Hartford Athletic is an American professional soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019.[1][2] It is the only pro soccer team in Connecticut as of 2024[update] (though Connecticut United FC is expected to debut in 2026).
 | |||
| Full name | Hartford Athletic | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | July 11, 2018 | ||
| Stadium | Trinity Health Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 5,500 | ||
| Owner | Hartford Sports Group | ||
| CEO | Nick Sakiewicz | ||
| Head coach | Brendan Burke | ||
| League | USL Championship | ||
| 2024 | 10th, Eastern Conference Playoffs: DNQ | ||
| Website | hartfordathletic.com | ||
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| |||
History
editOn July 18, 2022, the USL announced that Hartford, Connecticut would have a USL Championship team, beginning play in 2019.[3] A few months later on September 5th, Jimmy Nielsen was named the first head coach for the club.[4] In December 2018, Wojciech Wójcik, Jose Angulo and Alex Dixon were announced as the first signings in club history.[5]
Early struggles
edit2019
editHartford Athletic's first game in club history was a 2–0 loss to Atlanta United 2.[6] The club proceeded to lose its next seven games, scoring just four goals. However, Hartford picked up their first point in their inaugural home game, a 1–1 draw in front of 11,346 fans at Rentschler Field. The first competitive victory in club history came in the U.S. Open Cup, a 2–1 win over New York Cosmos B.[7] The club finished the 2019 season on a three match unbeaten run, putting them at 17th in the Eastern Conference.
2020
editIn the Covid-19 affected 2020 season, Hartford finished atop Group F, and hosted St. Louis FC in the first round of the playoffs. However, a late goal from St. Louis eliminated Hartford in their first playoff game.[8][9]
2021
editHartford regressed in 2021, finishing 9th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs by six points.[10]
2022
editHartford finished 10th in the Eastern Conference in 2022, and hosted MLS club New York Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup, losing 2–1.[11]
2023
edit2023 was the worst season in Hartford Athletic's short history, as the club finish dead last in both the Eastern Conference and league as a whole, as they picked up just 18 points, 23 behind the playoff positions.[12]
Brendan Burke era
edit2024
editOn December 12, 2023, Brendan Burke was announced as the new head coach and general manager.[13] The offseason saw a large overhaul of the squad, with 23 new signings before the season, including former Sporting CP goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro and 2017 MLS Cup winner Jay Chapman. Hartford began the 2024 season with back-to-back wins, something they hadn't achieved since September 2022.[14] However, a run of poor form between April and July saw the club pick up just nine points in 15 matches and slip down the table. In mid-summer though, a goalless draw vs. Phoenix Rising on July 26 began a great run for Hartford, as they lost just one of their next 11 matches (a 3–0 loss away at rivals Rhode Island FC). With two matches left in the season, Hartford essentially controlled their own destiny, as two wins would've gotten them into the playoffs. However, a 2–2 draw at Tampa Bay Rowdies and a 3–2 loss at Orange County saw Hartford's season come to an end, as they ultimately finished four points out of the playoffs. At the end of the season, it was announced that Danny Barrera, who had been with the club since its inaugural season in 2019, would not return to the club after the expiration of his contract.[15]
Stadium
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The club plays on the grounds of Trinity Health Stadium, with a capacity of 5,500.[16] The 1935 stadium was renovated and reopened on July 13, 2019, despite the fact the stadium was not completely finished.[17] Lights were completed and first used for the stadium's first night game on September 14, 2019 (Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC).[18]
2024 saw the addition of VIP suites in the south end of the stadium, adding approximately 200 seats.[19]
During the construction of Trinity Health Stadium, Athletic played home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They played their first home game in front of more than 11,000 supporters.[20]
Hartford's first U.S. Open Cup match in 2019, which was also the first win in club history, was played at Al-Marzook Field in West Hartford.[21]
Colors and badge
editHartford Athletic's official colors are green and blue, chosen because of their strong association with the sports teams of Hartford.[22][23] The team's crest and colors were first unveiled in a video on December 6, 2018.[24]
Sponsorship
edit| Season | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| 2019–2021 |  Adidas
|
Trinity Health of New England[25] |
| 2022– |  Hummel[26]
|
Players and staff
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Current roster
edit- As of December 16, 2024[27]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
- ^ USL Academy Contract
Team management
edit| Front office | |
|---|---|
| Owners | Joseph Calafiore Bruce Mandell Scott Schooley |
| Coaching staff | |
| Head coach | Brendan Burke |
| Assistant coach | Dan Gaspar |
| Goalkeeper coach | Enzo Pereira |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Joe Lucas Santos |
| Athletic trainer | Kevin Hoffmann |
| Technical director | Ray Reid |
| Technical advisor | Paul Buckle |
Last updated: January 7, 2021
Source: [1]
Club captains
edit_(cropped).jpg)
| Years | Name | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Philip Rasmussen | Denmark
|
| 2020–2022 | Danny Barrera |  United States
|
| 2023 | Niall Logue |  Northern Ireland
|
| 2024 | Jordan Scarlett |  Jamaica
|
Club culture
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Supporters
editThe supporters for Hartford Athletic are split between five groups based on their geographical location within the state of Connecticut:
- The 19th Regiment – The first supporters group founded in early 2019 shortly after the announcement of the club. Today, it represents supporters based in the Greater Hartford area and Northern Connecticut.
