FC Cincinnati

American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati

Soccer club

FC Cincinnati

Full name| Football Club Cincinnati[1][2]
Nickname(s)| The Orange and Blue
The Knifey Lions
The Garys[3]
Short name| FC Cincinnati
FC Cincy
FCC
Founded| August 12, 2015; 9 years ago (2015-08-12)
Stadium| TQL Stadium
Cincinnati, Ohio
Capacity| 25,513[4]
Owner| Carl Lindner III
General manager| Chris Albright
Head coach| Pat Noonan
League| Major League Soccer
2024| Eastern Conference: 3rd
Overall: 5th
Playoffs: First round
Website| fccincinnati.com

Home colors

Away colors

|

Current season

Football Club Cincinnati is an American professional soccer club based in Cincinnati. The club competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) as a member of the Eastern Conference. The team was first announced on August 12, 2015 as a United Soccer League (USL) franchise which played from 2016 to 2018. On May 29, 2018, the club's ownership was awarded an MLS franchise, and the team began MLS play on March 2, 2019.[5][6] The club's ownership group is led by Carl Lindner III with Jeff Berding serving as co-CEO. Currently, the role of general manager is held by Chris Albright.

## History

[edit]

### United Soccer League era (2016–2018)

[edit]

In May 2015, rumors of a new USL club in Cincinnati were reported by the media. There was speculation[7] regarding the relationship the team would have with the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as a former Cincinnati soccer club, the Cincinnati Kings, as Jeff Berding was named as part of the ownership group.[8] Berding was employed by the Bengals and on the board of the youth soccer club Kings Hammer FC.[9] The Lindner family, of American Financial Group which is headquartered in Cincinnati, was reported as the owner of the new team with Carl Lindner III representing the owners at the press conference.[10]

Then on August 12, 2015, FC Cincinnati announced that John Harkes would coach the new club and that the club would play in Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati.[11]

On April 16, 2016, FC Cincinnati broke the USL attendance record for a game, with 20,497 in attendance for the rivalry game against Louisville City FC, and, on May 14, against another rival Pittsburgh Riverhounds, broke its own record with 23,375 in attendance.[12] On September 17, 2016, the team broke the USL record again, when they drew 24,376 for their game against Orlando City B. The team broke its own USL record once again on August 5, 2017, when they drew 25,308 for their game against Orlando City B.[13]

On July 16, 2016, FC Cincinnati set the record for highest attendance at a soccer match in the state of Ohio when 35,061 people came for an exhibition game against Crystal Palace.[citation needed] This would later be broken on July 27, 2016 when an International Champions Cup match between Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain drew 86,641 people in Ohio Stadium in Columbus.[14]

On October 2, 2016, FC Cincinnati hosted their first-ever playoff match against Charleston Battery, losing 2–1 in the quarterfinals of the 2016 USL playoffs. In the process, the club broke the playoff and single-game attendance record at 30,187.[15]

Andrew Wiedeman celebrates during FC Cincinnati's 2017 win over Chicago Fire.

On June 14, 2017, FC Cincinnati played their first match against a Major League Soccer team, Columbus Crew, during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Cincinnati won 1–0, with player Baye Djiby Fall scoring the only goal of the game. In the process, Cincinnati broke the attendance record for the U.S. Open Cup Fourth Round with 30,160 tickets sold, only 5,000 behind their club attendance record of 35,061.

On June 28, 2017, FC Cincinnati played their second match against a Major League Soccer team, Chicago Fire, in the Round of 16 during the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Cincinnati would prevail 3–1 on penalty kicks after a 0–0 draw, with goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt stopping three of four penalty kicks. He totaled 10 saves during the match. The attendance of 32,287 was the second largest Modern Era crowd in U.S. Open Cup history. The match was televised nationally on ESPN.[16]

On August 15, 2017, FC Cincinnati were defeated at home in front of a sold-out crowd by the New York Red Bulls 3–2 in the US Open Cup semi-final. FCC was leading 2–0 in the second half before eventually losing in extra time.[17]

On April 7, 2018, the club set the USL attendance record for a home opener at 25,667 in a 1–0 loss to rival Louisville City.[18]

The players and staff celebrate clinching the 2018 USL regular season title.

On September 29, 2018, the club broke the USL attendance record once again in its final regular-season home match before its MLS move, drawing in 31,478 in a 3–0 win over rival Indy Eleven. After the match, they were awarded the USL regular season championship title, having clinched the trophy the prior week away to Richmond Kickers.[19]

### Major League Soccer expansion

[edit]

The club owners began negotiations with Major League Soccer over a potential expansion franchise in early 2016, and Cincinnati was announced as one of ten cities that had expressed interest in the slots for teams 25 to 28.[20][21] MLS commissioner Don Garber visited Cincinnati in December 2016 to tour Nippert Stadium and meet with city and club officials, complimenting the city and its fans.[22] FC Cincinnati formally submitted its expansion bid in January 2017, including a shortlist of potential stadium locations.[23]

On May 29, 2018, Major League Soccer announced that Cincinnati would join the league in 2019 as an expansion team under the FC Cincinnati brand.[24][5] Don Garber is noted as saying, “If it wasn’t for the stadium, for The Bailey, FC Cincinnati wouldn’t have been in Major League Soccer.”[25] Plans for the development of TQL Stadium, a 26,000-seat soccer-specific venue in the West End set to open in 2021, were soon underway.[5][26]

Fanendo Adi (left) was signed in July 2018 as the team's first Designated Player.

FC Cincinnati signed its first two MLS players, Fanendo Adi and Fatai Alashe, in July 2018. Adi was the team's first Designated Player.[27] Both players were loaned to the FC Cincinnati USL team for the remainder of the 2018 season.[28]

FC Cincinnati selected five players from certain MLS teams in the expansion draft, which took place on December 11, 2018.[29] The players were Darren Mattocks (D.C United), Kei Kamara (Vancouver Whitecaps FC), Roland Lamah (FC Dallas), Eric Alexander (Houston Dynamo), and Hassan Ndam (New York Red Bulls). Kei Kamara was then traded to the Colorado Rapids for an international roster spot.[30]

### Major League Soccer era (2019–present)

[edit]

FC Cincinnati played their first match as a Major League Soccer franchise on March 3, 2019, a 4–1 road loss to Seattle Sounders FC.[31] They played their first MLS home opener on March 17, 2019, a 3–0 win over Portland Timbers before a sellout crowd of 32,350.[32] On May 7, 2019, the club fired head coach Alan Koch after a 2–7–2 start to the 2019 MLS season.[33] Assistant coach Yoann Damet was named as interim head coach. President and general manager Jeff Berding cited a culmination of on-field performance and off-field matters for the dismissal.[34] On August 8, 2019, Ron Jans was officially hired and made head coach of FC Cincinnati.[35] However, Jans resigned on February 17, 2020, amidst an investigation into his alleged use of a racial slur.[36]

On August 6, 2021, FC Cincinnati announced that the club and then general manager Gerard Nijkamp had "parted ways effective immediately".[37] On September 27, 2021, the club relieved the duties of head coach Jaap Stam, 2-time interim head coach Yoann Damet, and assistant coach Said Bakkati.[38] Former MLS defender Tyrone Marshall was named interim coach.

