MLS

Josh Wolff Announced as First Head Coach of Austin FC

July 23, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Austin FC has announced that Josh Wolff will be the first-ever Head Coach of the Club.

Josh Wolff previously served as an assistant coach at Columbus Crew SC, and prior to that, he was an assistant coach with D.C. United.

Wolff is currently an assistant coach for the US Men’s National Team (USMNT), and his effective start date with Austin FC is expected to be shortly after the conclusion of the November 2019 FIFA window.

In addition to his experience as a coach, Josh Wolff represented the United States as a player in both the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cup.

Wolff’s playing career spanned from 1998 to 2012, in which time he played in both MLS and Germany’s 2. Bundesliga. In total, Wolff made 367 combined appearances for his club sides while tallying 106 goals and was named to the MLS All-Star team in 2002 in 2006.

Wolff’s MLS career started with the Chicago Fire (1998 – 2002). He then moved on to the Kansas City Wizards (2003 – 2006 and 2008 – 2010). In between his two stints with Kansas City, Wolff played two years with TSV 1860 Munchen in 2. Bundesliga (2006 – 2008.) He finished his playing career at D.C. United (2011 – 2012).

Welcome to Austin, Coach Wolff.

Austin FC Billboards are Popping Up Around Austin

April 24, 2019 by Shawn Collins

I was seeing lots of Tweets yesterday about an Austin FC billboard on South Lamar, so I drove over to take a look for myself.

It was really cool to see the billboard in a bustling area of south Austin.

And then last night I was driving along Airport Blvd near my house and I saw another, different Austin FC billboard.

This is so exciting to see the early days of Austin FC take root before our eyes, and I can’t wait until March 2021.

In the meantime, I am polishing my credit card for when season tickets go on sale.

Austin FC Scarves are Now Available

April 15, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Ruffneck Scarves, the official scarf provider for MLS, is now selling three Austin FC scarves, and there are also scarves on the MLS Store from Fanatics.

The options are the Skyline scarf, Bar Scarf, and Modstripe scarf.

Every officially licensed MLS Scarf from Ruffneck Scarves comes with a free hanger.

They are all 100% acrylic jacquard knit scarves. I am hoping some lighter weight options come available, too. I like the one with the skyline the best, and I just ordered one.

Get your Austin FC scarf.

MLS First Game of the 2019 Season Social with Austin Anthem

February 23, 2019 by Shawn Collins

Major League Soccer starts the 2019 season on Saturday, May 2 and Austin Anthem is organizing an MLS 2019 Season First Kick Social to get local fans together at the St. Elmo Brewing Company.

This is a fitting location since Austin Anthem got Austin FC fans together at St. Elmo Brewing Company last October for the final weekend of the 2018 MLS regular season.

The get together will begin at 3:00 PM and the crowd will be watching the 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM games together there.

St. Elmo Brewing Company is located at 440 E St Elmo Road, Austin, TX 78745.

REVIEW: The United States of Soccer: MLS and the Rise of American Soccer Fandom

February 13, 2019 by Shawn Collins

The United States of Soccer: MLS and the Rise of American Soccer Fandom is a comprehensive history of professional soccer in the U.S. by Phil West.

Back in the late 1970s and early 1980s I was a fan of the Washington Diplomats and Team America in the NASL (North American Soccer League) and I was devastated when the teams and league folded.

So when it was announced in 1988 that the U.S was awarded the 1994 World Cup, I was ecstatic. And then learning that a condition of the World Cup in the U.S. was that there would have to be a top tier soccer league established had me out of my mind excited.

The United States of Soccer covers the lead up to MLS (Major League Soccer) and I was fascinated to get a peek behind the scenes. In the early days, I was attending MetroStars and DC United games, but I was not really aware of all of the league goings-on until I read this book.

Phil West has a compelling style of storytelling with the history of MLS, and I loved learning more about the struggles and successes of the league, the emergence of supporters in different cities, and the future.

I’d recommend this book to hardcore fans and folks new to the beautiful game.