| Full name | Atlanta Silverbacks | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Silverbacks | ||
| Founded | 1995 | ||
| Stadium | Atlanta Silverbacks Park Chamblee, Georgia (Capacity: 5,000) |
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| Owners | Boris Jerkunica John Latham |
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| Head Coach | Alex Pineda Chacón | ||
| League | North American Soccer League | ||
| 2011 (NASL) | Regular Season: 8th, Playoffs: DNQ |
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| Website | Club home page | ||
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| Current season | |||
Atlanta Silverbacks is an American professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1995, the team plays in the North American Soccer League (NASL), the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having previously sat out the 2009 and 2010 seasons while the ownership "assessed the soccer landscape"[1] eventually announcing their intention to return to professional competition in 2010.[2]
The team plays its home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, a soccer-specific stadium in Chamblee, Georgia, 15 miles northeast of downtown Atlanta. The team's colors are red and black. The team's head coach is Alex Pineda Chacón, a former player and assistant coach under José Manuel Abundis.[3]
The team has a development team, Atlanta Silverbacks Reserves, which plays in the National Premier Soccer League, and a sister organization, the Atlanta Silverbacks Women, which plays in the women's USL W-League. They also used to have a USL PDL affiliate, Atlanta Silverbacks U23's, which ceased operations at the same time as the old USL-1 club.
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The franchise began as the Atlanta Ruckus in 1995 and played in the A-League. The club was re-named the Silverbacks in 1998, after a change in ownership.
In November 2009 the Silverbacks announced their intent to leave the USL First Division to become the co-founders of a new North American Soccer League, which would begin play in 2010. The league, which has yet to be sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation or the Canadian Soccer Association, would also comprise the Carolina RailHawks, Crystal Palace Baltimore, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact, FC Tampa Bay, Vancouver Whitecaps and a brand new team led by St. Louis Soccer United.[4] However the NASL was not sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation and the Silverbacks did not play during 2010.
On November 20, 2010, USSF sanctioned the NASL and the Atlanta Silverbacks immediately re-joined for the 2011 season.
The Silverbacks official colors are red, black and white, and the club logo features three colors prominently, along with a stylized depiction of a silverback gorilla heading a soccer ball beneath the corporate wordmark. The club's name was inspired Willie B., a gorilla who was a main attraction of Zoo Atlanta until his death in February 2000.
The Silverbacks play their home games at Atlanta Silverbacks Park, a 5,000-seater soccer specific stadium built in 2006 for use specifically by the team. In addition to the main stadium, the complex features several international size practice fields, a club house, pool and fitness center. Over the years the stadium has gone by a variety of sponsorship names, including ReMax Greater Atlanta Stadium.
Prior to the 2006 season the Silverbacks played at various municipal stadiums in the Greater Atlanta area, most notably DeKalb Memorial Stadium in Clarkston.
Westside 109, ATL Dirty Squad, and Eastside 309 are the unofficial supporters groups for the Silverbacks. They reside in sections 109 and 309 at Silverbacks Park.
As of December 2, 2011[5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.
*-as co-champion
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Avg. Attendance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 | A-League | 4th | Finalist | 2nd Round | 2,632 | ||||
| 1996 | 2 | A-League | 7th | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 4,315 | ||||
| 1997 | 2 | USISL A-League | 7th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2,406 | ||||
| 1998 | 2 | USISL A-League | 6th, Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 923 | ||||
| 1999 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 2,703 | ||||
| 2000 | 2 | USL A-League | 6th, Atlantic | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 3,327 | ||||
| 2001 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 1,094 | ||||
| 2002 | 2 | USL A-League | 3rd, Southeast | 1st Round | 3rd Round | 1,006 | ||||
| 2003 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Southeast | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | 1,200 | ||||
| 2004 | 2 | USL A-League | 5th, Eastern | Did not qualify | 4th Round | 1,662 | ||||
| 2005 | 2 | USL First Division | 8th | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | 1,724 | ||||
| 2006 | 2 | USL First Division | 8th | Did not qualify | 3rd Round | 2,298 | ||||
| 2007 | 2 | USL First Division | 4th | Runner-up | 3rd Round | 2,372 | ||||
| 2008 | 2 | USL First Division | 9th | Did not qualify | 2nd Round | 2,281 | ||||
| 2009 | On Hiatus | |||||||||
| 2010 | On Hiatus | |||||||||
| 2011 | 2 | NASL | 8th | Did not qualify | Denied entry | 2,866 | ||||
| Preceded by Charlotte Eagles |
Southern Derby Winner 2002 |
Succeeded by Charleston Battery |
| Preceded by Charleston Battery |
Southern Derby Winner 2004 |
Succeeded by Co-Winners with Charleston Battery |
| Preceded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
Southern Derby Co-Winners with Charleston Battery 2005 |
Succeeded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
| Preceded by Atlanta Silverbacks |
Southern Derby Winner 2006 |
Succeeded by Carolina RailHawks FC |
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