The foundation of Sporting's development model is to bring international talent to play in Arizona, and to showcase our deserving local players internationally.
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2009)
The club originally started in 1989 as the Phoenix Hearts in the original indoor SISL league. They made an immediate impact on the league when they went to the 1989–1990 SISL indoor championship before falling to the Addison Arrows. Hearts coach Peter Baralić was named Coach of the Year.[1]
They changed their name to the Arizona Cotton in 1992 and played both indoor and outdoor for one more year in the USISL, before joining the amateur USISL Premier League in 1995. In 1992, they again went to the final of the USISL Indoor season, losing to the Atlanta Magic. The Arizona coach, Zelimar Antonievic, was named Coach of the Year.[2]
In 1996, the team became the Arizona Phoenix. In 1997, they changed their name again, this time to Arizona Sahuaros, and moved up to the USISL D-3 Pro League. In 1998, the Sahuaros front office named 3 player coaches to take over the Sahuaros Professional franchise, Mate Kozul (Head Coach), Edson Rico and Roger Salazar (Assistant coaches). With their connections in the Valley they assembled a strong team of former HS Gatorade Players of the Year, College All Americans and National JUCO Champions from Yavapai College. That year the Sahuaros were crowned the Western Division Champions and coach Matt Kozul was named USISL Coach of the Year.[3]
After the 2002 season, the Sahuaros left the USL D-3 Pro League and helped form the new Men's Premier Soccer League, finishing the season as champions in the first year. The Sahuaros competed in the NPSL until 2004, after which the club chose to play in USASA affiliated leagues. They re-joined the NPSL in 2008. In 2003–2009, the Sahuaros hired Petar Draksin as their head coach, he made a significant contribution to the Sahuaros franchise by bringing in many talented players and winning many significant games in the different leagues.
In 2016, the Sahuaros were renamed Sporting AZ FC. They joined the UPSL on January 8, 2017, and were placed in the Arizona Conference along with the Arizona Scorpions FC, El Salto United FC & Super Inter AZ.[4] Sporting AZ FC won the Arizona Conference in their 1st season in the UPSL, moving on to the UPSL National Quarterfinals. The team was led by head coach Tim Marchisotto and standout goalkeeper Jake Rybicki. 2018 saw the team raise the bar again, with Marchisotto moving into the general manager role and the addition of Aidan Davison as head coach. The duo achieved success with the team. Sporting AZ won the new Southwest Conference of the UPSL and went to the UPSL Championship game.
In January 2020, "Sporting AZ FC" was renamed Sporting Arizona FC and with the new name came a new ownership. The club continues the same original traditions as a development pathway for players and coaches to reach the professional ranks. In seasons 2021 and 2022, the Club fielded two teams in the United Premier Soccer League (UPSL) - Sporting Arizona FC and SAFC Sahuaros. Sporting Arizona FC coached by Eric Junis Aguilar won the UPSL Division 1 title. In season 2023, the Club has fielded the two teams in the inaugural Southwest Premier League - Arizona Premier. Sporting Arizona coached by Omar Ledesma has won the league with SAFC Sahuaros coached by Eric Junis Aguilar taking second place. Since 2021, Sporting Arizona FC has been the exclusive 'path-to-pro' partner of State 48 FC, Arizona's fastest growing youth and community soccer development club.
