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SEASON 3: NEW JOURNEY

Charlotte FC's Historic 2024 Season

By Charlotte FC

December 12^th, 2024

From season one, our expectations have been clear.

And we continued to build and grow, together.

And in season three...

HISTORY.

Back-to-back MLS Cup Playoff appearances. First-ever playoff Victory. A new journey began under Dean Smith this year, and it's only the beginning.

DEAN SMITH HAS ENTERED THE FORTRESS

The memorable season began with a new gaffer at the helm.

From the second he had stepped through the doors, players, staff, front office, everyone felt an energy shift.

With a new vision, Smith created new energy felt throughout the city and club.

“Coming into a new club that is being built and has been steadily built, I believed I can come in and enhance that.”

Smith had a clear idea in mind of how he wanted to structure his team. He wanted his defense to be as organized as possible with clear instructions on their role and to simplify offensive tactics to allow the talent and creative freedom to shine.

He took Charlotte FC to new heights. As a first year manager, he lead The Crown to a momentous playoff run, accomplished his goal of developing young talent in the club, encouraged a large amount of traveling fans to multiple away matches and brought the club to new heights in statistical categories including:

Most Points
Most Home Points
Most Away Points
Most Clean Sheets
Most Wins
Most Goals
Least Goals Allowed
Best Goal Differential

The era of Dean has just begun, and everyone looks forward to what can be accomplished in season four with The Crown.

THE MONTH COINED MAYHEM

Six matches in four weeks is no easy feat for any team, but this stretch of matches brought memories and momentum that carried through the rest of the season. The Fortress was the place to be in the month of May.

The Fortress was electric each and every week of the five-match unbeaten streak.

The first away match win of 2024 was notched.

Heads were turned as The Crown moved to tie for most home points in MLS with 7 clean sheets.

And not to mention, not a single goal was allowed at home this month.

Related Exposure: Moments of Mayhem

FOR THE CAROLINAS. FOR FAMILY.

As the on-the-pitch performance had been looking pristine, the off-the-pitch performance did not lack in intentionality.

With May being one of the most jam-packed months for the club, a step back to remind us of the reason soccer is more than just a sport. The story of Caroline Love, a courageous young girl who has shared her story of inspiration, strength, and resilience surrounding the mental health conversation was a spotlight that Charlotte FC was lucky enough to be a part of.

Caroline Love made a lasting impact

Related Exposure: Love, For The Crown

CHARLOTTE IS A SOCCER CITY

2024 solidified that Charlotte is, in fact, a Soccer City.

Summer was packed full of soccer.

Starting off strong with Uruguay vs Columbia during Copa America.

Leading into The Crown's penalty shootout win against Cruz Azul during Leagues Cup.

Ending with a Real Madrid vs Chelsea FC friendly during The Soccer Champions Tour.

The Fortress was filled to the brim throughout the summer, bringing the world's game together in the Queen City.

Fans. Rivalries. Football.

And nothing makes us more of a Soccer City than you, the fans.

rivalries became more intense.

Opponents have come to fear the fortress.

With a home record of 9-5-3, 32 points earned, and 7 out of the 12 clean sheets notched at home, there is no doubt the fan base behind Charlotte FC's success is a force to be reckoned with.

Players have connected directly with the fans and made it known they are a very large part in their success.

The fans, the family and the home atmosphere are simply unmatched.

And word of just that traveled far past The Carolinas.

PLAYOFFS IN THE QUEEN CITY

Back-to-back playoff appearances for The Crown. Except this time, Charlotte was able to host their first-ever home playoff match.

After falling in the first match, Kahlina had a standout performance in the second match leading the team to yet another clean sheet in regulation sending them to a suspenseful penalty shootout.

The crowd’s reaction to the club’s first-ever home playoff win was, without a doubt, a top sports moment feeling. The relief and dedication setting in from fans who have stayed loyal throughout all the ups and downs of the season through the form of pure joy was felt throughout the entire stadium.

KAHLI TAKES HOME MLS GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR AWARD

To cap off the historic year of firsts, Charlotte FC’s very own Kristijan Kahlina earned the very well-deserved honor of MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.

Leading the charge of 12 clean sheets tied for first in MLS among a plethora of other leading statistical categories including but not limited to:

1st in Save Percentages: 75.63%
T-1st in Minutes Played: 3,060 min
T-3rd in Saves: 121
3rd in Average Goals Against: 1.09

Kahlina has been the “Brick Wall” who has inspired his team with passion and carried them with consistency all season long.

Kahlina's recognition did not end there. Continuing to prove he is the best in the league, he found himself a spot on the 2024 MLS Best XI.

Encompassing all of the highlights from this historic season, Charlotte FC is ready to take on Season 4 with even more energy.

Footnotes

Photos by Taylor Banner, Alana McCallion, Laura Wolf, Blue Amber, Lizzy Otten & Georgia Soares. Video by Ian Kunsey, Alexandra Warrington, Ryan Luparello, Marco Yanez & Ben Grijalva. Graphics by Tessa Hansen. Story Written and Edited by Shannon Kingston.

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