Rayo OKC

Rayo OKC, also known as Rayo Oklahoma City, was an American professional soccer team based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They joined the North American Soccer League (NASL) – the second tier of the American soccer pyramid – beginning with the 2016 season. They played home games at Yukon High School's Miller Stadium in Yukon, Oklahoma.[3] The club permanently ceased operations following the 2016 season, citing huge financial losses, management issues and heavy competition from the nearby Oklahoma City Energy FC of the USL as the main reasons.[4]

Rayo OKC

Full name	Rayo Oklahoma City
Founded	November 10, 2015
Dissolved	January 2017
Stadium	Miller Stadium Yukon, Oklahoma
Capacity	7,000[1]
Owner	Raúl Martín Presa, Sean Jones[2]
League	North American Soccer League (2016)
2016	Spring: 8th Fall: 4th Combined: 4th Playoffs: Semifinals
Home colors Away colors Third colors

History

On November 10, 2015, the NASL announced that a new club called Rayo OKC would begin to play in the 2016 season.[5] The new team is majority-owned by Raúl Martín Presa, the owner of Rayo Vallecano of the Spanish Segunda División, with a minority stake owned by Oklahoma native Sean Jones former owner of the Oklahoma City FC franchise, Rayo OKC was also co-founded and managed by "Sold Out Strategies," a sports management company headed by former Oklahoma City Blazers general manager Brad Lund. Former San Antonio Scorpions head coach Alen Marcina was named Rayo head coach on January 7, 2016.[6] Marcina resigned on August 1, being replaced by Gerard Nus.[7]

In August 2016, it was announced that co-founding partner and management Sold Out Strategies had pulled out of Rayo OKC'S day-to-day front office business operations. In September, it was reported that minority owner Sean Jones had part of the temporary artificial soccer field removed during the night and held at an undisclosed location to protect his investment pending a resolution. After a week and a half of negotiations, it was reported that Rayo OKC management and Sean Jones had reached a mutual agreement and the missing portions of the artificial playing turf were returned in time for the team's next home game.

On November 7, 2016, following the conclusion of the 2016 NASL Playoffs, head coach Gerard Nus stepped down and returned to Spain to continue his role as assistant technical director for Rayo OKC'S parent club, Rayo Vallecano.[8]

On December 1, 2016, it reported that Rayo OKC had released all of their players and did not have its majority owners or anyone from the Rayo OKC management representing them at the NASL's board of directors meeting in Atlanta.[9] In January 2017, it was confirmed by the NASL that Rayo OKC would not be participating in the 2017 season, eventually resulting in the dissolving of the franchise.

League and cup history

Season	NASL									Overall	NASL Playoffs	U.S. Open Cup	Top goalscorer		Head coaches
	Div.	Pos.	Pl.	W	D	L	GS	GA	P				Name	League
2016	Spring	8th	10	3	3	4	11	12	12	4th	Semifinals	Third Round	Michel	14	Alen Marcina Gerard Nus
	Fall	4th	22	9	8	5	28	21	35

Individual records

Top goalscorers

As of match played November 5, 2016

	Name	Years	NASL	NASL Playoff	U.S. Open Cup	Total
1	Michel	2016	14 (27)	0 (1)	0 (1)	14 (29)
2	Robbie Findley	2016	4 (21)	0 (0)	0 (1)	4 (22)
2	Billy Forbes	2016	3 (29)	0 (1)	1 (1)	4 (31)
2	Mamadou Danso	2016	3 (31)	1 (1)	0 (1)	4 (31)
5	Georgios Samaras	2016	2 (23)	0 (1)	0 (1)	2 (25)
5	Sebastien Ibeagha	2016	2 (28)	0 (1)	0 (0)	2 (25)
5	Sebastián Velásquez	2016	2 (15)	0 (1)	0 (0)	2 (16)
8	Ryan Johnson	2016	1 (4)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (4)
8	Tyler Gibson	2016	1 (15)	0 (1)	0 (1)	1 (17)
8	Ian Svantesson	2016	1 (6)	0 (0)	0 (1)	1 (7)
8	Devon Sandoval	2016	1 (12)	0 (1)	0 (0)	1 (13)
8	Marvin Chávez	2016	1 (14)	0 (1)	0 (0)	1 (15)
8	Pecka	2016	1 (10)	0 (1)	0 (0)	1 (21)
8	Moises Hernandez	2016	1 (26)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (26)

Most appearances

As of Match played 5 November 2016

	Name	Years	League	Playoffs	US Open Cup	Total
1	Kosuke Kimura	2016	32 (0)	1 (0)	1 (0)	34 (0)
2	Mamadou Danso	2016	31 (3)	1 (0)	1 (0)	33 (3)
3	Richard Menjivar	2016	30 (0)	1 (0)	1 (0)	32 (0)
3	Daniel Fernandes	2016	30 (0)	1 (0)	1 (0)	32 (0)
5	Billy Forbes	2016	29 (3)	1 (0)	1 (1)	31 (4)
6	Derek Boateng	2016	28 (0)	0 (0)	1 (0)	29 (0)
6	Michel	2016	27 (14)	1 (0)	1 (0)	29 (14)
8	Moises Hernandez	2016	26 (1)	0 (0)	0 (0)	26 (1)
9	Georgios Samaras	2016	23 (2)	1 (0)	1 (0)	25 (2)
10	Robbie Findley	2016	21 (4)	0 (0)	1 (0)	22 (4)

Managerial record

Information correct as of match played November 5, 2016. Only competitive matches are counted.

Name	Nat.	From	To	P	W	D	L	GS	GA	%W	Honours	Notes
Alen Marcina	Canada	January 7, 2016[6]	August 1, 2016[7]	18	6	6	6	22	20	033.33
Gerard Nus	Spain	August 1, 2016[7]	November 7, 2016[8]	16	6	5	5	19	17	037.50

• Notes:

P – Total of played matches W – Won matches D – Drawn matches L – Lost matches GS – Goal scored GA – Goals against
%W – Percentage of matches won

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

References

1. "Verenigde Staten - Rayo OKC - Resultaten, programma's, selectie, foto's, videos en nieuws - Soccerway".
2. "RAYO OKC CO-OWNER SEAN JONES' PASSION FOR SOCCER DRIVES SUCCESS". RayoOKC.com. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
3. Brannick, Chris (November 10, 2015). "NASL to officially announce Oklahoma City franchise". The Oklahoman. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
4. Poling, James. "NASL to open 2017 season with eight clubs".
5. "NASL ANNOUNCES NEW CLUB IN OKLAHOMA CITY". NASL. November 10, 2015.
6. "RAYO OKC NAMES ALEN MARCINA HEAD COACH". Rayo OKC. January 7, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2016.
7. "ALEN MARCINA STEPS DOWN, GERARD NUS NAMED RAYO OKC HEAD COACH". rayookc.com. Rayo OKC. August 1, 2016. Retrieved August 5, 2016.
8. "Nus steps down as Head Coach". The Oklahoman. November 7, 2016.
9. "Rayo OKC not represented at NASL meetings; Players released from contracts". The Oklahoman. November 30, 2016.

External links