Well, well, well… It seems as though our sources were correct about Chattanooga FC’s negotiations to schedule friendlies with two pro teams. We have confirmation that the two teams CFC is working with are the Charlotte Eagles, of the USL, and F.C. Atlas, of Mexico’s Primera Division. Wow.
Now, to be fair, it looks like neither deal is locked up, but are still looking very positive. We suppose that the game with Atlas would be the riskier of the two — coordinating an international match and with a team who might in all likelihood pound us. But we have to say that for us soccer faithfuls here in Chattaboogie, this is the most exciting thing to happen since the US Women’s National Team played here or even since the MLS did an exhibition doubleheader for Finley’s grand opening ceremonies (anyone remember Valderrama or Alexi Lalas?)!
A quick look at the two teams:
F.C. Atlas
Futbol Club Atlas is one of three teams that play in Mexico’s second largest city, Guadalajara, along with C.D. Guadalajara and Estudiantes Tecos in the Primera División de México. The club shares its home stadium, Estadio Jalisco, with C.D. Guadalajara. They were founded in 1916 and are currently chaired by Chairman Carlos Martin del Campo and coached by Carlos Ischia.
They finished 16th in the Primera División in Clausura 2009 and are currently ranked 9th in points in the current Clausura season (out of 24 teams). Atlas won the Primera División in 1950-51 and the Copa México four times, they have also won the Campeón de Campeones four times, with the most recent win being in 1961-62.
Charlotte Eagles
The Charlotte Eagles began in 1993 when the they began play as a USL Franchise in the USL’s Premier Development League. 17 years later, the Charlotte Eagles Soccer Club is now one of the USL’s oldest and most successful clubs in North America. The Eagles have been in that division, the USL-2, for nine of the last 14 years. After winning the USL Second Division in 2000, the Eagles moved up to the top tier (USL First Division) for three seasons.
The Eagles have been in the playoffs an amazing 14 of their 16 seasons in the USL. They have reached the championship final seven times, winning the USL-2 Title in 2000 and 2005. The Eagles have only had two head coaches, Brian Davidson (1993-1996) and Mark Steffens (1997-Present), and two general managers, Tim Donelli (1993-1996) and Tom Engstrom (1997-Present).
Charlotte finished third out of nine teams in USL Division 2 last year. Their USL season starts April 17 against the Charleston Battery. Notable is the Eagles preseason game against the MLS’s New England Revolution on March 14, 2010. The Eagles lost 2-0.
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