This is a summary of the 1996 Major League Soccer season. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Locations of Major League Soccer teams Major League Soccer (MLS) is the top soccer league in the United States in the American Soccer Pyramid. ...

Eastern Conference

Year Founded 1995 - 2002 League Major League Soccer Stadium Raymond James Stadium Coach - First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 - 2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Last Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 - 2 Columbus Crew (Raymond James Stadium; September 9, 2001) Largest Win 5 - 1, twice; 4 - 0... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium RFK Stadium Coach Peter Nowak, 2004 - First Game San Jose Clash 1–0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April 6, 1996) Largest Win 6–1, once; 5–0, 4 times Worst Defeat Kansas City Wizards 6–1 D.C. United (Arrowhead Stadium... The MetroStars was the name of a soccer club based in New Jersey that participated in Major League Soccer between 1996 and 2005. ... Year Founded 1994 League Major League Soccer Stadium Columbus Crew Stadium Coach Sigi Schmid, 2006 First Game Columbus Crew 4–0 D.C. United (Ohio Stadium; April 13, 1996) Largest Win Columbus Crew 6–1 New England Revolution (Ohio Stadium; August 8, 1998) Columbus Crew 6–1 Tampa Bay Mutiny... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Gillette Stadium Coach Steve Nicol, 2002— First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3–2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Largest Win New England Revolution 6–1 Colorado Rapids (Gillette Stadium; September 18, 2004) Worst Defeat Chicago Fire 6–0 New...

Western Conference

Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium The Home Depot Center Coach Frank Yallop, 2006— First Game Los Angeles Galaxy 2–1 MetroStars (Rose Bowl; April 13, 1996) Largest Win Dallas Burn 1–8 Los Angeles Galaxy (Cotton Bowl; June 4, 1998) Worst Defeat MetroStars 5–0 Los Angeles... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Frisco Soccer and Entertainment Center Coach Colin Clarke, 2003- All-Time Leaders* Games Jason Kreis, 247 Goals Jason Kreis, 91 Assists Jason Kreis, 65 Points Jason Kreis, 247 Shutouts Matt Jordan, 30 First Game Dallas Burn 0 - 0 San Jose Clash (Cotton... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Arrowhead Stadium Coach Bob Gansler, 1999- All-Time Leaders* Games Preki, 202 Goals Preki, 69 Assists Preki, 96 Points Preki, 234 Shutouts Tony Meola, 37 First Game Kansas City Wiz 3 - 0 Colorado Rapids (Arrowhead Stadium; April 13, 1996) Largest Win Kansas... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Spartan Stadium Coach Dominic Kinnear, 2004- All-Time Leaders* Games Richard Mulrooney, 163 Goals Ronald Cerritos, 55 Assists Richard Mulrooney, 44 Points Ronald Cerritos, 148 Shutouts Joe Cannon, 26 First Game San Jose Clash 1 - 0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Invesco Field Coach Fernando Clavijo First Game Kansas City Wiz 3 - 0 Colorado Rapids (Arrowhead Stadium; April 13, 1996) Largest Win Colorado Rapids 4 - 0 Kansas City Wiz (Mile High Stadium; May 5, 1996) Worst Defeat 1 - 6, twice; 0 - 5, four...

Team Awards

• MLS Cup - D.C. United
• U.S. Open Cup - D.C. United
• MLS Supporters' Shield - Tampa Bay Mutiny

MLS Cup is the final game of the Major League Soccer post-season, officially recognized as the championship of the league. ... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium RFK Stadium Coach Peter Nowak, 2004 - First Game San Jose Clash 1–0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April 6, 1996) Largest Win 6–1, once; 5–0, 4 times Worst Defeat Kansas City Wizards 6–1 D.C. United (Arrowhead Stadium... The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams all the way to the professional teams of Major League Soccer. ... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium RFK Stadium Coach Peter Nowak, 2004 - First Game San Jose Clash 1–0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April 6, 1996) Largest Win 6–1, once; 5–0, 4 times Worst Defeat Kansas City Wizards 6–1 D.C. United (Arrowhead Stadium... The Major League Soccer Supporters Shield is an award, annually given to the Major League Soccer team with the best regular season record, as determined by MLSs scoring system. ... Year Founded 1995 - 2002 League Major League Soccer Stadium Raymond James Stadium Coach - First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 - 2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Last Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 - 2 Columbus Crew (Raymond James Stadium; September 9, 2001) Largest Win 5 - 1, twice; 4 - 0...