On October 4, 2021, FC Cincinnati announced the hiring of Chris Albright as the general manager of the club.[39] On December 14, 2021, FC Cincinnati officially hired Pat Noonan as the new head coach of the team.[40] Under the first season of the Albright-Noonan regime, the Orange and Blue would qualify for their first post-season in 2022 on 49 points (12–9–13), good for fifth in the East (eighth in the league). Brenner and Brandon Vázquez would score a joint-best 18 goals in the regular season, the first time in MLS history teammates had made such a mark; in addition, Luciano Acosta contributed 10 goals and a league-leading 19 assists to a Cincinnati side that netted 64 goals on the season. Cincinnati defeated New York Red Bulls in their first MLS Cup Playoffs match (2–1) before losing to top-seeded Philadelphia Union in the conference semifinals, 1–0.

FC Cincinnati would follow up their 2022 success by producing a season that would prove to be the best in the club's short MLS history. The club's June 21, 2023 win against Toronto FC tied the MLS record for consecutive home wins in a single-season, a record held since 2002 by the San Jose Earthquakes.[41] The club reached the semifinals of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the second time in its history, and first since joining MLS, losing on penalties after a 3-3 home draw in the club's first matchup with a Lionel Messi led Inter Miami.[42] The club was the first in the 2023 season to clinch a playoff berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs, doing so away at Atlanta United FC on August 30.[43] On September 23, a 3–0 victory against Charlotte FC earned the club its first qualification to the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.[44]

Captain Luciano Acosta holds up the Supporters' Shield after Cincinnati clinched it in 2023.

FC Cincinnati won the MLS Supporters' Shield on September 30, 2023, after beating Toronto FC away 3–2. The trophy awards the regular season's top-finishing club across both conferences. It is the second trophy the club has won in its existence and the first in its MLS era.[45][46] FCC is the second-fastest active expansion club to win the Supporters' Shield since the league's first expansion in 1998; 2019's LAFC, in their second season, is the only club to have done so sooner.[47] In the 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, the club advanced past the New York Red Bulls in a best of 3 series format used for the opening round of playoffs, sweeping the series 2-0.[48] FC Cincinnati then defeated Philadelphia Union 1-0 in dramatic fashion thanks to an extra time game winner by Yerson Mosquera.[49] This clinched the club's first appearance in the Conference Finals of a playoff. On November 27, 2023, Lucho Acosta was named 2023 MLS Most Valuable Player.[50] He became the club's 3rd league MVP and first in the MLS era. On December 2, 2023, FCC would face rivals Columbus Crew at TQL stadium in the MLS Eastern Conference Finals, losing in extra-time by a score of 3–2. This was the first "Hell is Real' matchup to take place in the playoffs.

On February 22, 2024, FC Cincinnati played their first ever match in the CONCACAF Champions Cup, a 2–0 away win at Cavalier FC of Jamaica.[51] The club advanced past Cavalier 6–0 on aggregate before falling to CF Monterrey of Mexico 3–1 on aggregate in the Round of 16.[52]The club would start hot in MLS play, topping the table into late summer until an injury to reigning MVP Lucho Acosta threatened to derail the season. Furthermore, DP striker Aaron Boupendza would have his contract terminated by MLS on August 4th.[53] The team regrouped to finish 3rd in the eastern conference. The first round of the MLS Cup playoffs pitted them against New York City FC in a best of 3 series. FCC would defeat NYCFC 1-0 at TQL stadium on October 28th, 2024. They would fall on the road a week later by a score of 3-1, setting up a winner take all game 3 at TQL. On November 7th, FCC would fall on penalties 6-5 to end their 2024 season. Following the game, Lucho Acosta would express his desire to leave the club in a post-game press conference.[54]

## Stadium

[edit]

Nippert Stadium during a 2017 FC Cincinnati match

From 2016 through 2020, FC Cincinnati played home matches at Nippert Stadium on the campus of the University of Cincinnati, also home to the school's football team. The stadium was designed for American football and underwent a minor renovation in 2016 to accommodate the soccer team, a few months after the completion of a major renovation by the football team.[55] FC Cincinnati limited stadium capacity for USL matches to approximately 25,000 with upper level sections covered.[56] The stadium design meets all Major League Soccer criteria as well as being able to host FIFA sponsored events.[57] The "Bailey" was the official supporters section in Nippert, with a capacity of 1,700 and regular displays of flags, tifos, and colored smoke.[58] Other sections of the stadium catered towards casual fans and families, including sections with bleachers seating and club seating.[59]

Mercy Health Training Center in Milford, Ohio

On June 26, 2018, the club announced plans to build a training complex in Milford, Ohio. The estimated $30 million project occupies approximately 23.6 acres (9.6 ha) and serves as the base for soccer operations, including the MLS first team and FCC Academy's training and performance activities. The facility is also expected to host between 6 and 20 soccer-related events a year, including first-team scrimmages, FCC Academy games and local soccer tournaments. The complex was completed by the end of 2019.[60]

TQL Stadium in 2021

From 2016, FC Cincinnati had publicly discussed plans to build their own soccer-specific stadium. They had a shortlist of three possible stadium sites in 2017, and in 2018, made moves to purchase land in the West End neighborhood. Construction of TQL Stadium began in 2019 and finished in 2021.[5] The new stadium hosted its first match, a 2–3 loss to Inter Miami CF, on May 16, 2021.[61]

## Colors & crest

[edit]

FC Cincinnati's original logo, used during its United Soccer League years (2015–2018)

FC Cincinnati's primary colors are the orange and blue, which is also used as a nickname for the team. The secondary colors are gray, dark blue, and white.[62][63]

The original crest, used during the team's USL era, was a simple shield with a crown and the winged lion of Saint Mark the Evangelist holding a sword and a soccer ball.[64][65] The colors and crests originated with the Dayton Dutch Lions, the team's launch partner.[66]

An updated crest was designed after FC Cincinnati were accepted as an expansion team to Major League Soccer. It maintains the same orange and blue color scheme while updating the winged lion and relative sizing of the text displaying the club's name.[67][68]

### Sponsorship

[edit]

Period  | Kit manufacturer  | Shirt sponsor  | Sleeve sponsor

|
|
|

2015–2018  | Nike[69] | Toyota[69] | —
2019  | Adidas[70] | Mercy Health[5]
2020  | First Financial Bank[5]
2021–present  | Kroger

FC Cincinnati reached a multiyear deal with First Financial Bank to serve as the club's exclusive banking and financial services partner. First Financial will gain many benefits from this partnership. There will be a First Financial Gate as well as a premium club area at the new stadium. They will also be involved in planning community events, fan experiences and game-day activities.[71] As part of an extended sponsorship, First Financial Bank was announced as FC Cincinnati's sleeve sponsor, along with Cintas.[72]

## Supporters & club culture

[edit]

The Bailey is the main supporters section at TQL Stadium.

