Editing Miami Fusion

{{About|the former Major League Soccer franchise|the former National Premier Soccer League club|Miami Fusion FC (2015–2017)}}
{{distinguish|FC Miami City|Miami FC|Inter Miami CF}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname   = Miami Fusion F.C.
| image      = Miami Fusion (1997–2001) logo.svg
| upright    = 1.0
| fullname   = Miami Fusion Football Club
| nickname   = ''Fusion''
| shortname  =
| founded    = {{start date and age|1997|4|9}}
| dissolved  = {{start date and age|2002|1|8}}
| ground     = 
| capacity   = 
| chairman   = Ken Horowitz
| ceo        =
| mgrtitle   =
| manager    = 
| league     = [[Major League Soccer]]
| season     = 
| position   =
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| pattern_b1 = _miamifusionfc_01h
| pattern_ra1 = _miamifusionfc_01h
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}}
'''Miami Fusion F.C.''' was an American professional [[Association football|soccer]] club based in the [[Miami metropolitan area]]. The club competed in [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS) as a member of the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]]. The team played from 1998 to 2001. Announced in 1997 as one of the league's first two expansion teams, their best season was [[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]], when they won the [[Supporters' Shield]] with the best regular season finish. In 2002, after four years of lackluster ticket sales and revenues, MLS contracted the Fusion along with its other Florida-based team, the [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]]. The Fusion played their home games at [[Lockhart Stadium]].

==History==

===Early history===
[[Major League Soccer]] announced a [[South Florida]] team in 1998 as one of its first two expansions, along with the [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]].<ref name="LongRangeGoals">{{cite book |last= Dure |first= Beau |year= 2010 |title= Long-Range Goals: The Success Story of Major League Soccer |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=d8xlO-mfHroC |publisher= Potomac Books |isbn= 978-1597975094 |access-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-date= September 4, 2023 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230904012215/https://books.google.com/books?id=d8xlO-mfHroC |url-status= live }}</ref>{{rp|47}} Miami businessman Ken Horowitz served as owner, the first new investor to join Major League Soccer since its founding in 1995.<ref name="LongRangeGoals"/>{{rp|64}} The team's name, the Miami Fusion, was announced on July 8, 1997, at the [[Waldorf Astoria Hotel]] in New York City ahead of the [[1997 MLS All-Star Game|MLS All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite news |date=July 9, 1997 |title=What a kick: a Miami-style name for team |page=1A |work=[[The Miami Herald]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108264885/what-a-kick-a-miami-style-name-for-team/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=August 24, 2022 |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104648/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108264885/what-a-kick-a-miami-style-name-for-team/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kaufman |first=Michelle |date=July 9, 1997 |title=MLS team lights fuse |page=1C |work=The Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108265010/mls-team-lights-fuse/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=August 24, 2022 |archive-date=August 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825104603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/108265010/mls-team-lights-fuse/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Fusion debuted in the [[1998 MLS season]], playing in the renovated [[Lockhart Stadium]], considered a forerunner to the league's later [[soccer-specific stadium]]s.<ref name="LongRangeGoals"/>{{rp|xv}}<ref name=Rusnak>Rusnak, Jeff (October 8, 2012). [http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-10-12/sports/0810110129_1_mls-miami-fusion-rio-tinto-stadium "Fusion's Lockhart Stadium stint paved way for new MLS venues"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140622013332/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2008-10-12/sports/0810110129_1_mls-miami-fusion-rio-tinto-stadium |date=June 22, 2014 }}. ''[[Sun-Sentinel]]''. Retrieved March 13, 2014.</ref>

The Fusion started their inaugural season strong. Led by star [[midfielder]] [[Carter Stephens]], the Fusion drew 20,450 to their first game at Lockhart Stadium against [[D.C. United]], showing off the possibilities of a more intimate venue designed especially for soccer.<ref name="LongRangeGoals"/>{{rp|60}} Another 3,000 were turned away by police.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |date=March 16, 1998 |title=United Sees Opening, Spoils Day for Fusion |page=D1 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/03/16/united-sees-opening-spoils-day-for-fusion/3d5f0851-78b0-49d4-a398-d4a1abcb6b82/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 2, 2020 |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103095200/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1998/03/16/united-sees-opening-spoils-day-for-fusion/3d5f0851-78b0-49d4-a398-d4a1abcb6b82/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, interest waned through the year along with the team's middling performance on the field. The Fusion replaced head coach Carlos "Cacho" Cordoba with [[Ivo Wortmann]] after game 19, and the team managed a playoff spot, losing to D.C. By the end of the year their average attendance had dropped to 10,284.<ref name="LongRangeGoals"/>{{rp|64}}

