El Paso Locomotive FC

Last updated

El Paso Locomotive FC
El Paso Locomotive FC logo.svg
FoundedMarch 1, 2018;7 years ago (2018-03-01)
Stadium Southwest University Park
Capacity7,500
OwnerMountainStar Sports Group
Head coach Wilmer Cabrera
League USL Championship
2024 12th, Western Conference
Playoffs:DNQ
Website eplocomotivefc.com
Soccerball current event.svg Current season

El Paso Locomotive FC is an American professional soccer team based in El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2018, the team made its debut in the USL Championship in 2019.

Contents

History

First Season

In February 2018, the United Soccer League announced that El Paso was selected as an expansion team for the 2019 USL Championship season. The club will be run by MountainStar Sports Group. [1] [2] In June 2018, El Paso announced the signing of their first player, Omar Salgado. [3] In July 2018, El Paso announced that their first head coach would be Mark Lowry, who had previously coached NASL's Jacksonville Armada FC. [4] After a 34-game season, El Paso Locomotive FC qualified for the USL Championship play-offs, reaching the Western Conference finals before falling 2–1 to the Real Monarchs. [5]

2020

With COVID-19 shutting down many organizations worldwide, USL followed suit on March 12, 2020, announcing the season would be temporarily suspended. [6] In June 2020, USL Championship announced their return to play would be in an altered format of four team groups, competing for a spot in the playoffs starting in July 2020. [7] After the shortened season, El Paso Locomotive FC qualified for the playoffs advancing to the Western Conference Finals for a second year in a row, before falling to Phoenix Rising FC 4–2 in a shootout. [8]

Historical chart of El Paso Locomotive's regular season performance within the American soccer pyramid El Paso Locomotive FC Historical League Performance.png
Historical chart of El Paso Locomotive's regular season performance within the American soccer pyramid

2021–2024

The 2021 USL Championship season returned to normal scheduling, consisting of a 32 game season, after which El Paso Locomotive FC qualified for their third straight playoffs, [9] but failing to get past the first round, falling to the Oakland Roots 1–0. [10] Though they fell out of the playoffs in the first round, El Paso had a great season, with Coach Lowry and six players being chosen for the USL Copa XI. [11] El Paso earned the title of best Division II team in Texas by winning the Copa Tejas Trophy. [12] In addition, El Paso was recognized as the most successful club in Texas, winning the inaugural Copa Tejas Shield. [13] Coach Lowry announced on November 15, 2021 that he would be leaving El Paso Locomotive FC. [14]

In December 2021, El Paso Locomotive FC announced they had hired John Hutchinson as their head coach going into the 2022 USL Championship season. [15] 2022 was again a 34 game season for the USL Championship, but for the first time in club history, El Paso failed to make the playoffs, finishing eight in the Western Conference. [16] After the 2022 season, Coach Hutchinson stepped down as coach to return with his family back to Australia. [17]

In January 2023, El Paso Locomotive announced they had hired Brian Clarhaut as their head coach going into the 2023 USL Championship season. [18] After a 34 game season, El Paso finished in 7th place in the Western Conference, qualifying for the playoffs before losing to Orange County SC 1–0 in the Western Conference quarterfinals. [19]

In the 2024 season El Paso started with a 1–8–2 record in their first eleven games. On May 17, the team announced they had parted ways with head coach Brian Clarhaut and assistant coach Jon Burklo. [20]

Club crest and colors

The Locomotive brand was unveiled on October 4, 2018, beating out finalists Lagartos, Estrellas, Stars, and Tejanos. [21] The crest is shaped in a manner similar to Mission Style buildings and features three main colors: West Texas Sky blue, Desert Dusk blue, and High Noon Sun. The crest has 11 vertical stripes that represent the eleven players on the field and resemble the front of a locomotive. A city icon, The Star on The Mountain, adorns the top of the crest, which is shaped in the silhouette of the Franklin Mountains. [22] [23]

Sponsorship

PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
2019–2020 BLK Southwest University
2021–2023 Adidas [24]
2024–present Hummel

Stadium

The club play at Southwest University Park, a baseball stadium in Downtown El Paso that is also the home field for the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Pacific Coast League.