The club recognizes the following supporters' groups: Auxilia One, the Briogáid (formerly The Bailey Bastards), The 5th Line, Die Innenstadt, Hangar 937, Knights of the Bailey, Norden, The Pride, and Queen City Mafia.[73] Each of these supporter groups is organized under a unified body called 'The Incline Collective', which is responsible for pooling resources for community events, tifos, organizing the pre-match march, and coordinating with the club.[citation needed] The Pride, FCC's oldest supporter's group, has two satellite chapters; The Pride Orange and Bluegrass, based in Lexington, Kentucky, and The Pride 812, based in Southeastern Indiana.[74] Current and former unrecognized supporters' groups include but are not limited to The Bridge, Caballeros, Queen City Firm, Naked Knights, and The Vanguard.[75][76][77][78] As of 2023, known international fan groups include Kumasinnati in Kumasi, Ghana,[79] FC Cincy UK Supporters,[citation needed] and FC Cincinnati France.[80]

### The march

[edit]

Fans marching to TQL Stadium before a 2024 match

The march began with the club's debut in the USL and is one of the longest-running traditions of FC Cincinnati supporters.[81][82] In its earliest iterations, this pre-match celebration involved fans participating in an organized march to Nippert Stadium, joining gradually from base points in Over-the-Rhine (OTR) and Clifton, usually "home" pubs for various supporters’ groups and fans.[citation needed]

Since the club's move to TQL Stadium in 2021, the march weaves through various points of interest in OTR and West End neighborhoods including Findlay Market and several breweries and pubs, including Northern Row, OTR Stillhouse, Holiday Spirits, The Symphony Hotel, and The Pitch.[83][81] The group makes a stop at Washington Park – the principal location of the club's pre-match fan festivities – to link up with more fans for a rally. When the march re-commences, supporters pass Cincinnati Music Hall and enter the final leg to TQL Stadium.[81]

### Supporter-driven media

[edit]

There are several current and former supporter-driven media outlets offering coverage of the club, including Cincinnati Soccer Talk,[84] The Post Cincy,[85] Knifey Lion Radio,[86] and Nación FCC.[87]

### Mascot

[edit]

Introduced in 2019 prior to the club's inaugural MLS season, FC Cincinnati's mascot is an embodiment of the winged lion featured on the current and USL-era crests. Known as "Gary the Knifey Lion," the blue-haired, orange-furred feline mascot costume features a crown and pair of wings. Fans provided the "Gary" moniker after noticing that the lion's tail, torso, and left arm can be loosely construed as spelling "Gary" on the team crest when read left-to-right.[88]

### Nicknames

[edit]

The club's most common nicknames are "The Orange and Blue" and "The Garys."[3]

Some supporters colloquially refer to the club as "The FC" or simply "FC.” This habit emerged when the club played in USL and donned its first crest, which visually emphasized the large letters "FC" over the more diminutive "Cincinnati."[68] Emphasis on the name of the city, rather than “FC,” was prioritized in the MLS rebrand, but some fans continue to endearingly, and often humorously, refer to the club as “FC” or “The FC.”[citation needed]

## Rivalries

[edit]

### Columbus Crew

[edit]

Main article: Hell Is Real Derby

Cincinnati has an in-state rival in Columbus Crew.[89] The idea of the Ohio soccer rivalry first gained popularity ahead of a 2017 U.S. Open Cup match between FC Cincinnati (then in the United Soccer League) and the Crew. The rivalry was dubbed the "Hell Is Real Derby," after a billboard on Interstate 71, the highway between Columbus and Cincinnati.[90][91] The clubs faced each other in their first league matches in 2019: on August 10 in Columbus and August 25 in Cincinnati (the latter match took place during MLS Rivalry Week).[92]

### Louisville City FC

[edit]

Main article: River Cities Cup

Corben Bone of Cincinnati and Niall McCabe of Louisville fight for the ball in the 2017 U.S. Open Cup.

During FC Cincinnati's USL tenure, its main league and regional rival was Louisville City FC, located a mere 100 miles southwest of Cincinnati along the Ohio River. The two clubs competed annually for the River Cities Cup in what was known to locals as "The Dirty River Derby." The rivalry became one of the best-attended and most hotly-contested matchups in lower division US soccer.

The cities' two main universities (Louisville and Cincinnati) had a long-standing football rivalry and basketball rivalry that ended in 2013 due to conference realignment. Both teams went 1–1–1 against each other in each of the first two seasons of the rivalry (2016 and 2017), with Cincinnati taking the cup home in 2016 and Louisville City doing so in 2017, both on aggregate. Louisville City retained the trophy in 2018 by winning the first two of the teams' three regular-season matches. The two teams most recently met in the Third Round of the 2023 U.S. Open Cup at TQL Stadium with FC Cincinnati winning 1–0.[93]

### Pittsburgh Riverhounds

[edit]

During the team's USL era, FC Cincinnati formed a potential rivalry with the Pittsburgh Riverhounds. The contention developed from the rivalry between the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals and Pittsburgh Steelers. The first-ever meeting between the two clubs, which took place on May 14, 2016 at Nippert Stadium, set a then-USL attendance record of 23,375. The match was billed as an "Orange Out" and featured Bengals players on the pitch before the match as honorary captains.[94]

## Ownership

[edit]

Club co-CEO Jeff Berding, MLS commissioner Don Garber, club owner and CEO Carl Lindner III, and former Cincinnati mayor John Cranley

Former Cincinnati Bengals executive Jeff Berding was the club's original president and general manager, and in 2022, he was promoted to co-CEO.[95][96] The CEO and majority owner of the team is Carl Lindner III, CEO of American Financial Group, with Scott Farmer also a leading owner.[97][98] The club's original ownership group in their USL era also included Chris Lindner (Carl III's son), David L. Thompson, Jeff Berding, Scott Farmer, Steve Hightower, George Joseph, Mike Mossel (who is an owner of the Dayton Dutch Lions), and Jack Wyant.[99]

In November 2019, Meg Whitman purchased a minority stake in the club.[100] Whitman will serve as the club's Alternate Governor on the MLS Board of Governors.

## Media

[edit]

Tom Gelehrter and Kevin McCloskey provide commentary on the club's television and radio broadcasts.

On February 23, 2016, FC Cincinnati announced ESPN 1530 as the official radio partner for the organization. Since 2016, ESPN 1530 has aired all of FCC's regular season home matches.[citation needed]

On March 22, 2017, FC Cincinnati reached an agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group to have WKRC-TV, WSTR-TV and CinCW 12.2 televise all home and away games, including playoff games. Nine games aired on WSTR, four on CinCW, and two on Local 12. Tom Gelehrter called play-by-play with Kevin McCloskey and Paul Rockwood as color analysts. Lindsay Patterson served as sideline reporter.[101]

For the club's first two seasons, all live USL matches were live-streamed on YouTube. A few weeks into their third season, however, the USL reached an agreement with ESPN to make ESPN+ its official live-streaming service starting on April 12, 2018. USL matches remained accessible outside of the United States on YouTube.[102]

FC Cincinnati broadcast its 2016 friendly against Crystal Palace live on Facebook.[103] The broadcast also featured special Facebook Live 360-degree footage.