The Fusion continued to struggle both on and off the field for the next two years. After years of disagreement, the commissioner "reassigned" Carlos Valderrama back to Tampa Bay in 1999, and the team replaced head coach Ivo Wortmann with [[Ray Hudson]] mid-season in 2000.<ref name="LongRangeGoals"/>{{rp|71–72, 88}} The team made a dramatic improvement in the [[2001 MLS season|2001 season]], winning the [[Supporters' Shield]] with the best regular season performance, taking the [[Eastern Conference (MLS)|Eastern Conference]], and advancing to the league semifinals.<ref name="LongRangeGoals"/>{{rp|120–121, 126}} Attendance improved as well, but remained fourth worst in the league with an average of 11,177. In the front office, owner Ken Horowitz struggled with finances. He, along with [[Robert Kraft]] of the [[New England Revolution]] and [[Stuart Subotnick]] of the [[New York/New Jersey MetroStars]], formed a faction among MLS owners who wanted to keep spending down, as opposed to [[Lamar Hunt]] and [[Philip Anschutz]] who wished to invest in long-term development. Despite the team's improvements, by the end of the 2001 season they had the league's lowest season ticket sales and the lowest revenues from sponsors.<ref name="LongRangeGoals"/>{{rp|129–130}}

===Demise===
Major League Soccer had reportedly lost an estimated $250 million during its first five years.<ref name=profit>{{cite news |last=Holmes |first=Stanley |title=Soccer: Time To Kick It Up A Notch |newspaper=Businessweek |date=November 22, 2004 |url=http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm?campaign_id=search%20Soccer:%20Time%20To%20Kick%20It%20Up%20A%20Notch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206014205/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_47/b3909099.htm?campaign_id=search%20Soccer:%20Time%20To%20Kick%20It%20Up%20A%20Notch |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 6, 2008 |access-date=May 11, 2008}}</ref><ref name="nytimes">{{Cite news |last=Eligon |first=John |date=2005-11-11 |title=For M.L.S., the Sport's Future Is in the Eye of the Beholder |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/for-mls-the-sports-future-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220729165745/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/11/sports/soccer/for-mls-the-sports-future-is-in-the-eye-of-the-beholder.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
The league's poor financial condition forced MLS to stop the bleeding. During the winter break between the 2000 and 2001 seasons, reports began circulating that MLS was considering trimming the league from 12 teams back to 10 teams.<ref name="espn.go.com">{{Cite web |title=MLS considering weight-loss program |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/s/2000/1228/977891.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=ESPN.com |archive-date=June 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210613025233/https://www.espn.com/soccer/s/2000/1228/977891.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The team considered several measures to improve attendance and popularity, including changing their name to the South Florida Fusion to advertise to a wider geographical area.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fonteboa |first=Pedro F. |date=October 20, 2000 |title=Fusion considers name change to attract fans |page=3D |work=Miami Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-fusion-considers-name-c/138428913/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=January 9, 2024 |archive-date=January 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240110063329/https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald-fusion-considers-name-c/138428913/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Rumors began circulating that the league might pull the plug on the Fusion, even though the Fusion had a low-cost stadium lease, and an improved performance in 2001 with increased fan attendance.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rusnak |first1=Jeff |title=Fusion Owner Looking For Way Out |url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-12-15/sports/0112150073_1_five-mls-teams-ken-horowitz-fusion |date=December 15, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150709153645/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2001-12-15/sports/0112150073_1_five-mls-teams-ken-horowitz-fusion |archive-date=2015-07-09 |language=en}}</ref>

MLS announced in January 2002 that it had decided to contract the two Florida franchises, the Fusion and the [[Tampa Bay Mutiny]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/us_sport/1750024.stm | work=BBC News | title=Fusion and Mutiny fold | date=January 9, 2002 | access-date=May 2, 2010 | archive-date=June 9, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200609061315/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/us_sport/1750024.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Both teams were withdrawn from the league, ceased operations and folded. Major League Soccer's contraction reduced the league from 12 to 10 teams. The league had chosen to fold the Miami Fusion, in part because the Fusion's ownership reportedly lacked financial resources, had been trying to run the Fusion on a bare-minimum budget, and had asked the league to pay some of the club's expenses.<ref name="espn.go.com"/> Commissioner Garber stated that the Fusion had the lowest revenue in the league, due to fewer season tickets and almost no revenue from corporate sponsorships.<ref name="sportsillustrated.cnn.com">{{cite news |title=Garber, Horowitz discuss MLS contraction |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2002/01/09/mls_quotes/ |work=CNNSI.com |publisher=CNN/Sports Illustrated |date=January 9, 2002 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020208034749/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/soccer/us/news/2002/01/09/mls_quotes/ |archive-date=2002-02-08 |language=en}}</ref>

