The Milwaukee Rampage is a former professional American soccer team, that was located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which played in the A-League.

Milwaukee Rampage
Full nameMilwaukee Rampage
Nickname(s)Rampage
Founded1993
Dissolved2002 (as a professional franchise)
StadiumUihlein Soccer Park
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Capacity7,000
LeagueA-League

History

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Founded in 1993 by Milwaukee area businessmen Dan Doucette and Jim Hock, the Rampage played its first game on June 24, 1993, against Siarka Tarnobrzeg. Head coach Boro Sucevic fielded a team which included Tony Sanneh, Brian McBride, Kris Kelderman, Joey Kirk and Steve Provan. The Rampage played another six exhibition games that summer before playing in its first full season a year later.[1] The team entered the 1994 United States Interregional Soccer League where it fell to the Minnesota Thunder in the Midwest Division final. This set up a rivalry between the two teams which continued until the Rampage's departure in 2002. In 1995, the USISL split into an upper and lower league. The Rampage joined the higher, professional league. That year, Milwaukee again fell to the Thunder in the Midwest Division final. In 1996, the USISL added a third league, the 1996 USISL Select League. In 1996, the Select League, along with the competing A-League, both received Division 2 status from FIFA. This led to a merger between the two leagues to form the 1997 A-League under the umbrella of the USISL. Milwaukee joined this combined league. Head Coach Bob Gansler led the team to Milwaukee's first professional sports championship since the 1971 Milwaukee Bucks. The Rampage defeated the Carolina Dynamo in a shootout. The team won the championship once more in 2002 under Head Coach Boro Sucevic before the franchise folded later that year. The Milwaukee Rampage still exists as a professional soccer club and non-profit in Milwaukee.[2]

General managers

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  • Pat Clemens – 1994
  • Jim Harwood – 1994–2002

Coaches

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  • Boro Sucevic (1993–1994, 2000–2002)
  • Carlos Cordoba (1995, 1999)
  • Bob Gansler (1996–1998)

Year-by-year

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Year Division League Reg. season Playoffs Open Cup Avg. attendance
1993 Exhibition schedule
1994 3 USISL 2nd, Midwest Divisional Finals Did not enter
1995 3 USISL Pro League 1st, Midwest West Sizzling Nine Did not qualify
1996 3 USISL Select League 1st, Central 2nd Round Did not qualify 3,053
1997 2 USISL A-League 4th, Central Champion Did not qualify 3,165
1998 2 USISL A-League 3rd, Central Conference Quarterfinals 2nd Round 3,176
1999 2 USL A-League 5th, Central Did not qualify Did not qualify 3,219
2000 2 USL A-League 2nd, Central Conference Finals Did not qualify 3,654
2001 2 USL A-League 3rd, Western Semifinals 3rd Round 2,682
2002 2 USL A-League 1st, Central Champion Quarterfinals 2,058

References

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