On January 30, 2019, FC Cincinnati reached an agreement with Sinclair Broadcast Group to have WSTR-TV televise all home and away games, except for ones already scheduled to be broadcast nationally. Continuing from their roles on the former USL team, Tom Gelehrter would call play-by-play with Kevin McCloskey as color analyst. Lindsay Patterson served as sideline reporter through 2019, and Alex Stec held the position from 2020.[104][105]

From 2023, all FC Cincinnati matches are available on MLS Season Pass from Apple TV, ending FC Cincinnati's time on local TV. Gelehrter and McCloskey maintained their commentary roles on local radio broadcasts, which are also available through Apple TV during home games.

Gelehrter's Cincinnati-based media company 4th Floor Creative has produced extensive brand and documentary work for the club.[106][107]

## Players and staff

[edit]

See also: All-time FC Cincinnati (MLS) roster

### Roster

[edit]

As of August 6, 2025[108]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

1  | GK |  USA | Alec Kann
2  | DF |  JAM | Alvas Powell
3  | DF |  PAR | Gilberto Flores
4  | DF |  USA | Nick Hagglund
5  | MF |  NGA | Obinna Nwobodo
7  | FW |  JPN | Yūya Kubo
9  | FW |  TOG | Kévin Denkey (DP)
10  | MF |  BRA | Evander (DP)
12  | DF |  USA | Miles Robinson
13  | GK |  USA | Evan Louro
14  | DF |  AUS | Brad Smith
16  | DF |  ZIM | Teenage Hadebe
17  | FW |  BRA | Sérgio Santos
18  | GK |  USA | Roman Celentano
| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

19  | FW |  ROU | Ștefan Chirilă
20  | MF |  CZE | Pavel Bucha
21  | DF |  USA | Matt Miazga (captain)
22  | MF |  USA | Gerardo Valenzuela
23  | FW |  ARG | Luca Orellano
25  | GK |  USA | Paul Walters
27  | MF |  CMR | Brian Anunga
29  | DF |  DEN | Lukas Engel (on loan from Middlesbrough)
35  | FW |  FRA | Kenji Mboma Dem
37  | MF |  USA | Stiven Jimenez
66  | FW |  VEN | Ender Echenique
85  | FW |  SLE | Kei Kamara
91  | DF |  USA | DeAndre Yedlin
-- | FW |  MAR | Ayoub Jabbari (on loan from Grenoble)

### Out on loan

[edit]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation  | Player

|
|
|

31  | MF |  ARG | Álvaro Barreal (on loan to Santos)

### Technical staff

[edit]

Title  | Name

|

General manager  | Chris Albright
VP of soccer strategy  | Kyle McCarthy
Technical director  | Hunter Freeman
Head coach  | Pat Noonan
Assistant coach  | Kenny Arena
Assistant coach  | Dominic Kinnear
Assistant coach  | Ricardo Páez
Director of goalkeeping  | Paul Rogers
Director of player development  | Larry Sunderland
Director of athletic training services  | Aaron Powell
Head athletic trainer  | Patrick Tanner
Strength & conditioning coach  | Austin Berry
Head of sports science & nutrition  | Phil Keehne

Last updated: May 15, 2025
Source: FC Cincinnati

### Head coaches

[edit]

Coach  | Tenure

|

John Harkes | August 12, 2015 – February 17, 2017
Alan Koch | February 17, 2017 – May 7, 2019
Yoann Damet (interim)  | May 7, 2019 – August 4, 2019
Ron Jans | August 4, 2019 – February 17, 2020
Yoann Damet (interim)  | February 17, 2020 – May 21, 2020
Jaap Stam | May 21, 2020 – September 27, 2021
Tyrone Marshall (interim)  | September 27, 2021 – November 7, 2021
Pat Noonan | December 14, 2021 – present

### Club captains

[edit]

Captain  | Years

|

Austin Berry | 2016–2017
Dekel Keinan | 2018
Kendall Waston | 2019–2020[109]
Luciano Acosta | 2021–2024
Matt Miazga | 2025

## Records

[edit]

### Year-by-year

[edit]

Main article: List of FC Cincinnati seasons

This is a partial list of the last five seasons completed by FC Cincinnati. For the full season-by-season history, see: List of FC Cincinnati seasons.

Season  | League  | Position  | Playoffs  | USOC | Leagues Cup | Continental | Avg. att. | Top goalscorer

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

League  | Pld | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD | Pts | PPG | Conf. | Overall  | Name(s)  | G
2020 | MLS | 23  | 4  | 15  | 4  | 12  | 36  | −24  | 16  | 0.70  | 14th  | 26th  | MLS is Back R16 | NH | N/A  | DNQ  | N/A  | Yuya Kubo | 3
2021 | MLS | 34  | 4  | 22  | 8  | 37  | 74  | −37  | 20  | 0.59  | 14th  | 27th  | DNQ  | NH | N/A  | DNQ  | 21,175  | Brenner | 8
2022 | MLS | 34  | 12  | 9  | 13  | 64  | 56  | 8  | 49  | 1.44  | 5th  | 10th  | QF | R32 | Showcase | DNQ  | 22,503  | Brandon Vázquez
| 20
2023 | MLS | 34  | 20  | 5  | 9  | 57  | 39  | 18  | 69  | 2.03  | 1st  | 1st  | CF | SF | R32 | DNQ  | 25,367  | Luciano Acosta | 21
2024 | MLS | 34  | 18  | 11  | 5  | 58  | 48  | 10  | 59  | 1.74  | 3rd  | 5th  | R16 | DNE | R16 | R16 | 25,237  | Luciano Acosta  | 16

^ 1\. Avg. attendance include statistics from league matches only.
^ 2\. Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup, MLS is Back Tournament, Leagues Cup, CONCACAF Champions League, and other competitive matches.