Miami ownership had reportedly experienced $15 million in operating losses since Miami joined the league.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wagman |first1=Robert |title=MLS fans in several cities wait nervously for contraction decision. |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |work=SoccerTimes |date=2001-12-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924115539/http://www.soccertimes.com/wagman/2001/dec27.htm |archive-date=2015-09-24 |language=en}}</ref> The Fusion's owner, Ken Horowitz, described several difficulties with operating an MLS soccer franchise in South Florida.<ref name="sportsillustrated.cnn.com"/> Many Miami residents were not originally from the area and didn't identify with and support local sports teams. Additionally, the MLS season is in the summer, which is different from the youth soccer season, making it difficult to draw youth soccer teams to attend Fusion matches. There were also issues with local summertime heat and rain. Finally, Horowitz identified a lack of corporate support for the team.

On April 2, 2015, a new club with the name [[Miami Fusion FC (2015–)|Miami Fusion FC]] joined the fourth-tier [[National Premier Soccer League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Miami Fusion FC Joins the NPSL|url=http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/869918.html|date=April 2, 2015<!-- date given at https://web.archive.org/web/18990101080101/http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2.65906:gp:821801.1138:72906+archive/Display+E+NDX+NDX+4/1/2015 -->|access-date=April 5, 2015|work=nationalpremiersoccerleague.com|publisher=National Premier Soccer League|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405051918/http://www.nationalpremiersoccerleague.com/home/869918.html|archive-date=April 5, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The club folded in 2018.

MLS returned to the South Florida area in 2018, when [[Inter Miami CF]] was announced. On January 29, 2018, the Miami Beckham United group, four years after the ownership's original announcement of pursuing a team, was awarded the twenty-fifth MLS franchise and launched in the 2020 season, playing on the site of Lockhart Stadium at the new [[Chase Stadium]] from 2020 to 2025 until [[Miami Freedom Park]] was built  within Miami city limits in 2026. Former Fusion coach [[Ray Hudson]] would go on to work as a color commentator for Inter Miami, while former Fusion player [[Chris Henderson]] is the club's current Sporting Director.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/29/its-official-major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-miami|title=It's official: Major League Soccer awards expansion team to Miami|date=January 29, 2018|access-date=January 31, 2018|website=MLSSoccer.com|archive-date=March 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303091243/https://www.mlssoccer.com/post/2018/01/29/its-official-major-league-soccer-awards-expansion-team-miami|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami|title=MLS announces David Beckham's expansion team in Miami|date=January 29, 2018|access-date=September 12, 2018|publisher=[[ESPN]]|archive-date=February 28, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180228134028/http://www.espn.com/soccer/major-league-soccer/story/3361118/mls-finally-announces-david-beckhams-expansion-team-in-miami|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Stadium==
{{main|Lockhart Stadium}}
[[Image:2008-0424-FL-LockhartStadium.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Lockhart Stadium]]
The Fusion played their home games at Fort Lauderdale's [[Lockhart Stadium]]. They had originally intended to play at the [[Miami Orange Bowl]] in downtown Miami, but could not reach an agreement with the city of Miami, as the city wanted a 10-year lease and a prohibition on the team relocating to another South Florida stadium.<ref>{{cite news |author= <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title= Fusion Flushed at Orange Bowl? Horowitz Down on Lease Terms |url= http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1997/07/25/Facilities-Venues/FUSION-FLUSHED-AT-ORANGE-BOWL-HOROWITZ-DOWN-ON-LEASE-TERMS.aspx |newspaper= Sports Business Daily |date= July 25, 1997 |access-date= March 18, 2014 |archive-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317231418/http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/1997/07/25/Facilities-Venues/FUSION-FLUSHED-AT-ORANGE-BOWL-HOROWITZ-DOWN-ON-LEASE-TERMS.aspx |url-status= live }}</ref><ref name="Sun Sentinel">{{cite news |last= Rusnak |first= Jeff |date= August 15, 1997 |title= Fusion Might Be Heading North To Lockhart |url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-08-15/sports/9708140496_1_orange-bowl-miami-fusion-ken-horowitz |newspaper= [[Sun-Sentinel]] |access-date= March 18, 2014 |archive-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317230004/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-08-15/sports/9708140496_1_orange-bowl-miami-fusion-ken-horowitz |url-status= dead }}</ref> Subsequently, the Fusion reached an agreement with the [[Broward County School Board]] and the city of Fort Lauderdale to use Lockhart Stadium.<ref name="Sun Sentinel"/><ref>{{cite news |last= Rusnak |first= Jeff |date= September 17, 1997 |title= School Board, City Ok Tentative Fusion Deal |url= http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-09-17/sports/9709160781_1_miami-fusion-new-york-marathon-school-board |newspaper= [[Sun-Sentinel]] |access-date= March 18, 2014 |archive-date= March 17, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140317230812/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1997-09-17/sports/9709160781_1_miami-fusion-new-york-marathon-school-board |url-status= dead }}</ref>