Individual Awards

• Most Valuable Player: Carlos Valderrama, Tampa Bay Mutiny
• Scoring Champion: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (58)
• Golden Boot: Roy Lassiter, Tampa Bay Mutiny (27)
• Defender of the Year: John Doyle, San Jose Clash
• Goalkeeper of the Year: Mark Dodd, Dallas Burn
• Rookie of the Year: Steve Ralston, Tampa Bay Mutiny
• Coach of the Year: Thomas Rongen, Tampa Bay Mutiny
• Goal of the Year: Eric Wynalda, San Jose Clash

In American sports, a Most Valuable Player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests. ... Carlos El Pibe Valderrama Carlos Alberto Valderrama Palacio (born September 2, 1961 in Santa Marta) is a Colombian soccer player, often considered the best Colombian player of all time. ... Year Founded 1995 - 2002 League Major League Soccer Stadium Raymond James Stadium Coach - First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 - 2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Last Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 - 2 Columbus Crew (Raymond James Stadium; September 9, 2001) Largest Win 5 - 1, twice; 4 - 0... In the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Scoring Champion Award since its inception in 1996. ... Roy Lassiter (born March 9, 1969 in Raleigh, North Carolina) is an American soccer striker, Major League Soccers record holder for goals scoring in a season, with 27 in 1996. ... Year Founded 1995 - 2002 League Major League Soccer Stadium Raymond James Stadium Coach - First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 - 2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Last Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 - 2 Columbus Crew (Raymond James Stadium; September 9, 2001) Largest Win 5 - 1, twice; 4 - 0... In the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Golden Boot Award since 2005. ... Roy Lassiter (born March 9, 1969 in Raleigh, North Carolina) is an American soccer striker, Major League Soccers record holder for goals scoring in a season, with 27 in 1996. ... Year Founded 1995 - 2002 League Major League Soccer Stadium Raymond James Stadium Coach - First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 - 2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Last Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 - 2 Columbus Crew (Raymond James Stadium; September 9, 2001) Largest Win 5 - 1, twice; 4 - 0... In the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Defender of the Year award since its inception in 1996. ... John Doyle (born April 16, 1966) played as a central defender for five years for the San Jose Earthquakes of Major League Soccer from the start of the inaugural season in 1996 until his retirement in 2000. ... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Spartan Stadium Coach Dominic Kinnear, 2004- All-Time Leaders* Games Richard Mulrooney, 163 Goals Ronald Cerritos, 55 Assists Richard Mulrooney, 44 Points Ronald Cerritos, 148 Shutouts Joe Cannon, 26 First Game San Jose Clash 1 - 0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April... In the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Goalkeeper of the Year Award since its inception in 1996. ... Mark Dodd (born September 14, 1965, in Dallas, Texas) was a soccer goalkeeper, who played in Major League Soccer for the Dallas Burn. ... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Frisco Soccer and Entertainment Center Coach Colin Clarke, 2003- All-Time Leaders* Games Jason Kreis, 247 Goals Jason Kreis, 91 Assists Jason Kreis, 65 Points Jason Kreis, 247 Shutouts Matt Jordan, 30 First Game Dallas Burn 0 - 0 San Jose Clash (Cotton... In the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Rookie of the Year Award since its inception in 1996. ... Steve Ralston (born June 14, 1974 in St. ... Year Founded 1995 - 2002 League Major League Soccer Stadium Raymond James Stadium Coach - First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 - 2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Last Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 - 2 Columbus Crew (Raymond James Stadium; September 9, 2001) Largest Win 5 - 1, twice; 4 - 0... In the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Coach of the Year Award since its inception in 1996. ... Thomas Rongen (born October 31, 1956 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch soccer coach, currently the head of Major League Soccer club C.D. Chivas USA. Rongen began his coaching career with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, whom he coached from 1989 to 1994. ... Year Founded 1995 - 2002 League Major League Soccer Stadium Raymond James Stadium Coach - First Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 3 - 2 New England Revolution (Tampa Stadium; April 13, 1996) Last Game Tampa Bay Mutiny 1 - 2 Columbus Crew (Raymond James Stadium; September 9, 2001) Largest Win 5 - 1, twice; 4 - 0... In the United States, Major League Soccer (MLS) has handed out a Goal of the Year Award since its inception in 1996. ... Eric Wynalda (born June 9, 1969 in Fullerton, California) is a former American soccer forward, the all-time leading scorer for the U.S. National Team. ... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Spartan Stadium Coach Dominic Kinnear, 2004- All-Time Leaders* Games Richard Mulrooney, 163 Goals Ronald Cerritos, 55 Assists Richard Mulrooney, 44 Points Ronald Cerritos, 148 Shutouts Joe Cannon, 26 First Game San Jose Clash 1 - 0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April...