- Mad Hat Massive – Independent supporters group representing members from Fairfield and Litchfield counties, with their home pub hosting the official supporters away days watch parties at TK's American Cafe in Danbury where the Jell-O Shot tradition began. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
- The Boonies – Members of the Mad Hat Massive in the greater Torrington area.
- Elm City Casuals – Independent supporters based out of the Greater New Haven area. They’re independent. They like pizza and riding trains. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
- East Side Rising – Supporters group founded in 2020 to represent Eastern Connecticut, nicknamed "A Family of Fans."
- Raza Brava – Latino-centric supporters group representing the greater Hartford area.
Each group is separately managed but they stand and chant together on the east end of Trinity Health Stadium for home matches.
Starting in the 2022 season, the 19th Regiment, Mad Hat Massive and the Elm City Casuals will unite as one group, called The Bonanza
Among the notable chants used is the "Brass Bonanza," a melody sung by the supporters groups after scoring a goal, which was also used for the former NHL team in the city, the Hartford Whalers, for the same circumstances. The groups also use Bob Marley's classic "Three Little Birds" for the beginning of matches and when the opposing team scores. [28]
Rivals
editIn the early years, the club didn't have much of a direct rival, with New York Red Bulls II being the only nearby club. However with the addition of Rhode Island FC in 2024, the two sides developed a natural regional rivalry, being the only two USL Championship clubs in New England. In 2024, the two sides played to a 1–1 draw in Hartford, before Rhode Island won 3–0 in the reverse fixture.[29][30]
Women's team
editOn June 8, 2021, Hartford Athletic announced they will be fielding a women's side to compete in the new USL W League beginning in 2022.[31]
Under-19 team
editThe Hartford Athletic U19 team plays in the United Premier Soccer League New England Conference.
Team records
editYear-by-year
edit- As of October 14, 2023
| Season | USL Championship | Play-offs | U.S. Open Cup | Top Scorer | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | L | D | GF | GA | Pts | Position | Player | Goals | |||||
| 2019 | 34 | 8 | 21 | 5 | 49 | 80 | 29 | 17th, Eastern | Did not qualify | Third round |  Wojciech Wojcik
|
7 | ||
| 2020 | 16 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 31 | 24 | 35 | 1st, Group F | Conference Quarterfinals | Not played |  Alex Dixon
|
6 | ||
| 2021 | 32 | 12 | 15 | 5 | 50 | 50 | 41 | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify | Not played |  Juan Carlos Obregón Jr.
