The Montreal Impact (French: Impact de Montréal) is a Canadian professional soccer team based in Montreal, Quebec that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), as MLS' 19th franchise and third Canadian club replacing the second division team of the same name. Montreal Impact became the second ever MLS club, and first Canadian based club, to advance to the championship series of the CONCACAF Champions League. They had also won the Canadian Championship in both 2013 and 2014. The club plays its home games at the Saputo Stadium and are coached by former MLS forward Frank Klopas.
History
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Toward the end of 2007, much speculation had been made about a possible franchise move for the lower division Impact to Major League Soccer. The construction of the expandable Saputo Stadium further suggested an interest on the part of the group to move up to the top level North American league. Although Toronto FC held a three-year Canadian exclusivity deal that did not expire until 2009, they stated in March 2008 that they would gladly welcome the Impact into MLS. Chairman Joey Saputo held talks with George Gillett (former co-owner of Liverpool F.C. and former owner of the Montreal Canadiens) regarding possible joint ownership of a franchise. On July 24, 2008, MLS announced they were seeking to add two expansion teams for the 2011 season, of which Montreal was listed as a potential candidate.
On November 22, 2008, the group's bid for an MLS franchise was not retained by commissioner Don Garber. In response to Vancouver's successful bid in March 2009, Impact GM Nick De Santis commented that he expected chairman Saputo to pursue and ultimately realize his vision of Montreal as an MLS franchise someday. By May 16, 2009, the Montreal Gazette reported Garber and Saputo had resumed talks for an expansion team to begin play in 2011.
On May 7, 2010, Garber and Saputo officially announced Montreal as the nineteenth club in Major League Soccer, set to begin play for the 2012 season. The MLS franchise is privately owned by the Saputo family.
On June 14, 2011, the Montreal Impact announced a five-year agreement with the Bank of Montreal to become their lead sponsor and jersey sponsor in MLS.
On March 10, 2012, the Impact played their first-ever MLS game, a 2-0 loss against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. A week later, the team made its home debut at the Olympic Stadium, playing to a 1-1 draw with the Chicago Fire; the match attracted 58,912 spectators, surpassing the previous record for professional soccer in Montreal established in a 1981 Montreal Manic home game (58,542). On May 12, 2012, the Impact played in front of a crowd of 60,860 spectators during a game against the Los Angeles Galaxy, establishing a record attendance for a professional soccer match in Canada. In their first ever season, they had finished in seventh in the Eastern Conference with a record of 12-16-6 (W-L-T).
On February 23, 2013, Montreal won the 2013 Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, beating Columbus Crew 1-0 in the final during their pre season campaign. Montreal Impact also have won the 2013 Canadian Championship on May 29, being their first major trophy as an expansion team in MLS, second in the club's existence. This victory also gave the Impact its 8th Voyageurs Cup. In the 2013 MLS season, they had achieved a record of 14-13-7 (W-L-T), earning their first ever birth in the playoffs clinching the fifth seed in the Eastern conference. Montreal were eliminated by the Houston Dynamo in the knockout round. By being champions of the 2013 Canadian Championship, Montreal earned their first ever birth as MLS expansion team for the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League.
In 2014, The Impact became repeated champions of the Voyageurs Cup by beating Toronto FC in the 2014 Canadian Championship final on June 4, 2014.. In the 2014 MLS season, Montreal Impact ended with a 6-18-10 (W-L-D) record ultimately being the worst team in MLS being last in both conference and overall in the league.
Franchise's historic CCL run
On March 3, 2015, Montreal became the first Canadian team, and only the second MLS team after the 2013 Seattle Sounders FC, to eliminate a Liga MX side from the CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage when they eliminated Pachuca on away goals. They drew the first leg 2â€"2 in Pachuca, and fell behind 1â€"0 on a penalty in the 80th minute by Germán Cano in the second leg, but Cameron Porter equalized the match at 1 and aggregate score at 3 in second-half stoppage time, sending Impact through on away goals. It was Porter's first competitive pro goal. On April 29, 2015, Montreal became the first Canadian team to reach the CONCACAF Champions League Final where they lost to Club America, after a 1â€"1 draw at Estadio Azteca and a 4â€"2 loss in front of 61,004 fans at the Olympic Stadium in Montreal.
Team name and logo
In regards to keeping the name "Impact," Montreal stated its intention "to maintain its name and global team image." The official logo for the team was revealed at the start of a match between the NASL Montreal Impact team and the NSC Minnesota Stars on August 6, 2011.
The logo is a shield in blue, black, white and silver containing a stylized fleur-de-lis and four silver stars, overlaid with the Impact wordmark. The fleur-de-lis, which also appeared on the logo of the NASL Impact team, is a globally recognized symbol of French heritage, and features prominently on the flag of Quebec as a reflection of Québécois culture. The four stars represent the four founding communities of Montreal identified on the city's coat of arms.
Club culture
Supporters group
Impact's main supporters group is called Ultras Montréal, also known as UM02, and was founded in 2002. They follow the Impact on away games against New York Red Bulls, Philadelphia Union, New England Revolution, DC United and Toronto FC. 127 Montréal was formed in 2011 who follow the Impact on occasional away games. The Montreal Impact Supporters Association was created in 2011 to better facilitate the relations between the Club and the Supporters Groups, to promote the supporters culture, and to help with the financing of different supporter group initiatives.