Originally constructed as a [[high school football]] and track stadium in 1959, Lockhart had hosted the [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–83)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]] of the original [[North American Soccer League (1968–84)|North American Soccer League]] from 1977 to 1983, as well as other soccer games.<ref name=Thuma11>{{cite book |last= Thuma |first= Cynthia |year= 2007 |title= Sport Lauderdale |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=pJ7LmzGJhZYC&pg=PA11 |publisher= The History Press |isbn= 978-1596291454 |access-date= March 17, 2014 |page=11}}</ref> Fusion owner Ken Horowitz spearheaded a $5 million renovation that converted Lockhart into a 20,000-seat [[soccer-specific stadium]].<ref name=Rusnak/><ref name=Thuma11/> The new stadium was the first of its kind in Major League Soccer; at the time all other teams played in much larger football stadiums. This innovation set a trend for similar facilities throughout the league that continues today.<ref name=Rusnak/>

The stadium site was redeveloped in 2019 and 2020 with the construction of [[DRV PNK Stadium]] for [[Major League Soccer]] club [[Inter Miami CF]].<ref name="demo begins">{{cite web |title=Demolition Of Fort Lauderdale's Lockhart Underway |url=https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/05/08/demolition-of-fort-lauderdales-lockhart-stadium-set-to-begin/ |publisher=[[WFOR-TV]] |date=May 8, 2019 |access-date=December 21, 2020 |archive-date=November 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191119032929/https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/05/08/demolition-of-fort-lauderdales-lockhart-stadium-set-to-begin/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Honors==
*'''[[Supporters' Shield]]'''
**'''Winners''': [[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]]
*'''[[Eastern Conference (MLS)#Eastern Conference regular season champions by year|MLS Eastern Conference (Regular Season)]]'''
**'''Winners''': [[2001 Major League Soccer season|2001]]