PlayersEdit
Notable former playersEdit
Roger Espinoza (2013 – Premier League – Wigan Athletic)[5] (2008 SuperDraft – MLS 11th pick in the 1st round – Kansas City Wizards) [6]
Allen Chapman (Professional referee working in MLS since 2012)[7]
Nick DeLeon (2012 Super Draft – MLS 7th pick in the 1st round – DC United)[8]
1st round – Sahuaros (USASA) vs BYU Cougars (USL-PDL) 5–1[10] 2nd Round – Sahuaros (USASA) vs Virginia Beach Mariners (USL-D1) 0–1 [11]
2007
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2008
4
NPSL
2nd, Southwest
Did not qualify
1st round
2009
USASA
n/a
n/a
1st round – El Paso Patriots (USL-PDL) vs Sahuaros (USASA) 2–1[12]
2010
USASA
n/a
n/a
1st round – Sahuaros (NPSL) vs Ventura County Fusion (USL-PDL) 1–1 regulation 4–2 PKs[13] 2nd Round – Austin Aztex (USSF-D2) vs Sahuaros (NPSL) 3–1 [14]
2011
On Hiatus
2012
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2013
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2014
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2015
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
2016
USASA
n/a
n/a
Did not qualify
Sporting AZ FC
2017 (Spring)
UPSL
1st, Arizona Conference
Quarter-finals
Did not qualify
2018 (Spring)
UPSL
1st, Southwest Conference
Championship Final
1st round – Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) vs FC Arizona (NPSL) 1–0[15] 2nd Round – Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) vs Phoenix Rising FC (USL) 1–1 regulation 5–4 PKs [16] 3rd Round – Fresno FC (USL) vs Sporting AZ FC (UPSL) 2–1 in overtime.
2021 (Spring)
UPSL
1st, Arizona 1st Division Conference
2022-23 (Spring)
SWPL
1st, Arizona Premier
Indoor teamEdit
Year
League
Reg. Season
Playoffs
Phoenix Hearts
1989/90
SISL Indoor
1st, Cactus
Championship Final
1990/91
SISL Indoor
4th, Southwest
Quarter-finals
1991/92
USISL Indoor
4th, Southwest
Did not qualify
Arizona Cotton
1992/93
USISL Indoor
2nd, Southwest
Championship Final
HonorsEdit
MPSL Champions 2003
USL D-3 Pro League West Division Champions 1998
SISL Cactus Division Champions 1989/90 (Indoor)
UPSL Arizona Conference Champions 2017 (Spring Season)
UPSL Southwest Conference Champions 2018 (Spring Season)
UPSL Southwest Conference Division 1 Champions 2022 (Spring Season)
SWPL Arizona Premier Champions 2023 (Spring Season)
sporting, arizona, arizona, phoenix, redirects, here, city, phoenix, arizona, american, soccer, team, based, arizona, founded, 1989, arizona, professional, development, club, full, namesporting, arizona, football, clubfounded1989stadiumgateway, parkel, mirage,. Arizona Phoenix redirects here For the U S city see Phoenix Arizona Sporting Arizona FC is an American soccer team based in Arizona Founded in 1989 Sporting Arizona FC is Arizona s professional development club Sporting Arizona FCFull nameSporting Arizona Football ClubFounded1989StadiumGateway ParkEl Mirage ArizonaCapacity2 000OwnerMaitland Primrose InvestmentsManagerOscar Ledesma Christian Moran and Eric Junis AguilarLeagueUPSL SWPLWebsiteClub websiteHome colorsAway colorsThe foundation of Sporting s development model is to bring international talent to play in Arizona and to showcase our deserving local players internationally Contents 1 History 2 Players 2 1 Notable former players 3 Year by year 3 1 Outdoor team 3 2 Indoor team 4 Honors 5 Hall of Fame 6 Head coaches Assistant coaches 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it December 2009 The club originally started in 1989 as the Phoenix Hearts in the original indoor SISL league They made an immediate impact on the league when they went to the 1989 1990 SISL indoor championship before falling to the Addison Arrows Hearts coach Peter Baralic was named Coach of the Year 1 They changed their name to the Arizona Cotton in 1992 and played both indoor and outdoor for one more year in the USISL before joining the amateur USISL Premier League in 1995 In 1992 they again went to the final of the USISL Indoor season losing to the Atlanta Magic The Arizona coach Zelimar