News Archive

Tomas Granitto to link up with national team

MIAMI, Fla. (Jan 17, 2020) – The Miami FC will see one of its midfielders take the pitch this weekend, as Tomas Granitto has traveled to California to join the El Salvador national team. 

La azul y blanco will take on Iceland at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA this Sunday at 7 p.m. ET.

“It’s an honor and makes me very proud to get called up for the national team,” said Granitto. “It’s a great test for El Salvador and I’m excited to take part in the friendly. I look forward to representing my country as well as everyone at The Miami FC in the best possible way.”

Granitto made his senior national team debut in March 2019, where he helped El Salvador overcome Peru 2-0 at RFK Stadium in Washington D.C. The 26 year old has also represented El Salvador at the youth level, including the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey, where he participated in all group stage matches.

Granitto will rejoin The Miami FC early next week, as preparations continue for the club’s inaugural USL Championship season.

Lawrence Olum added to roster for 2020

MIAMI, Fla. (January 16, 2020) – Defender Lawrence Olum has signed with The Miami FC* for the upcoming USL Championship season, the club announced on Thursday.

The Kenyan-born defender joins the club after spending the 2019 season with Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United FC, where he featured in 12 matches for the club.

Olum appeared in over 150 MLS matches since 2011, playing for Sporting Kansas City (2011-2016), Portland Timbers (2017-2018) and most recently The Loons. Olum’s versatility will be key in the upcoming season, being able to play as a center back as well as being deployed as a defensive midfielder.

Born in Nairobi, Olum played collegiate soccer at Missouri Baptist University before signing his first professional contract with Portland Timbers in 2007, who at that time played in USL. His career prior to making the jump to MLS included stints with Minnesota Thunder, Austin Aztecs and Orlando City.

“Lawrence is a great addition to Miami FC. He’s had a distinguished career in the MLS. He will add veteran leadership both in the locker room and on the field. On the field he will bring loads of experience that will solidify our backline,” said The Miami FC Head Coach, Nelson Vargas.

Olum’s experience also includes four caps with the Kenyan national team, making his senior debut in a 2014 African Cup of Nations qualifying match.

Olum’s signing follows those of Prince Saydee and Romario Williams, who join an already experienced The Miami FC roster.

*Subject to League and Federation approval

Winger joins from Atlanta SC

MIAMI (January 10, 2020) – Winger Prince Saydee has signed with The Miami FC* for the upcoming USL Championship season, the club announced.

The Liberian international joins from Atlanta SC where he put in a man of the match performance against The Miami FC in a 2-2 tie in October 2019. Previously, Saydee played in his native Liberia and trialled with Slovakian side Slovan Bratislava in 2016.

Blessed with blistering pace, the winger is comfortable operating on either the left or right wing.

Reacting to the signing, Head Coach Nelson Vargas said: “Prince was on our radar when we first scouted Atlanta SC as opponents. He was a real handful in both games we played against them and several of our players said that he had something a bit different.

“He will bring the ability to break lines and drop deep when necessary, but it’s his acceleration and change of speed with the ball that is his main asset. He has great will and desire, whilst remaining extremely humble and these are characteristics befitting of a Miami FC player.

“I’m very happy to have him in the squad and believe he will bring excitement to the team.”

Prince becomes The Miami FC’s second new signing for 2020, having previously announced that forward Romario Williams will join up with the squad for preseason.

*Subject to League and Federation approval

Special 10th anniversary season will see 595 games played

MIAMI (January 9, 2020) The complete schedule for the 10th anniversary season of the USL Championship was announced by the United Soccer League today with 35 teams set to play 595 regular season contests over 33 weeks ahead of the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs that begin in October.

The Miami FC begins its debut season with a road match against Saint Louis FC on Saturday, March 7 before returning to Riccardo Silva Stadium for a Friday night home opener versus state rivals Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 13.

In the 17-team Eastern Conference, the remaining two games of the 34-game regular season will be completed with contests against regional rivals. For Miami FC, we welcome back Tampa Bay Rowdies to Riccardo Silva Stadium on Saturday, April 11 and head to Charleston Battery on Sunday, July 5.

A key date to look out for is Friday, October 9 when The Miami FC’s road match at Pittsburgh Riverheads will be broadcast live on ESPN Deportes having been selected as the game of the week.

Following the conclusion of the regular season, the top 10 teams from both the Eastern and Western Conferences will qualify for the 2020 USL Championship Playoffs, which will open with the Eastern and Western Conference Wild Card Round on Wednesday, October 21. The Eastern and Western Conference Quarterfinals will then be held between October 24-25, the Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals between October 30-November 1 and the Eastern and Western Conference Finals between November 6-8.

The 2020 USL Championship Final to conclude the league’s 10th anniversary season will be held between November 12-16 and aired on an ESPN broadcast network.

2020 USL Championship Key Dates

March 6 – Regular Season Begins
March 7 – Saint Louis FC vs The Miami FC (Season Opener)
March 13 – The Miami FC vs Tampa Bay Rowdies (Home Opener)
October 9 – Pittsburgh Riverhounds vs The Miami FC (Live on ESPN Deportes)
Oct. 17 – Regular Season Concludes
Oct. 21 – Eastern and Western Conference Wild Card Round
Oct. 24-25 – Eastern and Western Conference Quarterfinals
Oct. 30-Nov. 1 – Eastern and Western Conference Semifinals
Nov. 6-8 – Eastern and Western Conference Finals
Nov. 12-16 – 2020 USL Championship Final

Match ticket and season ticket details will be announced shortly. Keep an eye on The Miami FC social channels.

