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1996 Major League Soccer season

The 1996 Major League Soccer season was the inaugural season of Major League Soccer. It was also the 84th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer in the United States, and the 18th with a national first-division league.

1996 Major League Soccer season
Season1996
MLS CupD.C. United (1st title)
Supporters' ShieldTampa Bay Mutiny (1st shield)
1997 CONCACAF Champions' CupD.C. United
Los Angeles Galaxy
Matches played160
Goals scored539 (3.37 per match)
Top goalscorerRoy Lassiter
(27 goals)
Longest winning runLos Angeles Galaxy
Games: 12
(04/13 – 06/30)
Longest losing runColumbus Crew
Games: 6
(05/15 – 06/22)
Highest attendance92,216
LA 2–2 TB
(June 16, 1996)
Lowest attendance6,013
COL 4–2 KC
(August 7, 1996)
Total attendance2,785,001
Average attendance17,406
1997 →
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Locations of teams for the 1996 Major League Soccer season
Western Conference   Eastern Conference

Overview

Preparation for first season

Major League Soccer had originally intended to begin competitive action in 1995. Various difficulties forced the league to postpone its first season until 1996. In preparation for its first season, the league began signing what it called marquee players, [1] beginning with Tab Ramos on January 3, 1995.[2] Beginning in October 1995, the league apportioned the marquee players in the MLS Inaugural Allocations.[3] Each team received two national team and two foreign players in the allocation.[4] The league then invited about 250 players to a tryout the second week of January 1996 on the campus of UC Irvine.[5] On February 6 and 7, 1996, the league held its 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft in which the ten teams selected 160 players over sixteen rounds. The Columbus Crew selected Brian McBride with the first pick of the draft. On March 4, 1996, the league then held the 1996 MLS College Draft followed by the 1996 MLS Supplemental Draft later that day. Despite the numerous drafts, the teams were not obligated to sign only players from the drafts.[6]

Preseason

The preseason began the first week of March. The teams reduced their rosters to twenty-two players by March 25 and had to make a final roster reduction to eighteen by April 15.[7] The teams had a $1,200,000 salary cap with no player allowed to receive more than $192,500. In order to promote American players, teams were limited to five foreigners on the roster.[8]

Season

Each of the 10 MLS teams played 32 games. A regulation win was worth three points, a shootout win one point, and zero points for a loss in any manner. Fear of alienating fans with tied games had led the league to adopting the shootout when games ended even. The league also adopted a countdown clock instead of running clock, unlike IFAB's standards. The league also divided the teams equally into two conferences – Eastern and Western.

The league began its first season on Saturday, April 6, 1996, when the San Jose Clash hosted D.C. United at Spartan Stadium. ESPN carried the game live which the Clash won on a goal by Eric Wynalda. That goal was selected as the Goal of the Year. The regular season ended on September 22. The playoffs began two days later.

Stadiums and locations

TeamStadiumCapacity
Colorado RapidsMile High Stadium76,273
Columbus CrewOhio Stadium102,329
D.C. UnitedRFK Stadium46,000
Dallas BurnCotton Bowl92,100
Kansas City WizArrowhead Stadium81,425
Los Angeles GalaxyRose Bowl92,542
New England RevolutionFoxboro Stadium60,292
NY/NJ MetroStarsGiants Stadium80,200
San Jose ClashSpartan Stadium30,456
Tampa Bay MutinyHoulihan's Stadium74,301

Personnel and sponsorships

TeamHead coachCaptainShirt sponsor
Colorado Rapids Bob Houghton
Columbus Crew Timo Liekoski Doctor KhumaloSnickers
D.C. United Bruce ArenaMasterCard
Dallas Burn Dave Dir
Kansas City Wiz Ron Newman—
Los Angeles Galaxy Lothar Osiander—
New England Revolution Frank Stapleton—
NY/NJ MetroStars Eddie Firmani Peter Vermes
San Jose Clash Laurie Calloway John DoyleHonda
Tampa Bay Mutiny Thomas Rongen