## Player records

[edit]

Main article: List of FC Cincinnati records and statistics

### Appearances

[edit]

As of match played July 31, 2025[110]
Rank  | Name  | Period  | League  | Playoffs  | US Open Cup  | Leagues Cup  | CONCACAF Champions' Cup  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Yuya Kubo | 2020–present  | 142  | 9[a] | 6  | 8[b] | 7  | 172
2  |  Luciano Acosta | 2021–2024  | 125  | 9  | 7  | 6[b] | 4  | 151
3  |  Nick Hagglund | 2019–present  | 136  | 2  | 8  | 3  | 0  | 149
4  |  Roman Celentano | 2022–present  | 115  | 9  | 1  | 3  | 7  | 135
5  |  Alvas Powell | 2019, 2022–present  | 103  | 7  | 7  | 6  | 6  | 129
6  |  Brandon Vázquez | 2020–2023  | 112  | 6  | 5  | 4[b] | 0  | 127
7  |  Obinna Nwobodo | 2022–present  | 97  | 8  | 4  | 8[b] | 6  | 123
8  |  Álvaro Barreal | 2020–present  | 104  | 6  | 7  | 4[b] | 0  | 121
9  |  Corben Bone | 2016–2019  | 96  | 4  | 10  | 0  | 0  | 110
10  |  Ian Murphy | 2022–2024  | 80  | 6  | 7  | 8[b] | 4  | 105

### Goals

[edit]

As of match played July 31, 2025[110]
Rank  | Name  | Period  | League  | Playoffs  | US Open Cup  | Leagues Cup  | CONCACAF Champions' Cup  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Luciano Acosta | 2021–2024  | 48  | 3  | 1  | 1  | 1  | 54
2  |  Brandon Vázquez | 2020–2023  | 32  | 2  | 3  | 6[c] | 0  | 43
3  |  Brenner | 2021–2023  | 27  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 27
4  |  Danni König | 2017–2018  | 22  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 22
Emmanuel Ledesma | 2018–2019  | 22  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
6  |  Álvaro Barreal | 2020–present  | 13  | 2  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 19
Yuya Kubo | 2020–present  | 15  | 0  | 2  | 2[c] | 0
8  |  Evander | 2025–present  | 15  | 0  | 0  | 1  | 2  | 18
9  |  Sean Okoli | 2016  | 16  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 16
Corben Bone | 2016–2019  | 13  | 1  | 2  | 0  | 0
Baye Djiby Fall | 2017  | 12  | 0  | 4  | 0  | 0

### Clean sheets

[edit]

As of match played July 31, 2025[110]
Rank  | Name  | Period  | League  | Playoffs  | US Open Cup  | Leagues Cup  | CONCACAF Champions' Cup  | Total

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

1  |  Roman Celentano | 2022–present  | 33  | 4  | 1  | 1  | 2  | 41
2  |  Mitch Hildebrandt | 2016–2017  | 18  | 0  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 22
3  |  Spencer Richey | 2018–2021  | 10  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 11
Przemysław Tytoń | 2019–2021  | 11  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0
5  |  Evan Newton | 2018  | 9  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 9
6  |  Kenneth Vermeer | 2021–2022  | 4  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 0  | 4
7  |  Alec Kann | 2022–present  | 1  | 0  | 2  | 0  | 0  | 3
8  |  Dallas Jaye | 2016–2017  | 1  | 0  | 1  | 0  | 0  | 2

Bolded players are currently on the FC Cincinnati roster.

## Honors

[edit]

### League

[edit]

#### Major League Soccer

[edit]

* Supporters' Shield
* Winners (1): 2023

#### United Soccer League[d]

[edit]

* Regular Season Championship[e]
* Winners (1): 2018

## Affiliated clubs

[edit]

On September 25, 2020, FC Cincinnati signed a partnership agreement with Bundesliga club TSG 1899 Hoffenheim.[111] The club is also a part of the "Common Values Club Alliance" with Hoffenheim, and Ghanaian Premier League club Hearts of Oak SC.[112]

The club owns and operates FC Cincinnati 2, a reserve team that plays in MLS Next Pro.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Includes one appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament Ro16
2. ^ a b c d e f Includes one appearance in the 2022 Leagues Cup Showcase
3. ^ a b Includes one goal in the 2022 Leagues Cup Showcase
4. ^ Known since 2019 as the USL Championship
5. ^ Known since 2023 as the Players' Shield

