Minnesota soccer fans can rejoice now that the news came out that Minnesota United FC will join Major League Soccer as an expansion team in the 2017 season after years as a lower level NASL team.
MN United is the newest professional soccer team that will add to the state's history in the sport that goes back 40 years to the emergence of the Minnesota Kicks. Here's a look back at the state's pro soccer franchises.
In 1976, Minnesota joined the world of soccer when a group investors, including Jack Crocker of Super Valu, bought and moved the failing Denver Dynamo franchise and renamed it the Kicks. The Kicks would join the Twins and Vikings as Met Stadium tenants. Off the field, tailgating became a popular pastime since the team offered free parking. On the field, the Kicks had considerable success, winning four consecutive Western Division titles and advanced to the Soccer Bowl in their first year. They lost to the Toronto Metros. Those who did see the games instead of tailgating saw players such as Alan Willey, Alan Merrick, Ron Futcher, Patrick (Ace) Ntsoelengue, Alan West and a man who backed up goalkeeper Geoff Barnett who would become popular years later with the second pro soccer entry the Strikers, Tino Letteri.
The Kicks would fold in 1981 but pro soccer would return three years later in 1984 when the Strikers, owned by then Miami Dolphins owner Joe Robbie and his wife Elizabeth moved the team from Fort Lauderdale to Minnesota. After playing seven seasons at Lockhart Stadium, which was used primarily for high school sports, the team played in the cavernous Metrodome. Unfortunately, the NASL went out of business after the 1984 season but the Strikers survived and played the next four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. The Strikers would play their home games at Met Center. Merrick and Willey would be part of the Strikers success. Merrick was the head coach and Willey would emerge as one of their top players. Letteri would also join his former Kicks teammates and become the team's starting goalie. He would be introduced by Public address announcers Rod Trongaard and Don Michaels as "The King of the Keepers." Letteri, who later went into the food business, kept a stuffed parrot named Ozzie in the goal for luck.
The Strikers most successful season was the 1985-86 season where they advanced to the MISL finals against the powerhouse San Diego Sockers. In addition to Willey, there were outstanding players such as David (Budgie) Byrne, Jan Goosens, Ray Hudson and a native of Stillwater, MN Gregg Thompson. Playing before a packed Met Center crowd, the Strikers could not solve the Sockers "No Goal Patrol" and came up short in the finals.
But reality set in over the next two seasons as financial losses and low attendance took a toll on the Robbie family and the Strikers. Not even a group called "Save our Strikers" could save the franchise and it folded in 1988.
In 1990, the state's most successful pro soccer franchise would be born, the Minnesota Thunder. After four seasons as an independent team, they would join the US Interregional Soccer League. Playing their home games at the National Sports Center in Blaine, the Thunder would win the league title in 1999. They would also play the home games at Griffin Stadium at St. Paul Central High School and occasionally the Metrodome. The Thunder would cease operations after the 2009 season.
The following season, Minnesota United FC replaced the Thunder. Beginning as the Stars, the team adopted its current name in 2013. Next season they will join Major League Soccer and play at TCF Bank Stadium on the University of Minnesota campus before moving into a soccer specific stadium in 2018.
Can pro soccer in Minnesota survive again? Find out in 2017.
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