By RUSS BROWN • Photos By Connor Cunningham
Louisville City Football Club and coach Danny Cruz have agreed to a new multi-year contract, and he will be surrounded by plenty of familiar company in the 2025 season because 18 players from the successful 2024 season are returning.
Cruz won the USL Championship Coach of the Year in 2024 as LouCity went 24-6-4 and claimed its first ever Players’ Shield as the club tied the league’s record for wins in a season.
“I am grateful to John Neace, Chris Harding and our entire ownership group for the opportunity to continue my time here at Louisville City FC,” Cruz said in a news release. “I don’t take for granted how special it is to work at a club like this with the group of people that I do on a daily basis. When I reflect on the 2024 season, staff, players and I recognize that we fell short. My hope is that everyone associated with this club feels an immense amount of pride in the consistency we showed throughout the long season while also knowing we needed to be better when it mattered most. (“LouCity signs Coach of the Year Cruz to new contract ahead of 2025 ...”)
““I was fortunate to be in a position at the end of this season to make a decision on where I wanted to coach in 2025. After discussing with my wife, we both agreed that at this moment in time, there is not a better place for me to be than Louisville. I’m a young coach who is still constantly looking to evolve and grow. I have high ambitions, but in making big decisions I always choose to look at the people who I work with first.
“Here, I’m at a club that allows me to work with and for people that want to push me and help me become a better coach every day. On top of that, I am extremely excited about the chance to push forward with this amazing group of players. I cannot wait to get back on the field, and I’m looking forward to seeing this group continue to push toward our ultimate goal of winning a USL Championship title.” (“LouCity signs Coach of the Year Cruz to new contract ahead of 2025...”)
At years old, Cruz is set to coach his fifth season managing LouCity. He is the club’s winningest and longest-tenured head coach. He took over on an interim basis in 2021 and The Boys in Purple won an Eastern Conference title in 2022.
“We believe that in Danny, we have the best young coach in the country,” LouCity’s president James O’Connor said in a release. “Our 2024 regular season was record-breaking and one we are all very proud of. However, we all feel we have unfinished business going into 2025 and are delighted to have Danny lead the charge toward our third star.”
LouCity FC is hoping the reload of the record-setting roster from 2024 can ultimately mean winning a third USL Championship trophy in 2025.
The following players who helped the club score the most points in the league have contracts that are ready to carry into another year: Wes Charpie, Amadou Dia, Phillip Goodrum, Wilson Harris, Aiden McFadden, Jake Morris, Arturo Ordóñez, Adrien Perez, Manny Perez, Sean Totsch and Elijah Wynder. LouCity then picked up options on Isaac Cano, Evan Davila, Sam Gleadle, Carlos Moguel Jr., Ray Serrano and Ryan Troutman. (“LouCity reloading roster for 2025, bringing 18 players back from ... - WDRB”)
“We are looking forward to returning a core group of players that put together a great regular season,” Cruz said. “The key for everyone — staff and players included — is to make sure that we all come back with a burning desire to be better.” (“18 LouCity players already under contract for 2025 season”)
According to the club, more announcements are expected soon as negotiations with other returning players are ongoing. They will have no trouble finding incentive for improvement.
Despite the 24 victories and setting a new club high with 76 points and goals scored (86), LouCity fell short of the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in its decorated history. Rhode Island FC, which was the only club to beat Louisville at Lynn Family Stadium during the regular season, shockingly shut out the two-time league champions to bring their campaign to a close.
“We recognize that we fell short of our own expectations in the playoffs and will do everything we can this offseason to prepare ourselves to be better next year in the moments that matter most,” Cruz said. “I know this group, and I know that how 2024 finished will fuel them until we are back pushing again in preseason. We have a good foundation going into 2025 and will continue to put together a group that we feel can get us a third star.”
CURRENT 2025 LOUISVILLE CITY FC ROSTER
Forwards: Isaac Cano, Evan Davila, Sam Gleadle, Phillip Goodrum, Wilson Harris, Adrien Perez, Ray Serrano Midfielders: Carlos Moguel Jr., Elijah Wynder Defenders: Amadou Dia, Wes Charpie, Arturo Ordóñez, Aiden McFadden, Jake Morris, Manny Perez, Sean Totsch Goalkeepers: Danny Faundez, Ryan Troutman
In the release, the club extended well wishes to departing players Owen Damm (end of contract), Damian Las (end of loan period), Dylan Mares (end of contract) and Sebastian Sanchez (end of contract). Jorge Gonzalez, who suffered a season-ending injury last summer, continues to coordinate with the club on his rehabilitation.
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