==Year-by-year==
{{Main|List of Miami Fusion seasons}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" width=100% border="2" cellpadding="4" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|- style="background:#f0f6ff;"
!rowspan=2|Season
!colspan=9|[[Major League Soccer|League]]<ref name="FARB">{{cite web |date=February 2024 |title=2024 Fact and Record Book |page=31 |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-fact-and-record-book-323335 |publisher=Major League Soccer |ref={{sfnref|Major League Soccer|2024}} |accessdate=March 15, 2024 |archive-date=March 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240315131011/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-fact-and-record-book-323335 |url-status=live }}</ref>
!colspan=2|Position
!rowspan=2|[[MLS Cup playoffs|Playoffs]]
!rowspan=2|[[U.S. Open Cup|{{abbr|USOC|U.S. Open Cup}}]]
!rowspan=2|[[Major League Soccer attendance|Average <br> attendance]]{{efn| Average attendance''' include statistics from league matches only.'''}}
!colspan=2|Top goalscorer(s){{efn|Top goalscorer(s) includes all goals scored in League, [[MLS Cup playoffs]], [[U.S. Open Cup]], [[CONCACAF Champions League]], [[FIFA Club World Cup]], and other competitive continental matches.}}
|-
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|Pld|Games played}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|W|Wins}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|L|Losses}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|D|Draws}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|GF|Goals for}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|GA|Goals against}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|GD|Goal difference}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|Pts|Points}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|[[Points per game|{{abbr|PPG|Points per game}}]]
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|Conf.|Conference standings}}
!width="2%" scope="col"|{{abbr|Overall|Overall league standings}}
!Name(s)
!Goals
|-
!scope="row"|'''[[1998 Miami Fusion season|1998]]'''
| 32
| 15
| 17
| –{{efn|name=draws|Before the [[2000 Major League Soccer season]], matches would be settled in a [[penalty shootout]] rather than end in a draw.<ref name="Rise and fall of MLS shootouts"/>}}
| 46
| 68
| <!--For sorting GD, the sort key is the GD + 100, since negative numbers don't sort well-->{{sort|78|{{nowrap|–22}}}}
| 35
| 1.09
| 4th
| 8th
| {{sort|8|[[1998 MLS Cup Playoffs|QF]]}}
| {{sort|8|[[1998 U.S. Open Cup|QF]]}}
| 10,284<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/1998-full-season-stats |title=1998 Full Season Stats |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=May 25, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109104402/http://www.mlssoccer.com/1998-full-season-stats |archive-date=January 9, 2014 }}</ref>
|align="left" | {{sort|Serna, Diego|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Diego Serna]]}}
| 11
|-
!scope="row"|'''[[1999 Miami Fusion season|1999]]'''
| 32
| 13
| 19
| –{{efn|name=draws}}
| 42
| 59
| <!--For sorting GD, the sort key is the GD + 100, since negative numbers don't sort well-->{{sort|83|–17}}
| 29
| 0.91
| 4th
| 9th
| {{sort|8|[[1999 MLS Cup Playoffs|QF]]}}
| {{sort|95|DNE}}
| 8,689<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/1999-full-season-stats |title=1999 Full Season Stats |publisher=Major League Soccer |access-date=May 25, 2011 |archive-date=January 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108232933/http://www.mlssoccer.com/1999-full-season-stats |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|align="left" | {{sort|Serna, Diego|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Diego Serna]]}}
| 10
|-
!scope="row"|'''[[2000 Miami Fusion season|2000]]'''
| 32
| 12
| 15
| 5{{efn|name="draws 2"}}
| 54
| 56
| <!--For sorting GD, the sort key is the GD + 100, since negative numbers don't sort well-->{{sort|98|−2}}
| 41
| 1.28
| style="background-color:#CFAA88;" | 3rd
| 9th
| {{sort|95|DNQ}}
| style="background-color:silver;" | {{sort|2|[[2000 U.S. Open Cup|RU]]}}
|style="background-color:#ffcccc;"| 7,460<ref name="FBREF Stats and History">{{cite web |title=Miami Fusion FC Stats and History |url=https://fbref.com/en/squads/29bf0f20/history/Miami-Fusion-Stats-and-History |website=FBREF |access-date=16 March 2024}}</ref>
|align="left" | {{sort|Serna, Diego|{{flagicon|COL}} [[Diego Serna]]}}
| 16
|-
!scope="row"|'''[[2001 Miami Fusion season|2001]]'''{{efn|The final ten games of the [[2001 MLS season|2001 MLS regular season]] were cancelled in the wake of the [[September 11 attacks]], which included Miami's games against [[DC United]] and the [[New York Red Bulls|NY/NJ MetroStars]].<ref name="MLS to omit final games of regular season">{{cite news |last1=Dell'Apa |first1=Frank |title=MLS to omit final games of regular season |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-mls-to-omit-final-games/28124926/ |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=The Boston Globe |date=14 September 2001}}</ref><ref name="USAToday-Soccer">{{cite news |date=September 13, 2001 |title=MLS cancels remainder of regular season |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/world/2001-09-12-us-roundup.htm |agency=Associated Press |work=USA Today |access-date=July 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019123352/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/world/2001-09-12-us-roundup.htm |archive-date=October 19, 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| 26
| 16
| 5
| 5{{efn|name="draws 2"|From 2000 to 2004, MLS discouraged draws by playing up to two 5-minute periods of golden goal overtime for tied games.<ref name="Rise and fall of MLS shootouts">{{cite news |last1=Maurer |first1=Pablo |title=The rise and fall of MLS’s 35-yard shootout — and why it should be brought back |url=https://theathletic.com/1800695/2020/05/07/the-rise-and-fall-of-mlss-35-yard-shootout-and-why-it-should-be-brought-back/?access_token=11695223 |access-date=17 March 2024 |work=The Athletic |date=7 May 2020}}</ref>}}
| 57
| 36
| <!--For sorting GD, the sort key is the GD + 100, since negative numbers don't sort well-->{{sort|121|+21}}
| 53
| 2.04
| style="background-color:gold;" | 1st
| style="background-color:gold;" | 1st
| {{sort|4|[[2001 MLS Cup Playoffs|SF]]}}
| {{sort|16|[[2001 U.S. Open Cup|Ro16]]}}
|style="background:#dfd;" | 11,177<ref name="FBREF Stats and History"/>
|align="left" | {{sort|Chacón, Alex Pineda|{{flagicon|HON}} [[Alex Pineda Chacón]]}}
|style="background-color:#FAECC8;"| 19♦{{efn|Chacón won the [[MLS Golden Boot]] (47 points)<ref name="Golden Boot Winners">{{cite web |author1=MLS Communications |title=MLS Golden Boot winners |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-golden-boot-winners |publisher=MLS |access-date=16 March 2024 |date=1 January 2022 |archive-date=October 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018233101/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/mls-golden-boot-winners |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
|-
!scope="row"|{{sort|99|Total}}
!scope=col| '''122'''
!scope=col| '''56'''
!scope=col| '''56'''
!scope=col| '''10'''
!scope=col| '''199'''
!scope=col| '''219'''
!scope=col| '''–20'''
!scope=col| '''158'''
!scope=col| '''1.30'''
!scope=col style="background-color:#ffd700"|'''W (1)'''
!scope=col style="background-color:#ffd700"|'''W (1)'''
!scope=col|'''SF (1)'''
!scope=col style="background-color:#c0c0c0"|'''RU (1)'''
!scope=col| –
!scope=col align="left" | {{flagicon|COL}} '''[[Diego Serna]]'''
!scope=col| '''52'''<ref name="Serna LA Times profile">{{cite news |last1=Guiterrez |first1=Paul |title=The Late Show |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-aug-20-sp-galaxy20-story.html |access-date=16 March 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=20 August 2003}}</ref>
|}