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Branding + Resources". FCCincinnati.com. MLS Digital. Retrieved November 5, 2023.
2. ^ Weingartner, Tana (November 12, 2018). "Football Club Cincinnati: Check Out FC Cincinnati's New Branding". Retrieved November 13, 2018.
3. ^ a b "MLS Power Rankings". espn.com. ESPN Digital. May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 30, 2023.
4. ^ "FC Cincinnati announce sellout for Eastern Conference Final against Columbus Crew". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
5. ^ a b c d e f "Cincinnati awarded MLS expansion club, will start play in 2019". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. May 29, 2018. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
6. ^ "FC Cincinnati to join MLS as expansion team". ESPN. May 29, 2018. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
7. ^ Hollingsworth, Chad (May 10, 2015). "USL to Expand to Cincinnati in 2016". Archived from the original on October 8, 2016. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
8. ^ Monk, Dan (August 6, 2015). "Cincinnati Bengals exec Jeff Berding trying to bring a new pro soccer franchise to town". WCPO-TV. Archived from the original on August 8, 2015. Retrieved August 12, 2015.
9. ^ Switzer, D.J. (May 11, 2015). "revealed: USL in Cincinnati". Wrong Side of the Pond. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
10. ^ Vicar, Nathan (August 12, 2015). "Details released about new FC Cincinnati pro soccer team". FOX10 News. Archived from the original on December 23, 2015. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
11. ^ "Report: FC Cincinnati set to announce 2016 USL expansion, John Harkes as head coach". MLSSoccer.com. August 11, 2015. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
12. ^ Brennan, Patrick (May 14, 2016). "Another record crowd turns out to watch FC Cincy win". Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
13. ^ "Crowd count weekend soccer attendances". Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
14. ^ Csaba Sukosd (July 28, 2016). "Real Madrid and PSG set record crowd for soccer match in Ohio". abc6onyourside.com. Sinclair, Inc. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
15. ^ Kimura, Fumi (October 2, 2016). "Post-Season Ends in Loss To Battery, FCC Sets USL Playoff Record". Archived from the original on August 6, 2017. Retrieved October 7, 2016.
16. ^ "PAIR OF UPSETS BY DIVISION II CLUBS HIGHLIGHT 2017 U.S. OPEN CUP ROUND OF 16". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
17. ^ "FC Cincinnati vs. New York Red Bulls – Football Match Report – August 15, 2017 – ESPN". ESPNFC.com. Retrieved August 16, 2017.
18. ^ Rettig, Will. "Orange & Blue Fall in Home Opener". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
19. ^ "FC Cincinnati end final USL home slate with one more attendance record". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
20. ^ Couch, Ben (December 15, 2016). "MLS announces expansion process and timeline". MLSsoccer.com. MLS Digital. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
21. ^ "FC Cincinnati 'in talks' with Major League Soccer, but no solid plan in the works". WCPO. April 23, 2016. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
22. ^ Hatch, Charlie (December 4, 2016). "MLS Commissioner Don Garber impressed by Cincinnati after midweek tour". MLSsoccer.com. MLS Digital. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
23. ^ Brennan, Patrick (January 31, 2017). "FC Cincinnati submits expansion bid to MLS". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
24. ^ Brennan, Patrick (May 29, 2018). "It's official: FC Cincinnati has joined MLS, will begin play in 2019". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
25. ^ fccincinnati. "The Night At Nippert No One Will Forget | FC Cincinnati". fccincinnati. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
26. ^ Watkins, Steve (March 22, 2018). "Here's when FC Cincinnati plans to begin play in new stadium". Cincinnati Business Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
27. ^ "FC Cincinnati signs Fanendo Adi, Fatai Alashe ahead of MLS move". ESPN. July 30, 2018.
28. ^ "Cincinnati Bolsters Squad with Adi, Alashe". uslsoccer.com. July 31, 2018.
29. ^ "FC Cincinnati can select 5 major league players for inaugural roster". November 9, 2018.
30. ^ Bogart, Tom (December 11, 2018). "2018 Expansion Draft Results: FC Cincinnati pick, trade big names".
31. ^ "Season Opener Ends In 4–1 Loss". FC Cincinnati. March 3, 2019.
32. ^ "Historic Home Opener Ends In 3–0 Win". FC Cincinnati.
33. ^ "Club Dismisses Head Coach Alan Koch". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
34. ^ Brennan, Patrick (May 7, 2019). "FC Cincinnati dismisses Alan Koch as head coach". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
35. ^ "Ron Jans named Head Coach". FC Cincinnati. August 4, 2019. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
36. ^ Brennan, Pat. "FC Cincinnati: Ron Jans resigns as head coach". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
37. ^ "FC Cincinnati and General Manager Gerard Nijkamp Agree to Mutually Part Ways". FCCincinnati.com. FC Cincinnati. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
38. ^ "FC Cincinnati announce departure of Head Coach Jaap Stam". FCCincinnati.com. FC Cincinnati. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
39. ^ "FC Cincinnati hire Chris Albright as new General Manager". FCCincinnati.com. FC Cincinnati. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
40. ^ "FC Cincinnati hire Pat Noonan as head coach". FCCincinnati.com. FC Cincinnati. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
41. ^ Staff, CityBeat. "Photos: FC Cincinnati Ties MLS Record, Fans Go Wild". Cincinnati CityBeat. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
42. ^ Athletic, The (August 24, 2023). "How Lionel Messi's two assists rallied Inter Miami past FC Cincinnati in U.S. Open Cup semifinal". The Athletic. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
43. ^ "Preview: 'The players know.' FC Cincinnati can win the Supporters Shield at Toronto FC". The Enquirer. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
44. ^ fccincinnati. "FC Cincinnati clinch spot in 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup | FC Cincinnati". fccincinnati. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
45. ^ Sigal, Jonathan (September 30, 2023). "FC Cincinnati win 2023 MLS Supporters' Shield". MLSSoccer.com.
46. ^ Brennan, Pat (September 30, 2023). "FC Cincinnati beats Toronto FC to clinch 2023 Supporters Shield". The Cincinnati Enquirer.
47. ^ "Everything you need to know about FC Cincinnati winning the Supporters' Shield". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
48. ^ Cardenas, Felipe; Staff, The Athletic (December 6, 2023). "FC Cincinnati eliminates New York Red Bulls in PK shootout, advances to East semis: How they pulled it off". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
49. ^ "FC Cincinnati beats Philadelphia Union 1-0 to advance to Eastern Conference final". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. November 25, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
50. ^ mlssoccer. "FC Cincinnati's Luciano 'Lucho' Acosta Named 2023 Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved July 28, 2025.
51. ^ Chapley, Carter (February 23, 2024). "FC Cincinnati open Concacaf Champions Cup with dominant performance, 2–0 victory over Jamaica's Cavalier FC". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
52. ^ "RECAP | CF Monterrey 2, FC Cincinnati 1". FCCincinnati.com. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
53. ^ Cincinnati, F. C. "Major League Soccer terminates Aaron Boupendza's contract". FC Cincinnati. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
54. ^ Keel, Fletcher (November 10, 2024). "'I have given my all for this club': Acosta discusses possibility of shock exit from FC Cincinnati". WLWT. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
55. ^ Watkins, Steve (December 8, 2015). "FC Cincinnati makes changes to Nippert Stadium". Cincinnati Business Journal. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
56. ^ "FourFourTwo's 20 best stadiums for soccer in the U.S.: 20. Nippert Stadium (Cincinnati, Ohio)". FourFourTwo. March 14, 2017. Archived from the original on June 12, 2018. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
57. ^ Mccormick, Fergus; Finlay, Tim; May, Rob; Darcy, Joe; Browning, Gillian; Roorda, Derrick; Skellorn, Phil (2022). "TQL Stadium for FC Cincinnati". IABSE Symposium, Prague 2022: Challenges for Existing and Oncoming Structures. 118. Zurich, Switzerland: International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE): 976–983\. doi:10.2749/prague.2022.0976. ISBN 978-3-85748-183-3. S2CID 249297995.
58. ^ Phafler, Laurel (June 10, 2016). "You haven't really experienced FC Cincinnati soccer until you've partied in The Bailey". WCPO. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
59. ^ Hatch, Charlie (May 16, 2016). "FC Cincinnati: the third-tier US soccer team pulling in 20,000 fans a game". The Guardian. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
60. ^ "FC CINCINNATI ANNOUNCES TRAINING COMPLEX PLANS IN MILFORD". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
61. ^ "FCC fall to Inter Miami CF, 3–2". FCCincinnati.com. May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 18, 2021.
62. ^ Lind, Jason (November 12, 2018). "FC Cincinnati reveal new MLS crest and colors for expansion season". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
63. ^ "FCC Unveils its Major League Soccer Logo, Marks & Colors". FCCincinnati.com (Press release). MLS Digital. November 12, 2018. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
64. ^ Straus, Brian (May 29, 2018). "Cincinnati Follows Nashville With Winning MLS Expansion Bid in Growth to 28 Teams". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
65. ^ Watkins, Steve (August 18, 2016). "Why doesn't FC Cincinnati have a nickname?". Cincinnati Business Journal. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
66. ^ Weingartner, Tana (August 12, 2015). "FC Cincinnati Will Compete In 2016 USL Season". WXVU. Retrieved May 30, 2018.
67. ^ Bava, John (November 12, 2018). "FC Cincinnati Unveils Updated Crest Ahead of Inaugural MLS Season".
68. ^ a b "How FC Cincinnati's New Badge Came to Be". Uni Watch. November 29, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
69. ^ a b "Cincinnati Unveils Jersey, Major Sponsorships". United Soccer League. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
70. ^ "Major League Soccer and adidas extend landmark partnership through 2024". MLSSoccer.com. MLS Digital. August 2, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
71. ^ Watkins, Steve (January 16, 2019). "FC Cincinnati".
72. ^ Brennan, Pat (July 10, 2020). "FC Cincinnati new sleeve sponsors". Cincinnati.com.
73. ^ "FCC Supporter Groups". inclinecincy.com. The Incline Collective. February 1, 2024.
74. ^ "SATELLITE CHAPTERS". THE PRIDE. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
75. ^ "Groups — The Incline Collective". January 10, 2022. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
76. ^ "Twitter/X Link to The Bridge account".
77. ^ "Naked Knights Instagram Page".
78. ^ "The Vanguard SG X/Twitter Account".
79. ^ "Facebook Group for Kumasinnati, Supporter group that is in Ghana". Facebook.
80. ^ "Twitter/X Link to FC Cincinnati French Supporters".
81. ^ a b c "The March". The Incline Collective. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
82. ^ Hatch, Charlie (May 16, 2016). "FC Cincinnati: the third-tier US soccer team pulling in 20,000 fans a game". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
83. ^ Brennan, Pat. "Fan experience: Pre-match march of FCC supporters includes stops at Findlay Market, Washington Park". The Enquirer. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
84. ^ "Cincinnati Soccer Talk – Everything Soccer in the Queen City". Cincinnati Soccer Talk. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
85. ^ "The Post Cincy". The Post Cincy. September 23, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
86. ^ Development, PodBean. "Knifey Lion Radio | a podcast by Knifey Lion Radio". knifeylionradio.podbean.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
87. ^ "Nación FCC". Nación FCC (in Spanish). April 12, 2023. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
88. ^ "Club Introduces New Mascot: Gary". FC Cincinnati. February 26, 2019. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
89. ^ Reed, Tom (June 14, 2017). "It's feeling real in Cincinnati". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
90. ^ Murphy, Pat (June 14, 2017). "Massive Predictions: Hell is Real – Will Hell freeze over or take over Columbus following this U.S. Open Cup Derby?". Massive Report. SB Nation. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
91. ^ Hatch, Charlie (June 14, 2017). "'HELL IS REAL,' and so is FC Cincinnati's threat to Columbus". FourFourTwo. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2017.
92. ^ "FCC's Inaugural MLS Schedule Released". FCCincinnati.com. MLS Digital. January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 10, 2019.
93. ^ Newman, Benton (April 29, 2023). "2023 US Open Cup Round 3: FC Cincinnati scores late winner in revival of Dirty River Derby with Louisville City". TheCup.us. Retrieved June 28, 2025.
94. ^ Pfahler, Laurel (May 12, 2016). "FCC fans: Get your 'Orange Out' for Pittsburgh!". WCPO 9 Cincinnati.
95. ^ Kay, Joe (May 29, 2018). "FC Cincinnati to join MLS in 2019 as league's latest expansion team". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
96. ^ "Jeff Berding Promoted to Co-CEO of Fussball Club Cincinnati". FC Cincinnati. January 11, 2022. Retrieved July 21, 2022.
97. ^ Straus, Brian (February 1, 2017). "MLS expansion city profile: Cincinnati". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
98. ^ Watkins, Steve (May 23, 2018). "FC Cincinnati owner Lindner on MLS bid: 'I think we're going to get over the finish line'". Cincinnati Business Courier.
99. ^ Brennan, Patrick (May 29, 2018). "New to FC Cincinnati? Here's everything you need to know about the next MLS expansion team". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
100. ^ Soshnick, Scott (November 27, 2019). "Meg Whitman's Stake Values Cincinnati Soccer Team at $500 Million". Bloomberg News.
101. ^ "FC Cincinnati, Sinclair Strike Television Deal". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on April 8, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
102. ^ USLSoccer.com Staff (April 6, 2018). "USL, ESPN Expand Broadcast Agreement Through 2019". USLSoccer.com. Tampa, FL: United Soccer League. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
103. ^ "USL's FC Cincinnati-Crystal Palace Friendly to be Streamed Live on Facebook". July 12, 2016. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
104. ^ "WSTR Star64 Announced As Local Broadcast Partner". FCCincinnati.com (Press release). MLS Digital. January 30, 2019. Retrieved March 28, 2019.
105. ^ "Broadcast Information". FC Cincinnati. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
106. ^ fccincinnati. "FCC, 4th Floor Creative to debut documentary 'Nonstop Flight: The Untold Story of FC Cincinnati' | FC Cincinnati". fccincinnati. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
107. ^ "Home – 4th Floor Creative". 4thfloorcreative.com. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
108. ^ "Roster". FCCincinnati.com. FC Cincinnati. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
109. ^ "Waston Named Club Captain". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
110. ^ a b c "Stats FC Cincinnati". FCCincinnati.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
111. ^ "FC Cincinnati announce partnership with Bundesliga club TSG Hoffenheim". MLS Soccer. September 25, 2020.
112. ^ "FC Cincinnati, TSG Hoffenheim and Hearts of Oak unveil the Common Value Club Alliance". FC Cincinnati. April 1, 2022.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to FC Cincinnati at Wikimedia Commons
* Official website