Antonievic was named Coach of the Year 2 In 1996 the team became the Arizona Phoenix In 1997 they changed their name again this time to Arizona Sahuaros and moved up to the USISL D 3 Pro League In 1998 the Sahuaros front office named 3 player coaches to take over the Sahuaros Professional franchise Mate Kozul Head Coach Edson Rico and Roger Salazar Assistant coaches With their connections in the Valley they assembled a strong team of former HS Gatorade Players of the Year College All Americans and National JUCO Champions from Yavapai College That year the Sahuaros were crowned the Western Division Champions and coach Matt Kozul was named USISL Coach of the Year 3 After the 2002 season the Sahuaros left the USL D 3 Pro League and helped form the new Men s Premier Soccer League finishing the season as champions in the first year The Sahuaros competed in the NPSL until 2004 after which the club chose to play in USASA affiliated leagues They re joined the NPSL in 2008 In 2003 2009 the Sahuaros hired Petar Draksin as their head coach he made a significant contribution to the Sahuaros franchise by bringing in many talented players and winning many significant games in the different leagues In 2016 the Sahuaros were renamed Sporting AZ FC They joined the UPSL on January 8 2017 and were placed in the Arizona Conference along with the Arizona Scorpions FC El Salto United FC amp Super Inter AZ 4 Sporting AZ FC won the Arizona Conference in their 1st season in the UPSL moving on to the UPSL National Quarterfinals The team was led by head coach Tim Marchisotto and standout goalkeeper Jake Rybicki 2018 saw the team raise the bar again with Marchisotto moving into the general manager role and the addition of Aidan Davison as head coach The duo achieved success with the team Sporting AZ won the new Southwest Conference of the UPSL and went to the UPSL Championship game In January 2020 Sporting AZ FC was renamed Sporting Arizona FC and with the new name came a new ownership The club continues the same original traditions as a development pathway for players and coaches to reach the professional ranks In seasons 2021 and 2022 the Club fielded two teams in the United Premier Soccer League UPSL Sporting Arizona FC and SAFC Sahuaros Sporting Arizona FC coached by Eric Junis Aguilar won the UPSL Division 1 title In season 2023 the Club has fielded the two teams in the inaugural Southwest Premier League Arizona Premier Sporting Arizona coached by Omar Ledesma has won the league with SAFC Sahuaros coached by Eric Junis Aguilar taking second place Since 2021 Sporting Arizona FC has been the exclusive path to pro partner of State 48 FC Arizona s fastest growing youth and community soccer development club Players EditNotable former players Edit nbsp Roger Espinoza 2013 Premier League Wigan Athletic 5 2008 SuperDraft MLS 11th pick in the 1st round Kansas City Wizards 6 nbsp Allen Chapman Professional referee working in MLS since 2012 7 nbsp Nick DeLeon 2012 Super Draft MLS 7th pick in the 1st round DC United 8 nbsp Justin Meram 9 nbsp Scott Maxwell 1991 92 Indoor Season acquired from SISL s Amarillo Challengers nbsp Randy SodermanYear by year EditOutdoor team Edit Year Division League Reg Season Playoffs Open CupPhoenix Hearts1990 SISL 3rd Western Quarter finals Did not enter1991 SISL 5th Southwest Did not qualify Did not enterArizona Cotton1992 USISL 4th Southwest Did not qualify Did not enter1993 USISL 7th Southwest Did not qualify Did not enter1994 3 USISL 5th Southwest Did not qualify Did not enter1995 4 USISL Premier League 6th Western Did not qualify Did not qualifyArizona Phoenix1996 4 USISL Premier League 3rd Western Southern Division Semi finals Did not qualifyArizona Sahuaros1997 3 USISL D 3 Pro League 6th West Did not qualify Did not qualify1998 3 USISL D 3 Pro League 1st Western Division Quarter finals 2nd round1999 3 USL D 3 Pro League 3rd Western Conference Semi finals 2nd round2000 3 USL D 3 Pro League 6th Western Did not qualify Did not