The
Tampa Bay MutinyThe Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
was a charter franchise of
Major League SoccerMajor League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first
MLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
behind
MLS MVPThe Major League Soccer MVP is a soccer award for players in Major League Soccer. The award is given to the player deemed the most valuable player in the league each season. From 1996 to 2007 the award was sponsored by Honda. The award is now sponsored by Volkswagen.Preki is the only player to win...
Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward
Roy LassiterRoy Lassiter is a retired American soccer striker, and Major League Soccer's record holder for goals scored in a season, with 27 in 1996.-Early life:...
, whose 27 goals in 1996 is still the MLS single-season record.
The team hosted the last event at the "Big Sombrero", a 2-1 win over the MetroStars on September 21, 1998. The Mutiny moved to newly-built
Raymond James StadiumRaymond James Stadium, also known as the "Ray Jay", is a multi-purpose football stadium located in Tampa, Florida. It is home to the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers as well as the NCAA's South Florida Bulls football team. The stadium seats 65,857 , and it is expandable to 75,000 for special events...
starting with the 1999 season.
The Mutiny had been competitive for its first few seasons. However, as they transitioned into their new home, the trading of popular players (including both Valderrama and Lassiter for little in return) led to less exciting soccer and decreased fan support. Unable to find local buyers and hampered by an unfavorable lease agreement for Raymond James Stadium, the league folded the franchise after the 2001 season.
Like the area's
other footballAmerican football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team, the
Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
, the "
mutinyMutiny is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject...
" moniker referred to the area's celebrated pirate history, owing back to
José GasparJosé Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla , was a purported Spanish pirate, the "last of the Buccaneers," who is claimed to have raided the west coast of Florida during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Though he is a popular figure in Florida folklore, no evidence of his existence...
.
Honors
- MLS Supporters' Shield
The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
: (1)
1996
- Semi-Finals Appearances: (1)
1996
- Eastern Conference (Regular Season Winners) (1):
1996
1996, 1997, 1999, 2000
Head coaches
Thomas RongenThomas Rongen is a Dutch soccer coach, formerly the head coach of D.C. United, the Sporting Director of Major League Soccer club Chivas USA, and the coach of the American Samoa national association football team...
(1996)
John KowalskiJohn Kowalski is a former coach of the professional United States soccer clubs Tampa Bay Mutiny , Pittsburgh Riverhounds and Pittsburgh Spirit...
(1997–98)
Tim HankinsonTim Hankinson is a well-traveled American soccer coach who is currently head coach of NASL side San Antonio Scorpions in San Antonio, Texas.- Player :...
(1998–00)
Alfonso MondeloAlfonso Mondelo is a soccer coach.Mondelo's coaching career includes many highlights, like the Puerto Rican national team, where he coached future United States of America National team star Chris Armas. He also coached the Long Island Rough Riders in the A-League...
(2001)
Perry Van der BeckPerry Van der Beck is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder and manager and a current soccer executive....
(2001)
Team records
- Games:
Steve RalstonSteve Ralston is a retired American soccer player and a current assistant coach for the Houston Dynamo.-Professional:...
(177)
- Goals: Roy Lassiter
Roy Lassiter is a retired American soccer striker, and Major League Soccer's record holder for goals scored in a season, with 27 in 1996.-Early life:...
(37)
- Assists:
Carlos Valderrama (81)
- Cleansheets: Scott Garlick
Scott Garlick is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who last played for Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer.Garlick went on trial to Waterford United in 1994...
(11)
Year-by-year
| Year |
Reg. Season |
Points |
Playoffs |
Open Cup |
| 1996 |
1st, East* |
58 |
Won Conference Semi-Finals (ColumbusThe Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
2-1)
Lost Conference Finals (D.C. UnitedD.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
0-2) |
Quarter-Finals |
| 1997 |
2nd, East |
45 |
Lost Conference Semi-Finals (ColumbusThe Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
0-2) |
Quarter-Finals |
| 1998 |
5th, East |
34 |
Did not qualify |
Quarter-Finals |
| 1999 |
3rd, East |
32 |
Lost Conference Semi-Finals (ColumbusThe Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
0-2) |
Quarter-Finals |
| 2000 |
2nd, Central |
52 |
Lost Quarter-Finals (Los AngelesThe Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
0-2) |
Round of 16 |
| 2001 |
4th, Central |
14 |
Did not qualify |
Round of 32 |
* Won MLS Supporters' ShieldThe Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by the MLS points system...
Average attendance
- 1996: 11,679
- 1997: 11,338
- 1998: 10,312
- 1999: 13,106
- 2000: 9,452
- 2001: 10,479
- Total Average: 11,106
External links