LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Louisville City Football Club is hoping a reload of a record-setting roster from 2024 can ultimately mean winning a third USL Championship trophy in 2025.
Eighteen players from the first LouCity team to win the Players' Shield for the most regular-season points in the league are returning for another season, the club announced Tuesday morning.
The following players 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.
“We are looking forward to returning a core group of players that put together a great regular season,” LouCity head coach Danny 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."
Lynn Family Stadium during a "Fill the Fam" promotional night for the Louisville City Football Club.
According to the club, more announcements are expected soon as negotiations with other returning players are ongoing. They will have no trouble finding fuel for improvement.
Despite tying a USL Championship record with 24 wins and setting a new club high with 76 points, LouCity fell short of the Eastern Conference Final for the first time in its decorated history. Rhode Island FC, who 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.
LOUvRI Photographer: EM Dash Photography Home Team: Louisville City FC Away Team: Rhode Island FC Date: 11/09/2024 Venue: Lynn Family Stadium Location: Louisville, Kentucky Canon Canon EOS-1D X Shutter: 1/2000, f/3.2, ISO: 6400, Lens: 400mm, Focal length: 400mm
"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, who won the USL Championship's Coach of the Year award, 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
The club wishes well 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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