Making the pitch
March 1, 2022
Five things to know about CLT FC
by Sharon Smith
Charlotte Football Club enters its inaugural MLS season with team president Nick Kelly feeling bullish about hosting a playoff match and drawing 30,000-plus crowds. In the two years since David Tepper bought the expansion team, 10 official supporters’ groups have sprouted up to help rally fans during the matches. A few days before the home opener, nearly 75,000 tickets had been sold to Charlotte FC’s inaugural match on March 5. Here are a few fun facts about the team.*
1. Around the world
Charlotte Football Club’s roster stands at 24 players from 15 countries: U.S.A. (9), Ecuador (2), Poland (2), Mexico (1), England (1), Brazil (1), Spain (1), Peru (1), Costa Rica (1), Venezuela (1), Croatia (1), Austria (1), Uruguay (1), Ghana (1), Argentina (1)
2. Tar Heel ties
Four players are originally from North Carolina: Jaylin Lindsey is from Charlotte, Adam Armour and George Marks are from Raleigh, and Brandt Bronico is from High Point.
3. Average age
Sporting Director Zoran Krneta has a young squad, with many players below the age of 25. Christian Fuchs and Harrison Afful are the oldest players at 35, while Vinicius Silveira de Mello and Adam Armour are the youngest at 19.
4. The crest
The crest has a coin motif to honor Charlotte’s history as one of the first U.S. Mint branches. The four crown points celebrate the Queen City’s original four wards. The commemorative MINTED 2022 marking is a nod to the inaugural year.
5. Squad connections
Head coach Miguel Ángel Ramirez worked with several players previously. He coached young forward Vinicius Mello at Internacional (Brazil). Alan Franco and Cristian “Titi” Ortiz were teammates during his time as coach for Independiente del Valle (Ecuador). SP
*Based on team information available at the time of publication.
