The Tampa Bay Mutiny was an American soccer club that competed in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top tier soccer league in the United States and Canada. The team played for six seasons from the inaugural MLS season of 1996 through 2001, after which the franchise went defunct. [1]
The MLS season typically runs from February to October, and the best-performing team in the regular season is awarded the Supporters' Shield. The top teams from each conference qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs, a postseason tournament that culminates in the MLS Cup. [2] [3] The Mutiny won the Supporters' Shield in the inaugural season, although this was awarded retroactively as the trophy itself was not created until 1999. [4] In addition to league play, the Mutiny competed in the annual U.S. Open Cup tournament organized by the United States Soccer Federation. [5]
A total of 80 players appeared in MLS matches for the club, including 7 different goalkeepers. Additionally, Matt Nyman appeared for the club in the 2001 U.S. Open Cup. In its six seasons, the club's record was 83 wins, 98 losses, and six draws over 187 games. [6] The club ceased operations immediately after the 2001 season along with the Miami Fusion in the league's first contraction. The Mutiny had failed to attract an investor-operator, and was run by the league at a loss. Nick Sackiewicz, a former general manager for the Mutiny, blamed the lack of fan support for the failure of both teams. The league dispersed the teams' players in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft on February 10, 2002. [7]
A Major League Soccer club's active roster consists of up to 30 players. All 30 players are eligible for selection to each 18-player game-day squad during the regular season and playoffs. [8] Players who were contracted to the club but never played a regular season MLS game are not listed below.
All statistics are for MLS regular season games only.
Key
DF = Defender
MF = Midfielder
FW = Forward/striker
The Tampa Bay Mutiny had three primary goalkeepers in league play. American Mark Dougherty appeared in 54 games over the team's first two seasons, conceding 92 goals and keeping six clean sheets. [84] He was acquired by the Columbus Crew after the 1997 season in the waiver draft, after which the club was allocated Swedish international goalkeeper Thomas Ravelli. [85] [86] Ravelli appeared in 23 games, which was two short of the threshold for an automatic contract renewal, and he left the club at the end of the season. [87] From the 1999 season to the 2001 season, Scott Garlick played 74 games, conceding 121 goals and keeping 11 clean sheets. [88] As of the 2024 season, Garlick holds the league record for the most saves in a season (184 in 2000) and the fifth-most saves in a season (152 in 1999). [5]
Name | Country | Years | Games | Conceded | Shutouts [nb 1] | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adin Brown | ![]() | 2001 | 13 | 33 | 2 | [89] |
Scott Budnick | ![]() | 1996–1997 | 13 | 19 | 2 | [90] |
Mark Dougherty | ![]() | 1996–1997 | 54 | 92 | 6 | [84] |
Scott Garlick | ![]() | 1999–2001 | 74 | 121 | 11 | [88] |
Andy Kirk | ![]() | 1999 | 6 | 14 | 0 | [91] |
Doug Petras | ![]() | 1998 | 12 | 19 | 1 | [92] |
Thomas Ravelli | ![]() | 1998 | 23 | 38 | 2 | [93] |
In addition to competing in Major League Soccer every year, the Mutiny participated in other competitions such as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and the CONCACAF Champions League. Below is a list of players who did not appear in a league match, but played for the team in other competitions.
Name | Position | Country | Years | Competitions | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Matt Nyman | GK | ![]() | 2001 | 2001 U.S. Open Cup | [94] |