Coaching changes

TeamOutgoing coachManner of departureDate of vacancyIncoming coachDate of appointment
NY/NJ MetroStars Eddie FirmaniFiredMay 24, 1996 Carlos QueirozMay 30, 1996
Columbus Crew Timo LiekoskiResignedAugust 2, 1996 Tom FitzgeraldAugust 2, 1996
Colorado Rapids Bob HoughtonFiredSeptember 10, 1996 Roy WegerleSeptember 13, 1996

Standings

Eastern Conference

PosTeam
PldWSOWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Tampa Bay Mutiny32191126651+1558MLS Cup Playoffs
2D.C. United32151166256+646
3NY/NJ MetroStars32123174547−239
4Columbus Crew32114175960−137
5New England Revolution3296174356−1333
Source: MLS

Western Conference

PosTeam
PldWSOWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Los Angeles Galaxy32154135949+1049MLS Cup Playoffs
2Dallas Burn32125155048+241
3Kansas City Wiz32125156163−241
4San Jose Clash32123175050039
5Colorado Rapids3292214459−1529
Source: MLS

Overall standings

PosTeam
PldWSOWLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Tampa Bay Mutiny (S)32191126651+1558
2Los Angeles Galaxy32154135949+1049CONCACAF Champions' Cup
3D.C. United (C)32151166256+646
4Dallas Burn32125155048+241
5Kansas City Wiz32125156163−241
6NY/NJ MetroStars32123174547−239
7San Jose Clash32123175050039
8Columbus Crew32114175960−137
9New England Revolution3296174356−1333
10Colorado Rapids3292214459−1529
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield

MLS Cup Playoffs

Bracket

Conference semifinalsConference finalsMLS Cup
             
E1Tampa Bay Mutiny214
E4Columbus Crew021
E1Tampa Bay Mutiny11x
Eastern Conference
E2D.C. United42x
E2D.C. United2 (5)12
E3NY/NJ MetroStars *(pen.)2 (6)*01
E2D.C. United (aet)3
W1Los Angeles Galaxy2
W1Los Angeles Galaxy022
W4San Jose Clash100
W1Los Angeles Galaxy *(pen.)21 (3)*x
Western Conference
W3Kansas City Wiz11 (1)x
W2Dallas Burn222 (2)
W3Kansas City Wiz *(pen.)312 (3)*
  • Best of Three series winners will advance.

Conference semifinals

Eastern Conference

Game 1
NY/NJ MetroStars2–2D.C. United
Report
Penalties
6–5
Attendance: 14,416
Game 2
D.C. United1–0NY/NJ MetroStars
Report
Attendance: 21,442
Game 3
D.C. United2–1NY/NJ MetroStars
Report
Attendance: 20,423
Referee: Brian Hall
  • D.C. United wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
Columbus Crew0–2Tampa Bay Mutiny
Report
Attendance: 20,807
Referee: Brian Hall
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2Columbus Crew
Report
Attendance: 13,009
Referee: Rich Grady
Game 3
Tampa Bay Mutiny4–1Columbus Crew
Report
Attendance: 6,871
Referee: Tim Weyland
  • Tampa Bay Mutiny wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Western Conference

Game 1
Kansas City Wiz3–2Dallas Burn
Report
Attendance: 4,466
Referee: Tim Weyland
Game 2
Dallas Burn2–1Kansas City Wiz
ReportPreki 30'
Attendance: 10,125
Game 3
Dallas Burn2–2Kansas City Wiz
Report
Penalties
2–3
Attendance: 9,802
Referee: Rich Grady
  • Kansas City Wiz wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.
Game 1
San Jose Clash1–0Los Angeles Galaxy
Report
Attendance: 17,209
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
Report
Attendance: 27,833
Referee: Joshua Patlak
Game 3
Los Angeles Galaxy2–0San Jose Clash
Report
Attendance: 30,231
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–1, advances to Conference finals.

Conference finals

Eastern Conference

Game 1
D.C. United4–1Tampa Bay Mutiny
Report
Attendance: 23,566
Referee: Kevin Stott
Game 2
Tampa Bay Mutiny1–2D.C. United
Report
Attendance: 9,339
Referee: Rich Grady
  • D.C. United wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup.

