Austin Aztex FC

Austin Aztex

Full name	Austin Aztex FC
Nickname(s)	Aztex, The RAW
Founded	2008
Dissolved	2010 (move to Orlando)
Stadium	House Park Austin, Texas
Ground Capacity	6,500
Owner	Phil Rawlins
Head Coach	Adrian Heath
League	USSF Division 2 Professional League
2010	Regular Season: 2nd, USL Overall: 2nd Playoffs: Quarterfinals
Home colors Away colors

For the current United Soccer League club, see Austin Aztex.

Austin Aztex FC was an American professional soccer team based in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the USL First Division, and in the USL Division of the USSF D2 Pro League, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. In October 2010, the Aztex were relocated to Orlando, Florida and became Orlando City after Orlando USL's rights were purchased by Phil Rawlins. The team was resurrected in 2011 by minority owner David Markley as the Austin Aztex, which began play in the USL Premier Development League in 2012 and moved to United Soccer League in 2014.

The team played its home games at Nelson Field, and House Park in Austin. The team's colors were red and white. Their head coach was Englishman and former English football league player Adrian Heath.

History

The club was owned by English-born Austin businessman Phil Rawlins. Originally from the UK, Rawlins serves on the board of English Premier League club Stoke City. Austin and Stoke had a formal partnership which included sharing training information and players, with Austin acting as a potential player resource for Stoke.

Immediately after announcing their intention to join USL1, the Aztex purchased the 2008 USL PDL expansion side Austin Stampede and rebranded it as Austin Aztex U23. Wolfgang Suhnholz was named coach of the U23 team, which commenced play in 2008.

On August 8, 2008, the Aztex announced 2008 PDL Goalkeeper of the Year and former Austin Aztex U23 player, Miguel Gallardo, as their first professional signing for the 2009 season. Gallardo is signed with the team through 2011.

The Aztex began their inaugural season as a professional team by playing 4 MLS teams in preseason exhibition matches. The first three games were held in Austin at Nelson Field while the fourth MLS match was in Rio Tinto Stadium on the MLS opening weekend. A fifth exhibition match was scheduled against the CONCACAF semi-finalist Puerto Rico Islanders in between their home and away series against Cruz Azul.

On May 19, 2010, Austin played the Tampa Bay Rowdies in front of 6,051 fans, their largest home crowd in franchise history.

On October 22, 2010, an article was published that indicated that the team was likely to move to Orlando, Florida, for the 2011 season. This was confirmed on October 25, as the team became Orlando City SC

Players

Final roster

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Miguel Gallardo 2 DF Mechack Jérôme 3 DF Wes Allen 4 MF Ian Fuller 5 DF Kieron Bernard 6 DF Lance Watson 10 MF Yordany Álvarez 11 FW Maxwell Griffin 12 DF Leonard Griffin 13 MF Lawrence Olum 15 DF Kevin Sakuda

No. Position Player 16 MF Michael Callahan 18 DF Joey Worthen 20 FW Randi Patterson 21 GK Sean Kelley 23 FW Kendal McFayden 24 MF Tyler Hemming 25 DF Sam Brill 33 DF Jay Needham 61 MF Stephan Campbell 77 FW Jamie Watson

Staff

• Adrian Heath – Head Coach
• Bobby Murphy – Assistant Coach
• David Winner – Goalkeeping Coach
• Shermin Patel – Athletic Trainer
• See also: All-time Austin Aztex roster

Year-by-Year

Year	Division	League	Regular Season	Playoffs	Open Cup	Avg. Attendance
2009	2	USL First Division	10th	Did not qualify	3rd Round	2,974
2010	2	USSF D-2 Pro League	2nd, USL (3rd)	Quarterfinals	3rd Round	3,733

Head coaches

• Adrian Heath (2009–2010)

Stadiums

• Nelson Field; Austin, Texas (2009)
• House Park; Austin, Texas (2010)

See also

• Austin Aztex 2009 season
• Austin Aztex U23
• Austin Lightning
• Austin Aztex (2012–)