Rivalries
Montreal Impact's biggest rival is Toronto FC due to Canada's two largest cities having shared multiple rivalries both in and out of sport. Montreal and Toronto professional soccer teams have competed against each other for over 40 years. From the original NASL, as well as the Canadian Soccer League and the A-League, the rivalry has continued throughout various leagues they have played up until the past few years where both cities would still regularly meet for the Canadian Championships. Since both teams have joined the MLS, the rivalry has intensified and the matches have become a Canadian soccer classic which has been also named the 401 Derby.
The following table lists the history of official soccer meetings in MLS and the Canadian Championship between Montreal and Toronto, updated to the most recent derby of May 13, 2015 (Toronto FC - Montreal Impact 3â€"2)
Youth development system
FC Montreal
In September 2014, Impact owner Joey Saputo announced the addition of a second professional team beginning in 2015, called FC Montreal who will compete in the USL Pro league, the third tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid. The new team will serve as the final step for Impact academy and development players, giving them the opportunity to play at a professional level before they transition into joining MLS.
Montreal Impact Academy
Montreal Impact Academy is the youth academy and development system of the Montreal Impact and was established in 2010. The academy currently consists of various teams, from U8 to U23. The U23 team competes in the USL Premier Development League, the fourth tier of the Canadian soccer pyramid and the U18 and U16 teams both compete in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy.
Stadium
Montreal play its home games at Saputo Stadium, built for the second division Impact but designed with expansion in mind anticipating a move to MLS. The Quebec government announced $23Â million funding to expand to more than 20,000 and to build a training field with a synthetic turf next door.
The Impact had hoped Saputo Stadium expansion would be finished in time for the start of the 2012 MLS season, but it was announced on July 17, 2011 that the expansion would be delayed. As a consequence, the neighbouring Olympic Stadium was used for the Impact's first six home dates (5 MLS Regular Season, 1 Canadian Championship) The Impact's first MLS game at Saputo Stadium was played on June 16, 2012, a 4-1 win over Seattle.
Though Saputo Stadium serves as the Impact's regular home, Olympic Stadium will also be used for special events which demand a larger capacity or more favourable playing conditions (e.g. the team's home opener, the MLS All-Star Game, playoff games, or fall/winter international games).
Home stadium
- Saputo Stadium; Montreal, Quebec (2012â€"present)
Other stadiums
- Olympic Stadium, Montreal, Quebec (2012: 5 MLS games and 1 Canadian Championship, 2013: 2 MLS games)
Broadcasting
TVA Sports serves as the official French-language broadcaster of all Impact games not broadcast as a part of MLS' contract with the TSN family of networks (which includes French-language sports channel RDS). TVA Sports aired 24 games during the team's inaugural season.
TSN 690 serves as the English-language radio flagship of the Impact. Rick Moffat and Brian Wilde will share play by play duties while colour commentary will come from former Montreal Impact player Grant Needham. TSN 690's contract run's until the end of the 2016 season, with an option for the 2017 season.
Players and staff
- For details on former players, see All-time Montreal Impact roster.
Current roster
Where a player has not declared an international allegiance, nation is determined by place of birth. Squad correct as of July 1, 2015.
Retired numbers
12 - Club Supporters (the 12th Man)
20 - Mauro Biello, forward (1993â€"98, 2000â€"09)
Management
- Technical Director â€" Adam Braz
- Director, Montreal Impact Academy â€" Philippe Eullaffroy
- Head Coach & Director of Player Personnel â€" Frank Klopas
- Assistant Coach â€" Mauro Biello
- Assistant Coach â€" Enzo Concina
- Goalkeeping Coach â€" Youssef Dahha
Executive staff
- Executive VP of the Impact and the Saputo Stadium â€" Richard Legendre
- Chief Revenue Officer â€" Marc Bourassa
- Chief Strategic Officer â€" André Côté
- Chief Marketing Officer â€" Hugues Léger
- Chief Financial Officer â€" Sylvie Desrochers
Head coaches records
- As of June 7, 2015
- 1.^ Includes league, playoff, Canadian Championship and CONCACAF Champions League games.
Honours
- CONCACAF Champions League
-
- Runners Up : 2014-2015
- Canadian Championship (awarded the Voyageurs Cup)
-
- Winners (2): 2013, 2014
- Minor trophies
- Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic
-
- Winners: 2013
Team records
Year-by-year
Note: Only MLS regular season goals counted
DNQ = Did Not Qualify
All-time Continental Competition Win/Loss
Last updated April 29, 2015
International results
As of April 29, 2015
Player records
Top goalscorers
Last updated: July 5, 2015.
CC = Canadian Championship; CCL = CONCACAF Champions League
Bolded players are currently on the Montreal Impact roster.
Top Assists
Last updated: July 12, 2015.
CC = Canadian Championship; CCL = CONCACAF Champions League
Bolded players are currently on the Montreal Impact roster.
Most appearances
Last Updated on July 4, 2015.
CC = Canadian Championship; CCL = CONCACAF Champions League
Bolded players are currently on the Montreal Impact roster.
Most clean sheets
Last Updated: July 12, 2015.
CC = Canadian Championship; CCL = CONCACAF Champions League
Bolded players are currently on the Montreal Impact roster.
Giuseppe Saputo Trophy
Golden Boot
Note: Only MLS regular season goals count.
Club captains
Average attendance
Last Updated: July 10, 2015.
CC = Canadian Championship; CCL = CONCACAF Champions League DNQ = Did Not Qualify
Footnotes
References
External links
- Official website