qualify2001 3 USL D 3 Pro League 4th Western Conference Semi finals Did not qualify2002 3 USL D 3 Pro League 3rd Western 1st round Did not qualify2003 4 MPSL 3rd Champions Did not qualify2004 4 MPSL 3rd Runner up Did not qualify2005 On Hiatus2006 USASA n a n a 1st round Sahuaros USASA vs BYU Cougars USL PDL 5 1 10 2nd Round Sahuaros USASA vs Virginia Beach Mariners USL D1 0 1 11 2007 USASA n a n a Did not qualify2008 4 NPSL 2nd Southwest Did not qualify 1st round2009 USASA n a n a 1st round El Paso Patriots USL PDL vs Sahuaros USASA 2 1 12 2010 USASA n a n a 1st round Sahuaros NPSL vs Ventura County Fusion USL PDL 1 1 regulation 4 2 PKs 13 2nd Round Austin Aztex USSF D2 vs Sahuaros NPSL 3 1 14 2011 On Hiatus2012 USASA n a n a Did not qualify2013 USASA n a n a Did not qualify2014 USASA n a n a Did not qualify2015 USASA n a n a Did not qualify2016 USASA n a n a Did not qualifySporting AZ FC2017 Spring UPSL 1st Arizona Conference Quarter finals Did not qualify2018 Spring UPSL 1st Southwest Conference Championship Final 1st round Sporting AZ FC UPSL vs FC Arizona NPSL 1 0 15 2nd Round Sporting AZ FC UPSL vs Phoenix Rising FC USL 1 1 regulation 5 4 PKs 16 3rd Round Fresno FC USL vs Sporting AZ FC UPSL 2 1 in overtime 2021 Spring UPSL 1st Arizona 1st Division Conference2022 23 Spring SWPL 1st Arizona PremierIndoor team Edit Year League Reg Season PlayoffsPhoenix Hearts1989 90 SISL Indoor 1st Cactus Championship Final1990 91 SISL Indoor 4th Southwest Quarter finals1991 92 USISL Indoor 4th Southwest Did not qualifyArizona Cotton1992 93 USISL Indoor 2nd Southwest Championship FinalHonors EditMPSL Champions 2003 USL D 3 Pro League West Division Champions 1998 SISL Cactus Division Champions 1989 90 Indoor UPSL Arizona Conference Champions 2017 Spring Season UPSL Southwest Conference Champions 2018 Spring Season UPSL Southwest Conference Division 1 Champions 2022 Spring Season SWPL Arizona Premier Champions 2023 Spring Season Hall of Fame Edit nbsp Mate Kozul Induction year 2009 nbsp Edson Rico Induction year 2009 nbsp Roger Salazar Induction year 2009 nbsp Harold Calvo Induction year 2018Head coaches Assistant coaches Edit nbsp Peter Baralic 1989 1991 nbsp Cole Antonijevic 1992 nbsp Zelimar Antonijevic 1993 1995 nbsp Dave Murray 1996 nbsp Walter Brusic 1996 1998 nbsp Mate Kozul 1998 1999 nbsp Asst Edson Rico 1998 1999 nbsp Asst Roger Salazar 1998 1999 nbsp Manny Arias 1999 2001 nbsp Asst Tim Marchisotto 2000 2003 nbsp Petar Draksin 2002 2009 nbsp Orhan Kraja 2010 2011 nbsp Tim Marchisotto 2012 2017 nbsp Aidan Davison 2017 2018 nbsp Tom Hurdle 2019 2020 nbsp Eric Junis Aguilar Sporting Arizona 2020 2022 nbsp Tim Schicky SAFC Sahuaros 2021 2022 nbsp Eric Junis Aguilar SAFC Sahuaros 2022 current nbsp Omar Ledesma Sporting Arizona 2022 current References Edit The Year in American Soccer 1990 The Year in American Soccer 1993 The Year in American Soccer 1998 United Premier Soccer League Welcomes Sporting AZ Football Club as Expansion Team for 2017 prlog org January 8 2017 Retrieved January 8 2017 Wigan Athletic FC Roger Espinoza MLSsoccer com Allen Chapman SoccerStats us Nick DeLeon MLSsoccer com Meet the Arizona Sahuaros Professional Soccer Team Members 2006 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket 2006 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket 2009 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup bracket 2010 US Open Cup First Round Sahuaros knock out defending PDL champions in PK shootout 2010 US Open Cup Second Round Marosevic sparks Aztex past Sahuaros Video 2018 US Open Cup round 1 Sporting AZ edges FC Arizona in budding rivalry in the desert 2018 US Open Cup round 2 Sporting AZ lone UPSL team left after PK upset of Phoenix Rising External links EditOfficial website Sporting Arizona FC on Twitter Sporting Arizona FC on Facebook Sporting Arizona FC on Instagram Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sporting Arizona FC amp oldid 1166294107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
