. Hayes. August 31, 2021. Racing Louisville FC fires first head coach Christy Holly 'for cause'. The Courier-Journal. August 31, 2021.
  16. Racing Louisville FC Hires Björkegren as Head Coach . Racing Louisville FC . December 9, 2021 . December 15, 2021 . January 27, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220127151707/https://www.racingloufc.com/news_article/show/1197760 . dead .
  17. News: Yang . Steph . Linehan . Meg . October 3, 2022 . NWSL investigations: Everything you need to know from Sally Yates' report and what's next . . limited . June 1, 2023 . February 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230202061144/https://theathletic.com/3653283/2022/10/03/nwsl-investigations-faq/ . live .
  18. Web site: November 30, 2023 . Racing Louisville FC appoint assistant Bev Yanez as new head coach to replace Kim Bjorkegren . March 20, 2024 . CBSSports.com . en . March 20, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240320142259/https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/racing-louisville-fc-appoint-assistant-bev-yanez-as-new-head-coach-to-replace-kim-bjorkegren/ . live .
  19. Racing Louisville FC announced as NWSL's newest franchise. RacingLouFC.com. July 8, 2020. February 13, 2024. February 13, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240213061103/https://www.racingloufc.com/news/2020/07/08/racing-louisville-fc-announced-as-nwsls-newest-franchise/. live.
  20. News: Finley . Marty . July 8, 2020 . Louisville's new women's pro soccer team unveils name, logo . Louisville Business First . subscription . July 8, 2020.
  21. October 22, 2019 . NWSL coming to Louisville in 2021 . Louisville City FC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20200710214334/https://www.loucity.com/news_article/show/1058809 . July 10, 2020 . July 8, 2020.
  22. June 10, 2020 . Soccer Holdings releases plans for new training facility . Racing Louisville FC . July 8, 2020 . July 9, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200709024931/https://www.racingloufc.com/news_article/show/1112399 . dead .
  23. Web site: Roster . Racing Louisville FC . March 13, 2024 . March 29, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240329181419/https://www.racingloufc.com/roster/ . live .
  24. Web site: Technical Staff. racingloufc.com. December 30, 2021. December 30, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211230124940/https://www.racingloufc.com/technical-staff. live.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Racing Louisville FC".

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