Early years .281995.E2.80.931999.29 History of D.C. United

1 years (1995–1999)

1.1 d.c. awarded inaugural mls franchise
1.2 immediate success (1996–99)

1.2.1 1996: debut double
1.2.2 1997: back-to-back league titles
1.2.3 1998: international glory
1.2.4 1999: rongen steps in

early years (1995–1999)
d.c. awarded inaugural mls franchise

prior 1994 fifa world cup, united states soccer federation fulfilled promises fifa aiding in foundation of new professional league. on june 15, 1994, major league soccer selected washington, d.c. out of twenty-two applicants host 1 of first 7 franchises, 3 more added before league s launch. once mls franchise awarded washington, new management had name it. in keeping sports naming conventions in united states, earliest efforts entailed area s name followed mascot. ideas included spies , americans , eagles . eventually, however, new team s operators decided name team d.c. united . name united alluded well-known european club names such leeds , manchester united, , reflected team s location in capital of united states.

the team s colors , original logo, along of other ten original teams, announced on october 17, 1995, during presentation in new york city. black , white d.c. united s primary colors, though team s nickname black-and-red. red used accent home jersey while white main color of team s away kit. 3 stripes along shoulder, in white @ home , black on road (and on front of shirt itself), not represent 3 jurisdictions of washington metropolitan area washington, d.c., virginia, , maryland, reflect team s kits made adidas. team s shirt sponsor leidos. in 2011, team introduced predominantly red third kit black accents worn 4 or more times in season. team has used white away uniforms red stripes. white , red colors of flag of washington, d.c., , stripes reminiscent of used on flag. goalkeepers distinguish red or green colored shirt.

the team s original shield implemented in 1996 consisting of team s name, d.c. united, above black bald eagle facing right on red field, clutching in talons 3 soccer balls overlaid on 3 white stars. 3 stars , balls again intended represent region s 3 jurisdictions. eagle – national bird of united states – symbolizes many of attributes of team, including speed , power. original logo redesigned before 1998 season. current design reoriented eagle facing left, , removed 3 stars below it, metaphor retained 3 raised wing feathers. @ center of eagle single gold colored star , soccer ball, represents team s victory in major league soccer s inaugural cup in 1996. logo can adorned 4 gold stars above it, representing mls cups team has won.

immediate success (1996–99)
1996: debut double

d.c. united played first mls match on april 6, 1996, against san jose clash (now earthquakes). in first game, score remained tied @ 0–0 until last minutes of regulation time, when san jose s attacker, eric wynalda, scored first goal in league history , sent united first defeat. d.c. united lost next 3 games , found in last place in both eastern division , in overall standings.

united managed, however, turn fortunes , qualify playoffs 16–16 record. team entered playoffs considerable momentum, , managed win eastern conference title upset win on supporters shield winners, tampa bay mutiny. in inaugural mls cup championship match, united took on western conference champions, los angeles galaxy. in championship match, united fell 0–2 deficit, regained form in second half, united rallied 3–2 golden goal victory , championship. additionally, united became first sports team in washington, d.c. area in 4 years win league championship. united thereafter accomplished double , adding domestic (u.s. open cup) championship 3–0 victory on rochester. crowd of 8,000 @ hand see open cup final not exceeded until 2009, when united hosted open cup against seattle. united s double first time professional american soccer club won both league , domestic championship since new bedford whalers did in 1932.

1997: back-to-back league titles

in 1997, club s success highlighted winning both mls cup , supporters shield, has been accomplished 5 times in league history. team s second year saw united compete, in addition major league soccer, in u.s. open cup , concacaf champions cup.

on august 12, 1997, united play first international opponent, trinidad , tobago s united petrotrin in concacaf quarterfinals. there, 84th-minute goal marco etcheverry gave club 1–0 win, , spot in concacaf semifinals, united face familiar foe, los angeles galaxy. played once again @ washington, d.c. s rfk stadium, galaxy s cobi jones netted once in 10th minute of play, giving visitors advantage. jones goal, decisive factor in match, united fell in semifinals, , play mexico s guadalajara in consolation match. third place game, ended in 2–2 draw between clubs, , third place shared.

1998: international glory

by winning 1997 mls cup, d.c. united earned second consecutive berth concacaf champions cup. in 1998, tournament held mid-season in united states, , club made priority earn north american title. following lopsided quarterfinal 8–0 victory on trindiadian side joe public, united earned demifinal matchup against 1997 mexican invierno champions, león, defeating club leon 2–0 on goals roy lassiter.

in 1998 final, united went against deportivo toluca, 1998 mexican vernao champions. in front of crowd of 12,607 41st-minute goal united s eddie pope gave united first, , date, concacaf title. united became first sports franchise in washington, d.c. metropolitan area earn continental honor, , first american , mls club win concacaf title. date, united 1 of 2 american soccer clubs have won concacaf club title.

united s continental success culminated in 1998 copa interamericana, now-defunct playoff series between concacaf , conmebol champions determine best soccer club in americas. winners of 1998 champions cup, united earned berth series take on vasco da gama of brazil. in first leg of series, played @ rfk stadium, vasco da gama earned 1–0 lead in series. return match, played in december 1998 held @ lockhart stadium in fort lauderdale, florida. in match, united earned 2–0 win , 2–1 advantage in aggregates win series , final interamericana title.

despite 2 major continental titles in 1998, united failed win mls trophy first time. finishing second best regular season record, united fell 10 points shy of los angeles galaxy in competition best record. united earned way 1998 mls cup final through shoot-out on miami fusion in eastern conference semifinals, , 2–1 series victory on columbus crew, united s third consecutive eastern conference championship. taking on upstart expansion side, chicago fire, united shut out 0–2 loss against fire team s first mls cup loss.

1999: rongen steps in

bruce arena had been d.c. united s coach beginning, in october 1998, arena left team direct u.s. men s national team. replace arena, united turned thomas rongen, had won coach of year honors head of tampa bay mutiny in mls s inaugural season. rongen guided united successful season, , victory in 1999 mls cup in foxboro, massachusetts.