==Team records==
*'''Games:'''<br>{{flagicon|United States}} [[Pablo Mastroeni]] (100)<br>{{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Diego Serna]] (100)
*'''Goals:'''<br>{{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Diego Serna]] (52)
*'''Assists:'''<br>{{flagicon|Colombia}} [[Diego Serna]] (36)
*'''Clean sheets:'''<br>{{flagicon|United States}} [[Jeff Cassar]] (7)<br>{{flagicon|United States}} [[Nick Rimando]] (7)

==Head coaches==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Name
!Country
!Hired
!Fired
|-
|[[Carlos Córdoba]] 
|{{Flagicon|Argentina}}
|November 4, 1997<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cordoba Named First Fusion Coach |date=November 5, 1997 |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-11-05-9711040569-story.html |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=Sun-Sentinel |language=en |archive-date=July 1, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210701175229/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1997-11-05-9711040569-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|July 24, 1998
|-
|[[Ivo Wortmann]]
|{{Flagicon|Brazil}}
|July 25, 1998
|May 8, 2000
|-
|[[Ray Hudson]]
|{{Flagicon|England}}
|May 8, 2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hudson replaces Wortmann as Miami coach |date=May 8, 2000 |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/05/08/Hudson-replaces-Wortmann-as-Miami-coach/6218957758400/ |access-date=2022-03-24 |website=UPI |language=en |archive-date=March 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220324181237/https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/05/08/Hudson-replaces-Wortmann-as-Miami-coach/6218957758400/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|January 8, 2002
|}

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Association football|United States}}
*[[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2006–2016)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]]
*[[List of Major League Soccer defunct clubs]]
*[[Fort Lauderdale–Tampa Bay rivalry]]

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080411000831/http://cdn2.libsyn.com/majorleaguesoccertalk/Fusion_special_mp_3.mp3 Fusion Retrospective Podcast]
*[http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/mls/miami/fusion.html SportsEcyclopedia.Com: Miami Fusion (1998–2001)]

{{Miami Fusion}}
{{Major League Soccer}}
{{Supporters' Shield Winners}}

[[Category:Miami Fusion| ]]
[[Category:Defunct soccer clubs in Florida]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1997]]
[[Category:Defunct Major League Soccer teams]]
[[Category:Association football clubs disestablished in 2002]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:2002 disestablishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Sports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
[[Category:Inter Miami CF| ]]
[[Category:Soccer clubs in Florida]]