* v
* t
* e

FC Cincinnati

Cincinnati, Ohio

Club|

* MLS players
* 2018 MLS expansion draft
* Seasons

Stadiums|

* Nippert Stadium (2016–2020)
* TQL Stadium (2021–present)

Affiliated clubs|

* FC Cincinnati 2 (MLS Next Pro)

Rivalries|

* Hell Is Real Derby
* Columbus Crew
* River Cities Cup
* Louisville City FC

Key personnel|

Owners
Carl Lindner III
Meg Whitman
Scott Farmer
CEO
Carl Lindner III
Jeff Berding
General manager
Chris Albright
Head coach
Pat Noonan

Seasons|

USL
2016
2017
2018
MLS
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

FC Cincinnati - current squad

* 1 Kann
* 2 Powell
* 3 Flores
* 4 Hagglund
* 5 Nwobodo
* 7 Kubo
* 9 Denkey
* 10 Evander
* 12 Robinson
* 14 Smith
* 16 Hadebe
* 17 Santos
* 18 Celentano
* 19 Chirilă
* 20 Bucha
* 21 Miazga
* 22 Valenzuela
* 23 Orellano
* 25 Walters
* 27 Anunga
* 29 Engel
* 35 Mboma Dem
* 36 Louro
* 37 Jimenez
* 66 Echenique
* 85 Kamara
* 91 Yedlin
* Jabbari

* Head Coach: Noonan
* Assistant Coach: Arena
* Assistant Coach: Kinnear
* Goalkeeping Coach: Rogers

* v
* t
* e

FC Cincinnati first-round draft picks

* Amaya
* Gdula
* Harris
* Celentano
* Murphy
* Akpunonu
* Schaefer

* v
* t
* e

Major League Soccer

* Seasons
* 2025 season
* Records and statistics
* 400 or more appearances
* 100 or more goals
* Hat-tricks
* Players Association
* Rivalry cups
* History
* Timeline
* Expansion
* U.S. Soccer
* Canada Soccer

Eastern Conference|

* Atlanta United FC
* Charlotte FC
* Chicago Fire FC
* FC Cincinnati
* Columbus Crew
* D.C. United
* Inter Miami CF
* CF Montréal
* Nashville SC
* New England Revolution
* New York City FC
* New York Red Bulls
* Orlando City SC
* Philadelphia Union
* Toronto FC

Western Conference|

* Austin FC
* Colorado Rapids
* FC Dallas
* Houston Dynamo FC
* LA Galaxy
* Los Angeles FC
* Minnesota United FC
* Portland Timbers
* Real Salt Lake
* San Diego FC
* San Jose Earthquakes
* Seattle Sounders FC
* Sporting Kansas City
* St. Louis City SC
* Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Former teams|