Western Conference

Game 1
Los Angeles Galaxy2–1Kansas City Wiz
ReportPreki 52'
Attendance: 25,212
Referee: Brian Hall
Game 2
Kansas City Wiz1–1Los Angeles Galaxy
Report
Penalties
1–3
Attendance: 11,041
Referee: Zimmerman Boulos
  • Los Angeles Galaxy wins series 2–0, advances to MLS Cup.

MLS Cup

Los Angeles Galaxy2–3 (a.e.t.)D.C. United
Report
Attendance: 34,643

Player statistics

Goals

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Roy LassiterTampa Bay Mutiny27
2 Raúl Díaz ArceD.C. United23
3 Eduardo HurtadoLos Angeles Galaxy21
4 PrekiKansas City Wiz18
5 Brian McBrideColumbus Crew17
6 Steve RammelD.C. United14
7 Paul BravoSan Jose Clash13
Jason KreisDallas Burn
Giovanni SavareseNY/NJ MetroStars
Vitalis TakawiraKansas City Wiz

Assists

RankPlayerClubAssists
1 Marco EtcheverryD.C. United16
2 Eric WynaldaSan Jose Clash11
Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny
4 Mauricio CienfuegosLos Angeles Galaxy10
5 PrekiKansas City Wiz9
Mark ChungKansas City Wiz
Tab RamosNY/NJ Metrostars
8 Adrián PazColumbus Crew8
Roberto DonadoniNY/NJ MetroStars
John HarkesD.C. United

Clean sheets

RankPlayerClubClean
sheets
1 Tony MeolaNY/NJ Metrostars9
2 Mark DoddDallas Burn6
3 Jorge CamposLos Angeles Galaxy4
Brad FriedelColumbus Crew
Aidan HeaneyNew England Revolution
Tom LinerSan Jose Clash
Dave SalzwedelSan Jose Clash
8 Mark DoughertyTampa Bay Mutiny3
Garth LagerwayKansas City Wiz
Mark SimpsonD.C. United

Awards

Individual awards

AwardPlayerClub
Most Valuable Player Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny
Defender of the Year John DoyleSan Jose Clash
Goalkeeper of the Year Mark DoddDallas Burn
Coach of the Year Thomas RongenTampa Bay Mutiny
Rookie of the Year Steve RalstonTampa Bay Mutiny
Scoring Champion Roy LassiterTampa Bay Mutiny
Goal of the Year Eric WynaldaSan Jose Clash

Best XI

GoalkeeperDefendersMidfieldersForwards
Mark Dodd, Dallas Leonel Álvarez, Dallas
John Doyle, San Jose
Robin Fraser, LA Galaxy		 Mauricio Cienfuegos, LA Galaxy
Roberto Donadoni, MetroStars
Marco Etcheverry, D.C. United
Preki, Kansas City
Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay		 Eduardo Hurtado, LA Galaxy
Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay

Player of the Month

MonthPlayerClub
April Mauricio CienfuegosLos Angeles Galaxy
May Carlos ValderramaTampa Bay Mutiny
June Eduardo HurtadoLos Angeles Galaxy
July Jason KreisDallas Burn
August Marco EtcheverryD.C. United
September Brad FriedelColumbus Crew

Weekly awards

Attendance

RankTeamGPCumulativeHighLowMean
1Los Angeles Galaxy16462,65092,2168,56128,916
2NY/NJ Metrostars16382,36053,25014,00723,898
3New England Revolution16304,39238,63311,00919,025
4Columbus Crew16303,20231,55012,83218,950
5San Jose Clash16275,71231,72810,89417,232
6Dallas Burn16256,17335,2507,33816,011
7D.C. United16244,19935,0327,36015,262
8Kansas City Wiz16206,04421,1418,06212,878
9Tampa Bay Mutiny16186,85626,4736,28111,679
10Colorado Rapids16163,41321,7116,01310,213
Total1602,785,00192,2166,01317,406

References

External links

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