|
10 | ||
| 2022 | 34 | 10 | 18 | 6 | 47 | 57 | 36 | 10th, Eastern | Did not qualify | Third round |  Ariel Martínez
|
9 | ||
| 2023 | 34 | 4 | 24 | 6 | 40 | 79 | 18 | 12th, Eastern | Did not qualify | Third round |  Prince Saydee
|
10 | ||
| 2024 | 34 | 12 | 14 | 8 | 37 | 51 | 44 | 10th, Eastern | Did not qualify | Third round |  Mamadou Dieng
|
11 | ||
Head coaches
edit- Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
| Coach | Nationality | Start | End | Games | Win | Loss | Draw | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Nielsen | Denmark
|
September 5, 2018 | October 27, 2019 | 36 | 9 | 22 | 5 | 25.00 |
| Radhi Jaïdi |  Tunisia
|
November 8, 2019 | October 19, 2020 | 17 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 64.71 |
| Harry Watling |  England
|
January 13, 2021 | June 25, 2022 | 49 | 16 | 25 | 8 | 32.65 |
| Ray Reid (interim) | United States
|
June 25, 2022 | August 22, 2022 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 3 | 30.77 |
| Tab Ramos | United States
|
August 22, 2022 | June 26, 2023 | 24 | 6 | 14 | 4 | 25.00 |
| Omid Namazi | United States
|
June 26, 2023 | November 1, 2023 | 18 | 2 | 14 | 2 | 11.11 |
| Brendan Burke | United States
|
December 12, 2023 | present | 35 | 12 | 15 | 8 | 34.29 |
Average attendance
edit| Year | Reg. Season | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 5,025 | — |
| 2020 | 1,351 | 2,194 |
| 2021 | 4,640 | — |
| 2022 | 5,178 | — |
| 2023 | 4,089 | — |
| 2024 | 4,055 | — |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Hartford Joins USL For 2019 Season at Dillon Stadium". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ "Pro Soccer Team Announced For Hartford, Set To Begin Play In 2019". Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ Staff, USLSoccer com (July 11, 2018). "Hartford Joins USL For 2019 Season at Dillon Stadium". USL Championship. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ "Jimmy Nielsen Named Head Coach". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "USL signings: Hartford Athletic adds three players | Pro Soccer USA". April 13, 2019. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2024.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Falls to Atlanta United 2, 2-0". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Hartford 2-1 NY Cosmos (May 14, 2019) Final Score". ESPN. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ deSimas, Gerry; Jr.; Press, Collinsville (October 10, 2020). "Heartbreaking late goal bounces Hartford Athletic out of playoffs – The Collinsville Press". Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ Courant, Hartford (October 11, 2020). "Hartford Athletic's season ends in stoppage time, as Saint Louis FC scores late goal to advance in playoffs". Hartford Courant. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "2019 Standings". uslchampionship.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic vs New York Red Bulls - live score, predicted lineups and H2H stats". FotMob. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "2023 Standings". uslchampionship.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Brendan Burke Named Head Coach and General Manager of Hartford Athletic". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic 2022 Schedule | uslchampionship.com". www.uslchampionship.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ Scholes, Oliver. "End of an Era: Hartford Athletic Announce Departure of Danny Barrera". www.theblazingmusket.com. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "What's next for Dillon Stadium and Hartford Athletic? A turf field, players and more". Retrieved November 21, 2018.
- ^ Anthony, Mike (July 14, 2019). "Mike Anthony: Hartford had it Saturday, and our new soccer team had a lot to do with it". courant.com. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
- ^ Hartford Athletic (September 14, 2019). "RECAP: Hartford Athletic Falls in First Dillon Stadium Match Under the Lights". Hartford Athletic.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Unveil New Liberty Bank Suites". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Hosts First Home Game". Retrieved May 4, 2019.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic vs. New York Cosmos – Football Match Summary – May 14, 2019 – ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 19, 2021.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic unveils crest, teases apparel and player signings". Hartford Courant. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Arlia, John (December 11, 2018). "Behind the Brand: Revitalizing Hartford's Proud Tradition". USL Championship. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Unveils Official Club Crest". USL Championship. December 6, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
- ^ Athletic, Hartford (February 27, 2019). "Hartford Athletic Announces Trinity Health of New England as Title Partner". Hartford Athletic | Connecticut's Professional Soccer Team. Archived from the original on May 14, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
- ^ "Hummel Named Hartford Athletic's Official On-Field Apparel Provider". November 22, 2021.
- ^ "Player Numbers". Twitter.com. Hartford Athletic. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
- ^ "Hartford Athletic Supporters Make Their Mark During Inaugural Season". NBC Connecticut. September 9, 2019.
- ^ "Hartford Tie Rhode Island 1-1 in First Draw of the Season". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "Hartford Fall 3-0 to Rhode Island". Hartford Athletic. Retrieved December 18, 2024.
- ^ "USL announces return of the W League from 2022 – SportsPro Media". www.sportspromedia.com. June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 15, 2021.
