FC Naples

FC Naples is the first fully professional soccer club to be based in Naples.{{cite web|title=ABOUT |url=https://www.fcnaples.com/about/ |publisher=FC Naples |access-date=June 16, 2024}}{{cite news |last=May |first=Jaron |date=January 17, 2024 |title=New professional soccer team, USL Naples, coming to Southwest Florida |url=https://www.gulfcoastnewsnow.com/article/new-professional-soccer-team-usl-naples-coming-to-southwest-florida/46430401 |publisher=Gulf Coast NBC |accessdate=March 21, 2025}}

The club's official name, crest, and branding were revealed on June 15, 2024.{{cite web|date=June 15, 2024 |title=FC Naples unveils crest, colors ahead of inaugural season |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1312493 |publisher=USL League One |access-date=June 16, 2024}}

Roberto Moreno is the club president and co-founder. Formerly a CFO of the fitness and apparel brand Zumba, Moreno first became a minority stake investor for EFL League One Leyton Orient in April 2021. In January 2022 he invested in Belgian lower side Patro Eisden, and Bundesliga 2 club Preussen Munster the following year.

Moreno considered buying the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Although a deal never happened, he formed a connection with USL deputy CEO Justin Papadakis. After Papadakis made a trip to Naples and visited the Paradise Coast Sports Complex, he was convinced of a new location for a new USL franchise.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-30 |title=Small town, big soccer ambition -- Here's how FC Naples hopes to change soccer on Florida's west coast {{!}} Goal.com US |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/fc-naples-florida-usl/bltfe0badc50f999512 |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.goal.com |language=en-US}}

Nico Cantor is also a part owner of the club. He contributes to CBS Sports' UEFA Champions League and Europa League coverage and hosts The Golazo! Show.

On July 17, 2024, FC Naples announced Matt Poland as their first head coach.{{cite web |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1314282 |title=FC Naples announces Matt Poland as inaugural head coach |date=July 17, 2024 |website=USLLeagueOne.com |publisher=USL League One |access-date=July 17, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240717213659/https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1314282 |archive-date=July 17, 2024}} First round of tryouts were held on September 7, 2024.{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-09-07 |title=FC Naples to hold their first tryouts |url=https://www.abc-7.com/article/fc-naples-first-tryouts/61883974 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003082307/https://www.abc-7.com/article/fc-naples-first-tryouts/61883974 |archive-date=October 3, 2024 |access-date=2025-03-20 |work=WZVN |language=en |url-status=live }}

Despite being in their inaugural season, Naples already have two derbies, the Battle for Paradise with Sarasota Paradise and the Derby of the Gulf with Tampa Bay Rowdies.{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/sarasotaparadise/p/DHWEGAApG90/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=www.instagram.com}}

FC Naples started off their inaugural 2025 season very well. They drew 1-1 with the Chattanooga Red Wolves in their first ever match with the teams first ever goal being scored by Andres Ferrin. Following this the team collected wins against the likes of Forward Madison FC, Spokane Velocity and Texoma FC. However they were eliminated from the U.S. Open Cup on penalty kicks against the Tampa Bay Rowdies and suffered their first league defeat against One Knoxville SC. They did recover from this earning a 1-0 victory over USL Championship side Charleston Battery in their first ever USL Cup match because of a goal from Karsen Henderlong.

Built in 2020, Paradise Coast Sports Complex Stadium serves as the club's current home, and holds up to 5,000 spectators.{{cite web|title=PARADISE COAST SPORTS COMPLEX |date=June 15, 2024 |url=https://www.uslleagueone.com/news_article/show/1312493 |publisher=FC Naples |access-date=June 16, 2024}} The field surface is synthetic turf.

On February 19, 2024, FC Naples announced a fan outreach initiative in which it would seek input on club branding from local residents.{{cite web|date=February 19, 2024| title=USL Naples seeks fan input into crest and brand

|url=https://www.lehighacrescitizen.com/2024/02/19/usl-naples-seeks-fan-input-into-crest-and-brand/ |publisher=Lehigh Acres Citizen |access-date=June 16, 2024}}

The club's badge is meant to be representative of Naples as a whole, and the city's defining relationship with the sea. Itself in the shape of a lightning whelk, it is adorned in gold with of shapes of a boat keel at its bottom and an art deco shell crown pattern at its top. The 'A' in the 'FC Naples' wordmark is stylized in the shape of pier pilings.{{cite web|title=OUR CREST |url=https://www.fcnaples.com/our-crest/ |publisher=FC Naples |access-date=June 16, 2024}}

The club's signature shade of deep blue is representative of the waters along which the city of Naples is located. The club announced that Hummel International will be their kit supplier.

Physicians Regional Healthcare System is their primary kit sponsor, along with paradisecoast.com as their back sponsor, PFS Wealth Management as their sleeve sponsor and Tide Cleaners as their short sponsor.

{{updated|April 24, 2025|}}

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{{Fs player|no=1|nat=USA|name=Lalo Delgado|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=2|nat=USA|name=Brecc Evans|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=3|nat=USA|name=Julian Cisneros|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=4|nat=NIC|name=Max Glasser|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=6|nat=USA|name=Gustavo Fernandes|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=7|nat=USA|name=Tyler Pasnik|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=8|nat=AUS|name=Chris Heckenberg|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=9|nat=USA|name=Karsen Henderlong|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|name=Jayden Onen|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=11|nat=USA|name=Justin Weiss|pos=FW}}

{{Fs player|no=12|nat=USA|name=Ian Garrett|pos=DF}}

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{{Fs player|no=14|nat=IRL|name=Kevin O'Connor|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=17|nat=USA|name=Tony Halterman|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=18|nat=PUR|name=Joel Serrano|pos=GK}}

{{Fs player|no=19|nat=USA|name=Thomas Bowe|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=21|nat=ESP|name=Marc Torrellas|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=22|nat=USA|name=Luka Prpa|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=23|nat=COL|name=Andrés Ferrín|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=24|nat=USA|name=Roscoe Rubinstein|pos=MF|other={{Cref2|A|name=1|1}}}}

{{Fs player|no=25|nat=USA|name=Jake Dengler|pos=DF}}

{{Fs player|no=30|nat=USA|name=Ian Cerro|pos=MF}}

{{Fs player|no=32|nat=PUR|name=Rodolfo Sulia|pos=DF}}

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{{reflist}}

{{USL League One}}

{{Florida Sports}}

Category:Association football clubs established in 2024

Category:USL League One teams

Category:Sports in Naples, Florida

Category:Soccer clubs in South Florida

Category:2024 establishments in Florida

Category:Soccer clubs in Florida

Category:FC Naples