California Victory
Encyclopedia
The California Victory was a USL First Division
professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California
. It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés
withdrew its support.
, had officially acquired a USL First Division franchise beginning in the 2007 season. The Victory was the first European owned team to compete in any level of the United Soccer Leagues
, and also the first USL First Division team in California since the demise of the San Diego Flash
in 2001. The club played at Kezar Stadium
, the former home of the Oakland Raiders
and San Francisco 49ers
.
, the capital city of both the province of Álava
and the Basque Country
of Spain
.
. The team was managed and coached by Glenn Van Straatum
, while US international Hugo Perez was as an assistant.
California Victory Supporters Association (CVSA) was the official supporters club of the Victory. Seeing a need for community support of the club, several loyal 1906ers met at The Pig & Whistle with members of the Victory front office. There, the attending 1906ers established the CVSA. Through the sales of handmade merchandise and community outreach, the CVSA had effectively created a fan base for the Victory.
and influenced by My Football Club. They were however ultimately unsuccessful.
Ricardo Sanchez
Josh Hansen
Patrick Ianni
Mike Munoz Mike Randolph
Josh Tudela
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
professional soccer team based in San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. It was an expansion team for the 2007 season, but ceased operation in September of that year after parent club Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
withdrew its support.
History
On October 12, 2006, USL President Francisco Marcos announced Dmitry Piterman, a Ukrainian American and chairman of Spanish club Deportivo AlavésDeportivo Alavés
Deportivo Alavés, S.A.D., usually abbreviated to Alavés, is a Spanish football club based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country. Founded in 1921, it plays in Segunda División B, holding home matches at the 19,500-seater Estadio Mendizorrotza....
, had officially acquired a USL First Division franchise beginning in the 2007 season. The Victory was the first European owned team to compete in any level of the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
, and also the first USL First Division team in California since the demise of the San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash
San Diego Flash is an American soccer team based in San Diego, California, United States. Founded in 1998, the team returned to competitive play in 2011 when it made its debut in the Southwest Flight of the West Division of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer...
in 2001. The club played at Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium
Kezar Stadium is a stadium located adjacent to Kezar Pavilion in the southeastern corner of Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, California. It is the former home of the Oakland Raiders and the San Francisco 49ers of the NFL, and of the San Francisco Dragons of MLL. It also served as the home of the...
, the former home of the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Name
The name Victory is derived from Alavés’ home city of Vitoria-GasteizVitoria-Gasteiz
Vitoria-Gasteiz is the capital city of the province of Álava and of the autonomous community of the Basque Country in northern Spain with a population of 235,661 people. It is the second largest Basque city...
, the capital city of both the province of Álava
Álava
Álava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
and the Basque Country
Basque Country (autonomous community)
The Basque Country is an autonomous community of northern Spain. It includes the Basque provinces of Álava, Biscay and Gipuzkoa, also called Historical Territories....
of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
.
Management
Terry Fisher, a longtime soccer executive and coach, was the team's first general managerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
. The team was managed and coached by Glenn Van Straatum
Glenn van Straatum
Glenn Van Straatum is a soccer manager and former Surinamese football midfielder and forward. He was appointed as the manager of the California Victory, a new expansion franchise in the USL Division 1 for 2007...
, while US international Hugo Perez was as an assistant.
Supporters
1906 Supporters was the blanket term for the supporters of the California Victory. The term 1906 referred to the 1906 earthquake and fire of San Francisco. The 1906 had its roots in early fan support of the San Francisco Seals soccer team and the San Jose Earthquakes, who were on hiatus from MLS when the Victory began play. They were identifiable by their custom t-shirts, colorful chants and banners draped over the rails.California Victory Supporters Association (CVSA) was the official supporters club of the Victory. Seeing a need for community support of the club, several loyal 1906ers met at The Pig & Whistle with members of the Victory front office. There, the attending 1906ers established the CVSA. Through the sales of handmade merchandise and community outreach, the CVSA had effectively created a fan base for the Victory.
SaveTheVictory.org
SaveTheVictory.org was a movement set in motion by the Victory's official supporters club, the CVSA. The goal of the group was to raise enough money by accepting memberships to purchase the club, an ownership model based on the NFL's Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and influenced by My Football Club. They were however ultimately unsuccessful.
Final Squad
vs. Carolina RailHawks, 8 September 2007Notable former players
Juan Epitié José RetizJosé Retiz
José Retiz is a Mexican footballer. He currently plays as a midfielder for California Victory in the USL First Division.Retiz played collegiate soccer for Rancho Santiago Junior College in Santa Ana, California...
Ricardo Sanchez
Ricardo Sánchez (footballer)
Ricardo Sánchez is a Mexican footballer currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the USSF Division 2 Professional League.-Club:...
Josh Hansen
Josh Hansen
Josh Hansen is an American-born Puerto Rican international football player who currently plays for the Puerto Rico Islanders of the North American Soccer League.-College:...
Patrick Ianni
Patrick Ianni
Patrick Edward Joseph Ianni is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
Mike Munoz Mike Randolph
Mike Randolph
Mike Randolph is an American soccer player currently playing for Los Angeles Blues in the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
Josh Tudela
Josh Tudela
Josh Tudela is an American soccer player currently playing for the Los Angeles Blues of the USL Professional Division.-College and Amateur:...
- See also: All-time California Victory rosterAll-time California Victory rosterThis list comprises all players who participated in at least one league match for California Victory during their only season in the USL in 2007. Players who were on the roster but never played a first team game are not listed; players who appeared for the team in other competitions but never...
Year-By-Year
| Year | League | Reg.Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | USL First Division | 12th | Did not qualify | 3rd Round |