Behind the Scenes with FC Naples: Naples' First Professional Team
Behind the Scenes with FC Naples: Naples' First Professional Team
Naples, Florida, is no stranger to excellence—whether in business, cuisine, or coastal living. But in 2024, something new took the spotlight: the area's first professional soccer team. FC Naples launched its inaugural season with hopes of not only bringing "The Beautiful Game" to the Paradise Coast but also building something that would reflect the community itself. We spoke with players, coaches, and leadership to understand how this club came to life, what makes it different, and why so many are rallying behind it.
From Marco Island to the Sidelines: Coach Matt Poland’s Journey
Head Coach and Sporting Director Matt “Gaffa” Poland didn’t just show up in Naples when FC Naples was announced—he’d been familiar with the community for years.
“My family moved to Marco Island 15 years ago. So I started coming here in the off-season while I was playing professionally over in Europe. After I had an injury, I moved into coaching,” he explains.
Poland went on to coach in Finland and then came back to the U.S. “While I was searching for my next coaching opportunity, I actually coached Naples United, a local semi-pro team down here in Naples. And then from there, I went to a club in Chicago, worked there for the last three and a half years before FC Naples was announced.”
Poland saw the opportunity and acted on it. “I came to their welcome event, introduced myself to the CEO, and said, ‘Hey, I know you guys need a coach, and I’m a coach that already lives here, so let’s figure out a way to make it work.’”
For him, the city offered the perfect environment. “What makes FC Naples so unique and so special is that there are no other professional teams in the city. You're not competing with millions of other concerts and things to do,” he says. “Everybody cares, everybody is interested, you really feel the backing and the support from the community.”
A Team That Reflects Its City
The players echo Poland’s community-first philosophy. Goalkeeper Edward “Lalo” Delgado says, “It was a green light for me right away. When I heard about the culture and the community, I knew it was a great place for me.”
He understood the challenge and welcomed it. “It's a big commitment coming into a new team. I was excited for that challenge,” he says. “As a team, we try to resemble the community. There are a lot of successful people here who have done a lot of work to get to that point. We want to mirror that.”
Midfielder Ian Cerro sees the same parallel. “My favorite part of FC Naples is the community, which is big, the involvement of our sponsors within the club, I feel welcome and wanted here, and we have a beautiful facility.”
Saturdays with Purpose
Game day at FC Naples is built around the special connection between the pro players and local fans. “Some traditions we have here at FC Naples are the kids walking out with us before the opening kickoff,” says striker Karsen Henderlong. “My favorite part of the game is after the game, being able to engage with the fans, meet some of the young players who maybe look up to us.”
For Cerro, that sense of unity stands out. “FC Naples helps unite everybody on a Saturday night. We were just like [the kids in the stands], we were in their shoes and wanted to be like the people we saw playing.”
The Cove, an on-site social hot spot, plays a key role too. “Credit to our front staff, they’ve done a great job to make Saturdays very special. The Cove is open early on, so anyone can come out and hang out,” says Delgado. “Our game day is second to none.”
La Barra and the Supporters Who Make It Happen
One group has become essential to the match-day experience: La Barra. This passionate supporters’ section is known for its nonstop chants and drums.
“La Barra is great,” says Julian Cisneros. “Throughout the 90 minutes of the game, they’re supporting us, they’re chanting. They’re the biggest super fans we could ask for.”
Cerro adds, “A lot of times, the fans start joining La Barra. It gives us an extra push as well.”
Henderlong agrees: “We have energy from the fans, especially from La Barra. The community has really gotten behind the team here.”
Beyond the White Lines
For Poland, FC Naples was never just about results. “Obviously, winning is important, but if we only change the community inside of the white lines, it’s a disservice,” he says.
That mindset has shaped how the team gives back. “This summer, we were able to partner with Publix and bring kids in and have a free camp for them. At the end of the camp, they get to come to a game and watch their coaches play professional soccer.”
And the players are proud to be part of that work. “It's important for us to engage with the community, especially the younger fans, to grow the soccer culture in Naples,” says Henderlong.
Naples’ Team, Through and Through
“Naples is a unique city because most people here are transplants. Everybody has their own teams they already support,” says Poland. “That’s the most unique thing about FC Naples. Finally, this community has that one team where no matter if I’m a Bears fan or a Giants fan, I can still support FC Naples and support this new town where I live.”
The setting doesn’t hurt either. “The weather, the scenery, the community, the beaches,” says Delgado. “The complex we’re here at in Paradise, it’s amazing. For an inaugural club, that’s amazing to have that for a first year.”
Cisneros sums it up best: “You don’t even have to be a fan of soccer, it’s just a fun experience.”
Whether you're a longtime local, a weekend visitor, or just looking for something to do after dinner, FC Naples is proving itself as a fixture in the city’s fabric. For a community that rallies behind its players, ONLY Paradise will do.