* Tampa Bay Mutiny (1996–2001)
* Miami Fusion (1998–2001)
* Chivas USA (2005–2014)

Personnel|

* Foreign players
* National team players
* International slots
* Designated Players
* Homegrown Players
* Generation Adidas Cup
* Current season transfers
* Coaches
* Owners
* Professional Referee Organization
* Professional Soccer Referees Association

Competition|

* MLS Cup
* Playoffs
* Finals
* Trophy
* Supporters' Shield
* SuperDraft
* Stadiums
* Attendance
* Television
* Broadcasters
* All-Star Game
* MLS Cup

Associated
competitions|

* All-Star Game
* MLS Next
* CONCACAF Champions Cup
* Campeones Cup
* Leagues Cup
* U.S. Open Cup
* Canadian Championship
* Reserve League
* eMLS Cup
* MLS is Back Tournament
* MLS Next
* MLS Next Pro

Other|

* Generation Adidas
* Performance in Champions Cup
* Hall of Fame
* Valuations
* Central Division (2000–2001)
* Fraser v. Major League Soccer (2002)

* Category
* Portal
* Multimedia

* v
* t
* e

MLS Supporters' Shield winners

* 1996: Tampa Bay Mutiny
* 1997: D.C. United
* 1998: LA Galaxy
* 1999: D.C. United
* 2000: Kansas City Wizards
* 2001: Miami Fusion
* 2002: LA Galaxy
* 2003: Chicago Fire
* 2004: Columbus Crew
* 2005: San Jose Earthquakes
* 2006: D.C. United
* 2007: D.C. United
* 2008: Columbus Crew
* 2009: Columbus Crew
* 2010: LA Galaxy
* 2011: LA Galaxy
* 2012: San Jose Earthquakes
* 2013: New York Red Bulls
* 2014: Seattle Sounders FC
* 2015: New York Red Bulls
* 2016: FC Dallas
* 2017: Toronto FC
* 2018: New York Red Bulls
* 2019: Los Angeles FC
* 2020: Philadelphia Union
* 2021: New England Revolution
* 2022: Los Angeles FC
* 2023: FC Cincinnati
* 2024: Inter Miami CF

* v
* t
* e

USL Championship (2025)

* Eastern Conference
* Western Conference
* Foreign players
* USL Championship final

Eastern
Conference|

* Birmingham Legion FC
* Charleston Battery
* Detroit City FC
* Hartford Athletic
* Indy Eleven
* Loudoun United FC
* Louisville City FC
* Miami FC
* North Carolina FC
* Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
* Rhode Island FC
* Tampa Bay Rowdies

Western
Conference|

* Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
* El Paso Locomotive FC
* Las Vegas Lights FC
* Lexington SC
* Monterey Bay FC
* New Mexico United
* Oakland Roots SC
* Orange County SC
* Phoenix Rising FC
* Sacramento Republic FC
* San Antonio FC
* FC Tulsa

Future teams|

* Brooklyn FC (2026)
* Milwaukee Pro Soccer (2026)
* Santa Barbara Sky FC (2026)
* Sporting Club Jacksonville (2026)
* Atlético Dallas (2027)
* Buffalo Pro Soccer (2027)
* Ozark United FC (2027)
* Oklahoma City (2027)
* USL Pro Iowa (TBD)
* USL Palm Beach (TBD)

* v
* t
* e

Sports teams based in Ohio

Baseball|

MLB
Cincinnati Reds
Cleveland Guardians

Columbus Clippers
Toledo Mud Hens

Akron RubberDucks

Dayton Dragons
Lake County Captains
MLBDL
Mahoning Valley Scrappers

Lake Erie Crushers

Champion City Kings
Chillicothe Paints
GLSCL
Cincinnati Steam
Grand Lake Mariners
Hamilton Joes
Licking County Settlers
Lima Locos
Lorain County Ironmen
Southern Ohio Copperheads
Xenia Scouts

Basketball|

NBA
Cleveland Cavaliers
WNBA
Cleveland WNBA team (2028)
G League
Cleveland Charge

Football|

NFL
Cincinnati Bengals
Cleveland Browns
WFA
Cincinnati Cougars
Columbus Chaos
AWFL
Columbus Mystic
USPWFL
Cincinnati Sizzle
Dayton Diamonds (2026)

Hockey|

NHL
Columbus Blue Jackets
AHL
Cleveland Monsters
ECHL
Cincinnati Cyclones
Toledo Walleye
USHL
Youngstown Phantoms
USPHL
Toledo Cherokee
Wooster Oilers

Roller derby|

WFTDA
Akron Roller Derby
Burning River Roller Derby
Cincinnati Rollergirls
Gem City Roller Derby
Glass City Rollers
Little Steel Derby Girls
Ohio Roller Derby
MRDA
Cincinnati Battering Rams

Rugby league|

NARL
Cleveland Rugby League

Rugby union|

USARNC
Columbus RFC
Dayton Area Rugby Club
Cincinnati Wolfhounds

Soccer|

MLS
Columbus Crew
FC Cincinnati
MLSNP
Columbus Crew 2
FC Cincinnati 2
USL2
Cleveland Force SC
Dayton Dutch Lions
Kings Hammer SC
Toledo Villa FC
NPSL
Akron City FC
Cleveland SC
WPSL
Cleveland Ambassadors
Cincinnati Sirens
Columbus Eagles
Dayton Dutch Lions WFC
MLIS
Cincinnati Swerve
Cleveland Crunch

Volleyball|

PVF
Columbus Fury

Australian rules football|

USAFL
Cincinnati Dockers

College athletics
(NCAA Division I)|

* Akron
* Bowling Green
* Cincinnati
* Cleveland State
* Dayton
* Kent State
* Miami
* Ohio
* Ohio State
* Toledo
* Wright State
* Xavier
* Youngstown State

* v
* t
* e

Lindner family

* Carl Lindner Jr.
* Carl Lindner III

Businesses|

* American Financial Group
* FC Cincinnati
* United Dairy Farmers

Philanthropy|

* Carl H. Lindner College of Business
* Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy
* Lindner Family Tennis Center

* v
* t
* e

Mercy Health

Toledo
Mercy Hospital of Defiance
Mercy Hospital of Tiffin
Mercy Hospital of Willard
St. Charles Hospital
St. Vincent Medical Center
Cincinnati
Jewish Hospital
Lima
St. Rita's Medical Center

Related: FC Cincinnati § Sponsorship
*[No.]: Number
*[Pos.]: Position
*[GK]: Goalkeeper
*[DF]: Defender
*[MF]: Midfielder
*[FW]: Forward
*[Avg. att.]: Average attendance
*[Pld]: Games played
*[W]: Wins
*[L]: Losses
*[D]: Draws
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GD]: Goal differential
*[Pts]: Points
*[PPG]: Points per game
*[Conf.]: Conference
*[G]: Goals
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Walters]: Paul Walters
*[Mboma Dem]: Kenji Mboma Dem
*[Rogers]: Paul Rogers