Hartford Athletic

American soccer team From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hartford Athletic

Hartford Athletic is an American professional soccer team based in Hartford, Connecticut. The club was founded in 2018 and started play in the USL Championship in 2019.[1][2] It is the only pro soccer team in Connecticut as of 2024 (though Connecticut United FC is expected to debut in 2026).

Quick Facts Full name, Founded ...
Hartford Athletic
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Full nameHartford Athletic
FoundedJuly 11, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-07-11)
StadiumTrinity Health Stadium
Capacity5,500
OwnerHartford Sports Group
CEONick Sakiewicz
Head coachBrendan Burke
LeagueUSL Championship
202410th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: DNQ
Websitehartfordathletic.com
Current season
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History

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On July 18, 2018, the USL announced that Hartford, Connecticut would have a USL Championship team, beginning play in 2019.[3] A few months later on September 5, Jimmy Nielsen was named the first head coach for the club.[4] In December 2018, Wojciech Wójcik, Jose Angulo and Alex Dixon were announced as the first signings in club history.[5]

Early struggles

2019

Hartford Athletic's first game in club history was a 2–0 loss to Atlanta United 2.[6] The club proceeded to lose its next seven games, scoring just four goals. However, Hartford picked up their first point in their inaugural home game, a 1–1 draw in front of 11,346 fans at Rentschler Field. The first competitive victory in club history came in the U.S. Open Cup, a 2–1 win over New York Cosmos B.[7] The club finished the 2019 season on a three match unbeaten run, putting them at 17th in the Eastern Conference.

2020

In the COVID-19 affected 2020 season, Hartford finished atop Group F, and hosted St. Louis FC in the first round of the playoffs. However, a late goal from St. Louis eliminated Hartford in their first playoff game.[8][9]

2021

Hartford regressed in 2021, finishing 5th in the Eastern Conference and missed the playoffs by six points.[10]

2022

Hartford finished 10th in the Eastern Conference in 2022, and hosted MLS club New York Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup, losing 2–1.[11]

2023

2023 was the worst season in Hartford Athletic's short history, as the club finish dead last in both the Eastern Conference and league as a whole, as they picked up just 18 points, 23 behind the playoff positions.[12]

Brendan Burke era

2024

On December 12, 2023, Brendan Burke was announced as the new head coach and general manager.[13] The offseason saw a large overhaul of the squad, with 23 new signings before the season, including former Sporting CP goalkeeper Renan Ribeiro and 2017 MLS Cup winner Jay Chapman. Hartford began the 2024 season with back-to-back wins, something they hadn't achieved since September 2022.[14] However, a run of poor form between April and July saw the club pick up just nine points in 15 matches and slip down the table. In mid-summer though, a goalless draw vs. Phoenix Rising on July 26 began a great run for Hartford, as they lost just one of their next 11 matches (a 3–0 loss away at rivals Rhode Island FC). With two matches left in the season, Hartford essentially controlled their own destiny, as two wins would've gotten them into the playoffs. However, a 2–2 draw at Tampa Bay Rowdies and a 3–2 loss at Orange County saw Hartford's season come to an end, as they ultimately finished four points out of the playoffs. At the end of the season, it was announced that Danny Barrera, who had been with the club since its inaugural season in 2019, would not return to the club after the expiration of his contract.[15]

Stadium

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Trinity Health Stadium in 2021

The club plays on the grounds of Trinity Health Stadium, with a capacity of 5,500.[16] The 1935 stadium was renovated and reopened on July 13, 2019, despite the fact the stadium was not completely finished.[17] Lights were completed and first used for the stadium's first night game on September 14, 2019 (Hartford Athletic vs. Louisville City FC).[18]

2024 saw the addition of VIP suites in the south end of the stadium, adding approximately 200 seats.[19]

During the construction of Trinity Health Stadium, Athletic played home games at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. They played their first home game in front of more than 11,000 supporters.[20]

Hartford's first U.S. Open Cup match in 2019, which was also the first win in club history, was played at Al-Marzook Field in West Hartford.[21]

Colors and badge

Hartford Athletic's official colors are green and blue, chosen because of their strong association with the sports teams of Hartford.[22][23] The team's crest and colors were first unveiled in a video on December 6, 2018.[24]

Sponsorship

More information Season, Kit manufacturer ...
Season Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
2019–2021 Germany Adidas Trinity Health of New England[25]
2022– Denmark Hummel[26]
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Players and staff

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Hartford Athletic players before a 2021 match

Current roster

As of March 15, 2025[27]

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

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  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract

Out on loan

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

More information No., Pos. ...
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Team management

More information Front office, Coaching staff ...
Front office
Owners Joseph Calafiore
Bruce Mandell
Scott Schooley
Coaching staff
Head coach Brendan Burke
Assistant coach Aaron Wheeler
Goalkeeper coach Dan Gaspar
Strength & conditioning coach Joe Lucas Santos
Athletic trainer Kevin Hoffmann
Technical director Ray Reid
Technical advisor Paul Buckle
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Last updated: January 7, 2021
Source:

Club captains

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Danny Barrera (pictured in 2021) served as captain from 2020 through 2022.
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Club culture

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Supporters at a 2021 match

Supporters

The supporters for Hartford Athletic are split between five groups based on their geographical location within the state of Connecticut:

  • The 19th Regiment – The first supporters group founded in early 2019 shortly after the announcement of the club. Today, it represents supporters based in the Greater Hartford area and Northern Connecticut.
  • Mad Hat Massive – Independent supporters group representing members from Fairfield and Litchfield counties, with their home pub hosting the official supporters away days watch parties at TK's American Cafe in Danbury where the Jell-O Shot tradition began. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
  • The Boonies – Members of the Mad Hat Massive in the greater Torrington area.
  • Elm City Casuals – Independent supporters based out of the Greater New Haven area. They’re independent. They like pizza and riding trains. Members of the Independent Supporters’ Council.
  • East Side Rising – Supporters group founded in 2020 to represent Eastern Connecticut, nicknamed "A Family of Fans."
  • Raza Brava – Latino-centric supporters group representing the greater Hartford area.

Each group is separately managed but they stand and chant together on the east end of Trinity Health Stadium for home matches.

Starting in the 2022 season, the 19th Regiment, Mad Hat Massive and the Elm City Casuals will unite as one group, called The Bonanza

Among the notable chants used is the "Brass Bonanza," a melody sung by the supporters groups after scoring a goal, which was also used for the former NHL team in the city, the Hartford Whalers, for the same circumstances. The groups also use Bob Marley's classic "Three Little Birds" for the beginning of matches and when the opposing team scores. [28]

Rivals

In the early years, the club didn't have much of a direct rival, with New York Red Bulls II being the only nearby club. However with the addition of Rhode Island FC in 2024, the two sides developed a natural regional rivalry, being the only two USL Championship clubs in New England. In 2024, the two sides played to a 1–1 draw in Hartford, before Rhode Island won 3–0 in the reverse fixture.[29][30]

Hartford Athletic have never played Hartford City FC, a local NPSL club that has played at Trinity Health Stadium, in a competitive match.

In the 2023 U.S. Open Cup third round, Hartford Athletic played away at New England Revolution in the first competitive match against another team from New England. Hartford lost 2–1.[31][32]

The 2025 season will see Hartford Athletic play another New England team, Portland Hearts of Pine, in the USL Cup group stage.[33]

Women's team

On June 8, 2021, Hartford Athletic announced they will be fielding a women's side to compete in the new USL W League beginning in 2022.[34] The team, which plays under the AC Connecticut name, has never made the playoffs.

List of seasons

More information Year, League ...
Year League Reg. Season Playoffs
2022 USL W League 5th Metropolitan DNQ
2023 USL W League 8th Metropolitan DNQ
2024 USL W League 7th Metropolitan DNQ
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Under-19 team

The Hartford Athletic U19 team plays in the United Premier Soccer League New England Conference.

Team records

Year-by-year

As of March 18, 2025
More information Season, USL Championship ...
Season USL Championship Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer
P W L D GF GA Pts Position Player Goals
2019 34 8 21 5 49 80 29 17th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round Poland Wojciech Wojcik 7
2020 16 11 3 2 31 24 35 1st, Group F Conference Quarterfinals Not played United States Alex Dixon 6
2021 32 12 15 5 50 50 41 5th, Atlantic Did not qualify Not played Honduras Juan Carlos Obregón Jr. 10
2022 34 10 18 6 47 57 36 10th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round Cuba Ariel Martínez 9
2023 34 4 24 6 40 79 18 12th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round Liberia Prince Saydee 10
2024 34 12 14 8 37 51 44 10th, Eastern Did not qualify Third round Senegal Mamadou Dieng 11
2025 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 9th, Eastern TBD Second round Nigeria Adewale Obalola
Senegal Mamadou Dieng
Democratic Republic of the Congo Michee Ngalina
1
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Head coaches

  • Includes USL regular season, USL playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
More information Coach, Nationality ...
Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Loss Draw Win %
Jimmy Nielsen  Denmark September 5, 2018 October 27, 2019 369225025.00
Radhi Jaïdi  Tunisia November 8, 2019 October 19, 2020 171142064.71
Harry Watling  England January 13, 2021 June 25, 2022 4916258032.65
Ray Reid (interim)  United States June 25, 2022 August 22, 2022 13463030.77
Tab Ramos  United States August 22, 2022 June 26, 2023 246144025.00
Omid Namazi  United States June 26, 2023 November 1, 2023 182142011.11
Brendan Burke  United States December 12, 2023 present 3512158034.29
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Average attendance

More information Year, Reg. Season ...
Year Reg. Season Playoffs
2019 5,025
2020 1,351 2,194
2021 3,780
2022 4,956
2023 4,881
2024 4,993
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See also

References

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