Franco, Griffiths, James, Granitto and González to suit up in 2020

MIAMI (January 9, 2020) The Miami FC roster for the USL Championship debut season is beginning to take shape, with a further five players committing to the club for 2020.

Defenders Marco Franco and Brenton Griffiths, midfielders Brian James and Tomas Granitto and forward Miguel González all return to the club ahead of preseason.

Fan favorite Marco Franco, 28, who signed for The Miami FC in January 2019 was a first-round pick in the MLS SuperDraft, having been selected by Chicago Fire in 2014. He spent one season with Chicago before becoming a staple on Indy Eleven’s back line from 2015 to 2017. The defender made 13 appearances for The Miami FC in 2019.

Jamaican U-20 international Brenton Griffiths was a regular fixture in The Miami FC backline in 2019, making 13 appearances and registering 3 goals. Griffiths, 28, signed for The Miami FC in January 2019 off the back of two successful seasons with Reno 1868, having helped Reno reach the Western Conference Semifinals in 2018.

Brian James returns for a third spell with The Miami FC. The 26-year-old midfielder was drafted out of college by Toronto FC in the 2016 MLS SuperDraft. James’ father, Alvin, played professional soccer for Fort Lauderdale Strikers.

Midfielder Tomas Granitto spent time with FC Edmonton, Swope Park Rangers (now fellow USL Championship side Sporting Kansas City II) and Portland Timbers II. After a season with Miami United FC, Granitto, 26, signed for The Miami FC in January 2019. He would later go on to make his international debut for the El Salvador national team in March 2019.

A native of Mexico, Miguel González, 29, spent the first two years of his professional career in the PDL with Seattle Sounders II and the Kitsap Pumas. He then moved to the USL with the Colorado Springs Switchbacks before joining Oklahoma City Energy FC in 2017, where he spent two seasons and made 46 appearances. In 2019, González’s racked up 22 goals, setting a new single calendar year record for goals scored by a Miami FC player.

Ahead of the return to preseason next week, Head Coach Nelson Vargas said: “I’m ecstatic that we have been able to maintain the core of the team. The value of having players who have worn the crest and who embody The Miami FC DNA help with our transition to a new league.

“Retaining a consistent core of our squad was one of the most important decisions we made when building our roster. We have a clear methodology, playing style and demands that require a certain player profile. I’m grateful to the players, Paul Dalglish and the whole Miami FC organization for all the hard work in getting a lot of our guys back.”

The USL Championship Eastern Conference gets underway in March, with The Miami FC facing Saint Louis FC on the road on March 7. The Miami FC returns to Riccardo Silva Stadium for a Friday night home opener versus Tampa Bay Rowdies on March 13.

Match ticket and season ticket details will be announced shortly. Keep an eye on The Miami FC social channels.

Players confirmed for 2020 returns

(GK) Mark Pais

(GK) Bryant Gammiero

(D) Jalen Markey

(D) Brenton Griffiths

(D) Marco Franco

(M) Harrison Heath

(M) Brian James

(M) Tomas Granitto

(M) Hector Morales

(F) Othello Bah

(F) Lloyd Sam

(F) Miguel González

(F) Mo Thiaw

The Miami FC re-signs Gammiero, Morales, Bah and Thiaw

MIAMI (January 8, 2020) As preparations for the 2020 USL Championship get underway, a further four players have confirmed their return to The Miami FC.

Goalkeeper Bryant Gammiero, midfielder Hector Morales and forwards Mo Thiaw and Othello Bah all inked new deals with the club.

This announcement follows the news that Mark Pais, Jalen Markey, Harrison Heath and Lloyd Sam will also return for the 2020 campaign.

Signed in September 2019 from Florida Soccer Soldiers, Bryant Gammiero, 26, is equipped with quick reflexes and is known as an shot-stopper. Previously, Gammiero represented Miami United and featured in the first ever meeting between Miami United and The Miami FC in 2018.

Hector Morales, a 26-year-old Cuban national joined The Miami FC following a successful Open Tryout in February 2019. An attacking midfielder, Morales enjoyed a spell at FC Ciudad de La Habana in the Cuban top division. He has represented Cuba at U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels.

Liberian national Othello Bah joined The Miami FC in January 2019 and opened his goalscoring account in the NISA Showcase opener against Philadelphia Fury. Bah previously played for Chattanooga FC.

Born in Dakar, Senegal, Mo Thiaw was selected by the San Jose Earthquakes during the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. However, he spent the season on loan at Reno 1868 before joining The Miami FC in January 2019. The powerful forward scored an impressive 14 goals in 15 appearances for The Miami FC in 2019.

“One of the first things Paul Dalglish and I discussed was the importance of maintaining a core of players who understand the club’s ethos. Being able to bring these players back also helps the process for new players to settle in and allows us to continue to play the Miami FC way,” said Nelson Vargas, Head Coach.

Watch Bryant, Hector, Othello and Mo in action when The Miami FC returns to Riccardo Silva Stadium for their home opener against Tampa Bay Rowdies on Friday, 13 March. This follows the season curtain raiser at Saint Louis FC on Saturday 7 March.

Ticket details and the full USL Championship Eastern Conference schedule will be announced soon.