Rivalries

El Paso's primary rivals are New Mexico United [25] [26] and FC Juárez. [27]

Players and staff

Roster

As of March 5, 2025 [28]

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

No.Pos.NationPlayer
1 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Sebastián Mora
3 DF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Wahab Ackwei
5 DF Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Tony Alfaro
6 MF Flag of El Salvador.svg  SLV Eric Calvillo
7 GK Flag of the United States.svg  USA Bryan Romero(on loan from FC Juárez)
8 MF Flag of Sierra Leone.svg  SLE Frank Daroma
9 FW Flag of Cuba.svg  CUB Frank López
10 FW Flag of El Salvador.svg  SLV Amando Moreno
11 FW Flag of South Africa.svg  RSA Tumi Moshobane
12 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Ricky Ruiz
13 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Andy Cabrera
14 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Beto Avila
15 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Noah Dollenmayer
No.Pos.NationPlayer
16 DF Flag of Brazil.svg  BRA Gabi Torres
18 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Alvaro Quezada
20 FW Flag of Honduras.svg  HON Daniel Carter(on loan from Real C.D. España)
21 MF Flag of Ghana.svg  GHA Kofi Twumasi
23 GK Flag of Jamaica.svg  JAM Jahmali Waite
24 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Memo Diaz
25 DF Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Arturo Ortiz
28 FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Omar Mora
29 DF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Kenneth Hoban
30 MF Flag of the United States.svg  USA Robert Coronado
31 FW Flag of Mexico.svg  MEX Emiliano Rodriguez
— FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Axel Valdivia [A]
— FW Flag of the United States.svg  USA Raul Vazquez [A]
  1. ^
    USL Academy Contract


Front-office staff

Technical staff

Team records

Year-by-year

As of October 26, 2024
Season USL Championship Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top scorer 1 Head coach
PWLDGFGAPtsPosPlayerGoals
2019 341310114236506th, WesternConference Final 2nd round Flag of the United States.svg Jerome Kiesewetter 12 Flag of England.svg Mark Lowry
2020 169252414324th, Western
1st, Group C		Conference Final Cancelled Flag of Mexico.svg Aarón Gómez 5
2021 32184105634642nd, Western
1st, Mountain Division		Conference Quarterfinals Cancelled Flag of Mexico.svg Aarón Gómez
Flag of Argentina.svg Luis Solignac 		10
2022 34131475652468th, WesternDid not qualify Second Round Flag of Argentina.svg Luis Solignac 16 Flag of Malta.svg John Hutchinson
2023 34131384151477th, WesternConference Quarterfinals Second Round Flag of Argentina.svg Luis Solignac 9 Flag of the United States.svg Brian Clarhaut
2024 34818827463212th, WesternDid not qualify Third Round Flag of the United States.svg Amando Moreno 6 Flag of the United States.svg Brian Clarhaut
Flag of Colombia.svg Wilmer Cabrera
Total184746149246233271–––Luis Solignac35–
Notes

^ 1. Top scorer includes statistics from league matches only.

Head coaches

CoachNationalityStartEndGamesWinLossDrawWin %
Mark Lowry Flag of England.svg  England July 25, 2018November 15, 2021 [31] 57261516045.61
John Hutchinson Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia December 9, 2021November 15, 2022 [32] 3513157037.14
Brian Clarhaut Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States December 15, 2022 [33] May 17, 2024 [34] 48141123029.17
Wilmer Cabrera Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia May 20, 2024 [35] present18594027.78

Average attendance

YearReg. seasonPlayoffs
2019 [36] 6,5847,460
2020 [a] 1,4581,659
2021 [37] 6,2147,201
2022 [38] 6,517DNQ
2023 [39] 6,590N/A
Notes
  1. ↑ COVID-19

Honors

Minor

Player honors

YearPlayerCountryPositionHonor
2021 Diego Luna Flag of the United States.svg United StatesMidfielderAll-League Second Team

