Rayo OKC

Rayo OKC, also known as Rayo Oklahoma City, was an American professional soccer team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They joined the North American Soccer League (NASL) – the second tier of the American soccer pyramid – beginning with the 2016 season. They played home games at Yukon High School's Miller Stadium in Yukon, Oklahoma.[3] The club permanently ceased operations following the 2016 season, citing huge financial losses, management issues and heavy competition from the nearby Oklahoma City Energy FC of the USL as the main reasons.[4]

Rayo OKC
Full nameRayo Oklahoma City
Founded2016
DissolvedJanuary 2017
StadiumMiller Stadium
Yukon, Oklahoma
Capacity7,000[1]
OwnerRaúl Martín Presa, Sean Jones[2]
LeagueNorth American Soccer League (2016)
2016Spring: 8th
Fall: 4th
Combined: 4th
Playoffs: Semifinals

History

On November 10, 2015, the NASL announced that a new club called Rayo OKC would begin to play in the 2016 season.[5] The new team was majority-owned by Raúl Martín Presa, the owner of Rayo Vallecano of the Spanish Segunda División, with a minority stake owned by Oklahoma native Sean Jones, former owner of the Oklahoma City FC franchise. Rayo OKC was also co-founded and managed by "Sold Out Strategies," a sports management company headed by former Oklahoma City Blazers general manager Brad Lund. Former San Antonio Scorpions head coach Alen Marcina was named Rayo head coach on January 7, 2016.[6] Marcina resigned on August 1, being replaced by Gerard Nus.[7]

In August 2016, it was announced that co-founding partner and management Sold Out Strategies had pulled out of Rayo OKC'S day-to-day front office business operations. In September, it was reported that minority owner Sean Jones had part of the temporary artificial soccer field removed during the night and held at an undisclosed location to protect his investment pending a resolution. After a week and a half of negotiations, it was reported that Rayo OKC management and Sean Jones had reached a mutual agreement and the missing portions of the artificial playing turf were returned in time for the team's next home game.

On November 7, 2016, following the conclusion of the 2016 NASL Playoffs, head coach Gerard Nus stepped down and returned to Spain to continue his role as assistant technical director for Rayo OKC'S parent club, Rayo Vallecano.[8]

On December 1, 2016, it reported that Rayo OKC had released all of their players and did not have its majority owners or anyone from the Rayo OKC management representing them at the NASL's board of directors meeting in Atlanta.[9] In January 2017, it was confirmed by the NASL that Rayo OKC would not be participating in the 2017 season, eventually resulting in the dissolving of the franchise.

League and cup history
Season NASL Overall NASL Playoffs U.S. Open Cup Top goalscorer Head coaches
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
2016 Spring 8th 10 3 3 4 11 12 12 4th Semifinals Third Round Brazil Michel 14 Canada Alen Marcina
Spain Gerard Nus
Fall 4th 22 9 8 5 28 21 35

Individual records

Top goalscorers
As of match played November 5, 2016
Name Years NASL NASL Playoff U.S. Open Cup Total
1Brazil Michel201614 (27)0 (1)0 (1)14 (29)
2United States Robbie Findley20164 (21)0 (0)0 (1)4 (22)
2Turks and Caicos Islands Billy Forbes20163 (29)0 (1)1 (1)4 (31)
2The Gambia Mamadou Danso20163 (31)1 (1)0 (1)4 (31)
5Greece Georgios Samaras20162 (23)0 (1)0 (1)2 (25)
5United States Sebastien Ibeagha20162 (28)0 (1)0 (0)2 (25)
5Colombia Sebastián Velásquez20162 (15)0 (1)0 (0)2 (16)
8Jamaica Ryan Johnson20161 (4)0 (0)0 (0)1 (4)
8United States Tyler Gibson20161 (15)0 (1)0 (1)1 (17)
8United States Ian Svantesson20161 (6)0 (0)0 (1)1 (7)
8United States Devon Sandoval20161 (12)0 (1)0 (0)1 (13)
8Honduras Marvin Chávez20161 (14)0 (1)0 (0)1 (15)
8Brazil Pecka20161 (10)0 (1)0 (0)1 (21)
8Guatemala Moises Hernandez20161 (26)0 (0)0 (0)1 (26)

Most appearances
As of Match played 5 November 2016
Name Years League Playoffs US Open Cup Total
1Japan Kosuke Kimura201632 (0)1 (0)1 (0)34 (0)
2The Gambia Mamadou Danso201631 (3)1 (0)1 (0)33 (3)
3El Salvador Richard Menjivar201630 (0)1 (0)1 (0)32 (0)
3Portugal Daniel Fernandes201630 (0)1 (0)1 (0)32 (0)
5Turks and Caicos Islands Billy Forbes201629 (3)1 (0)1 (1)31 (4)
6Ghana Derek Boateng201628 (0)0 (0)1 (0)29 (0)
6Brazil Michel201627 (14)1 (0)1 (0)29 (14)
8Guatemala Moises Hernandez201626 (1)0 (0)0 (0)26 (1)
9Greece Georgios Samaras201623 (2)1 (0)1 (0)25 (2)
10United States Robbie Findley201621 (4)0 (0)1 (0)22 (4)

Managerial record

Information correct as of match played November 5, 2016. Only competitive matches are counted.

Name Nat. From To P W D L GS GA %W Honours Notes
Alen Marcina  Canada January 7, 2016[6] August 1, 2016[7] 18 6 6 6 22 20 033.33
Gerard Nus  Spain August 1, 2016[7] November 7, 2016[8] 16 6 5 5 19 17 037.50
  • Notes:

P – Total of played matches W – Won matches D – Drawn matches L – Lost matches GS – Goal scored GA – Goals against
%W – Percentage of matches won

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

References
  1. "Verenigde Staten - Rayo OKC - Resultaten, programma's, selectie, foto's, videos en nieuws - Soccerway".
  2. "RAYO OKC CO-OWNER SEAN JONES' PASSION FOR SOCCER DRIVES SUCCESS". RayoOKC.com. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  3. Brannick, Chris (November 10, 2015). "NASL to officially announce Oklahoma City franchise". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  4. Poling, James. "NASL to open 2017 season with eight clubs".
  5. "NASL ANNOUNCES NEW CLUB IN OKLAHOMA CITY". NASL. November 10, 2015.
  6. "RAYO OKC NAMES ALEN MARCINA HEAD COACH". Rayo OKC. January 7, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
  7. "ALEN MARCINA STEPS DOWN, GERARD NUS NAMED RAYO OKC HEAD COACH". rayookc.com. Rayo OKC. August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
  8. "Nus steps down as Head Coach". The Oklahoman. November 7, 2016.
  9. "Rayo OKC not represented at NASL meetings; Players released from contracts". The Oklahoman. November 30, 2016.
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