Milwaukee Rampage facts for kids
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| Full name | Milwaukee Rampage |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Rampage |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Dissolved | 2002 (as a professional franchise) |
| Stadium | Uihlein Soccer Park Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Stadium capacity |
7,000 |
| League | A-League |
The Milwaukee Rampage was a professional soccer team from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They played in a league called the A-League. The team started in 1993 and stopped being a professional team in 2002.
Contents
The Rampage Story
The Milwaukee Rampage team was started in 1993 by two Milwaukee businessmen, Dan Doucette and Jim Hock. Their very first game was on June 24, 1993, against a team called Siarka Tarnobrzeg.
The first coach, Boro Sucevic, had some famous players on his team. These included Tony Sanneh, Brian McBride, Kris Kelderman, Joey Kirk, and Steve Provan. After playing a few practice games that summer, the team played its first full season in 1994.
Early Years and Rivalries
In 1994, the Rampage joined the USISL. They played against the Minnesota Thunder in the Midwest Division final. The Thunder won that game. This started a big rivalry between the two teams that lasted until 2002.
In 1995, the USISL league changed. It split into two parts, and the Rampage joined the higher, professional league. They again lost to the Minnesota Thunder in the Midwest Division final that year.
Becoming Champions
In 1996, the USISL added another league. Then, in 1997, the USISL and another league called the A-League joined together. The Milwaukee Rampage became part of this new, bigger league.
Under Coach Bob Gansler, the team had an amazing year in 1997. They won the championship by beating the Carolina Dynamo in a shootout! This was a huge win for Milwaukee. It was the city's first professional sports championship since the Milwaukee Bucks won in 1971.
The Rampage won the championship again in 2002. This time, Coach Boro Sucevic led them to victory. However, after winning their second championship, the professional team stopped playing later that same year. Even though the professional team ended, the Milwaukee Rampage still exists today as a non-profit soccer club in Milwaukee.
Team Leaders
Here are the people who managed the team and the coaches:
General Managers
- Pat Clemens (1994)
- Jim Harwood (1994–2002)
Coaches
- Boro Sucevic (1993–1994, 2000–2002)
- Carlos Cordoba (1995, 1999)
- Bob Gansler (1996–1998)
Season Highlights
The Milwaukee Rampage played many seasons. Here are some of their best results:
- In 1995, they finished 1st in their division.
- In 1996, they also finished 1st in their division.
- In 1997, they became the league champions!
- In 2002, they finished 1st in their division and became champions again!
See also
In Spanish: Milwaukee Rampage para niños