References

  1. ↑ "El Paso Joins the United Soccer League for 2019 Season". Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  2. ↑ "El Paso gets new expansion USL soccer team, will play at Southwest University Park in 2019". Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2018.
  3. ↑ "El Paso USL Announces Omar Salgado as First Player Signing". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. June 13, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  4. ↑ "El Paso USL Names Head Coach and Technical Director". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. July 25, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  5. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive FC Close Out Historic Inaugural Season in The USL Western Conference Final". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. November 9, 2019. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  6. ↑ "USL Championship Temporarily Suspends Play". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. March 12, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  7. ↑ "USL Championship Announces Western Conference Groups". USLChampionship.com. USL Championship. June 25, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Locomotive FC Bows Out of USL Championship Playoffs". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. October 25, 2020. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Always Improving: Locomotive from 2019 to 2021". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. November 1, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  10. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive Fall 1-0 to Oakland Roots SC". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. November 5, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Head Coach Mark Lowry and Six Locomotive Players Highlighed on 2021 Copa XI". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. November 11, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  12. ↑ "Copa Tejas for El Paso". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. October 5, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  13. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive Lifts First Copa Tejas Shield". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. December 20, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Mark Lowry Departs as El Paso Locomotive FC Head Coach and Technical Director". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. November 15, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  15. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive FC Announces John Hutchinson as New Head Coach and Technical Director". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. December 9, 2021. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Locomotive Close Out 2022 Season with Valiant Effort in Florida". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. October 13, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  17. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive FC Head Coach and Technical Director John Hutchinson to Depart Organization". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. November 15, 2022. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Brian Clarhaut Introduced as Head Coach and Technical Director for El Paso Locomotive". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. January 12, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Recap - El Paso Locomotive FC's Season Ends in Conference Quarterfinal". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive FC. October 21, 2023. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  20. ↑ Huichapa, Alberto (May 17, 2024). "El Paso Locomotive FC Announces Departure of Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut". EPLocomotiveFC.com. El Paso Locomotive. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  21. ↑ "El Paso USL: Soccer team nickname will be the Locomotive; logo, crest unveiled". El Paso Times. October 4, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Our Crest". El Paso Locomotive FC. Archived from the original on May 27, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  23. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive FC Rolled Out as City's New Professional Soccer Team" (Press release). El Paso Locomotive FC. October 4, 2018. Archived from the original on October 5, 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018– via Business Wire.
  24. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive FC Launches Partnership with Global Sports Brand Adidas". Archived from the original on October 20, 2021. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
  25. ↑ "One final United-El Paso matchup has big stakes" . Albuquerque Journal . Journal Publishing Company. October 14, 2020. Archived from the original on October 22, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  26. ↑ Morgan, Andy (July 14, 2020). "Locomotive FC set to renew rivalry with New Mexico United". KTSM-TV . Nexstar Media Group. Archived from the original on December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Friendly Rival On The Border". eplocomotivefc.com. February 14, 2019. Archived from the original on June 25, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  28. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive FC Roster". www.uslchampionship.com. USL Championship. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
  29. ↑ Huichapa, Alberto (November 4, 2024). "El Paso Locomotive FC Appoint Ray Saari as Technical Director". El Paso Locomotive FC. Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  30. ↑ "El Paso Locomotive FC Welcome Gerson Echeverry as New Assistant Coach". September 21, 2024. Retrieved September 21, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Locomotive FC Announces Departure of Mark Lowry". November 15, 2021. Archived from the original on November 15, 2021. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
  32. ↑ Huichapa, Alberto (November 15, 2022). "El Paso Locomotive FC Head Coach and Technical Director John Hutchinson to Depart Organization". El Paso Locomotive FC. Archived from the original on December 15, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
  33. ↑ Huichapa, Alberto (December 15, 2022). "El Paso Locomotive Announce Brian Clarhaut as New Head Coach and Technical Director". El Paso Locomotive FC. Archived from the original on December 17, 2022. Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  34. ↑ Huichapa, Alberto (May 17, 2024). "El Paso Locomotive FC Announces Departure of Head Coach and Technical Director Brian Clarhaut". El Paso Locomotive. Retrieved May 18, 2024.
  35. ↑ Huichapa, Alberto (May 20, 2024). "El Paso Locomotive FC Appoint Wilmer Cabrera as New Head Coach". El Paso Locomotive. Retrieved May 20, 2024.
  36. ↑ "2019 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. October 20, 2019. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  37. ↑ "2021 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  38. ↑ "2022 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  39. ↑ "2023 USL Championship Attendance". Soccer Stadium Digest. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
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