Club: NY/NJ Metrostars

Country: United States

Era / Season: circa 1995–96

• Coach / Manager: Eddie Firmani
• About the club in that period:

  The NY/NJ Metrostars were one of the original clubs formed for Major League Soccer (MLS), which began play in 1996. The club represented the New York–New Jersey metropolitan area and played home matches at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. In MLS’s inaugural season (1996) the team was commonly referred to as the MetroStars (later styled as New York/New Jersey MetroStars and, in later years, simply New York Red Bulls after ownership changes).

• Coach background (Eddie Firmani):

  Eddie Firmani (born 1933) is an experienced coach and former forward. Before joining the Metrostars he had a long playing career in England and South Africa and managed several clubs, including West Ham United (assistant), Coventry City, and clubs in South Africa and the NASL. He was brought in to lead the newly formed Metrostars for MLS’s launch.

• 1996 Season notes:
  • The MetroStars were one of 10 charter MLS teams in 1996.
  • MLS used a shootout rule (no draws) in 1996; statistics and standings from that year reflect those rules.
  • Attendance at Giants Stadium gave the club one of the larger home venues in the league.
• Notable players (early MetroStars period):
  • Players who featured for the MetroStars in 1996 included Tony Meola, Giovanni Savarese, and David Vaudreuil among others — the roster saw changes by coaching decisions and later seasons.

Sources / context: Information is drawn from historical MLS records and contemporary reports about the franchise and Eddie Firmani’s managerial role with the club around MLS’s inaugural season (1996).