A full look back at the club's historic inaugural season competing in MLS NEXT Pro.
The 2024 season will always go down as an historic one in the trajectory of Chattanoga Football Club.
After finishing as 2023 regular season champions in its last year in the National Independent Soccer Association (NISA), the club was officially announced as the newest independent club to join MLS NEXT Pro on November 14, 2023.
The move signalled the beginning of a new era for Chattanooga FC, bringing the highest level of professional soccer on a consistent basis that the city of Chattanooga has ever seen.
In the long term, competing in MLS NEXT Pro will transform the future of aspiring young players in the region, and in the short term, the move saw a significant amount of growth and transition to the men's first team in order to have a successful start to life in a new league.
Off-season moves and preseason preparation
A month after the official announcement, on December 15th, 2023, the club announced its first player acqusition of the MLS NEXT Pro era in Trinidad and Tobago international Jesse Williams.
Several new signings were announced at the beginning of the new year as Milo Garvanian, Robert Screen, Duvan Viafara, Andres Jimenez Aranzazu, Callum Watson, Farid Sar-Sar, Michael Barrueta, Mehdi Ouamri all signed on the dotted line before the club's first preseason game.
CFC legend Richard Dixon joined the technical staff as strength and conditioning performance specialist and assistant coach having announced his retirement from playing.
The club played six preseason matches to prepare for its inaugural season in MLS NEXT Pro: at One Knox SC, against South Georgia Tormenta FC and the University of Alabama-Huntsville as part of the inaugural Huntsville City Blastoff Battle tournament, and at home at Finley Stadium against UMA FC, Birmingham Legion FC and Tennessee Tempo. While results are never the only priority during preseason, the team won all of its preseason matches except for the penultimate test of the slate, against Birmingham Legion.
Open trialist Logan Brown, trialist Jalen James, Ghanaian midfielder Jude Arthur, MLS veteran Carlos Rivas all joined, while Ethan Koren re-signed, during preseason ahead of the much-anticipated regular season opener on March 16th.
March: New era begins
CFC drew 2-2 with Huntsville City FC in front of 4,378 fans in the club's first-ever match in MLS NEXT Pro and won on penalties afterwards to secure an extra point at Finley Stadium.
The historic moment came in the 40th minute when Taylor Gray scored the club's first goal in its history in MLS NEXT Pro. Gray showed a neat piece of skill, lofting the ball past his marker before guiding in a shot with his left foot into the bottom corner.
While the club was eliminated in the first round of the U.S. Open Cup three days later, the Boys in Blue quickly turned fortunes around by defeating FC Cincinnati 2 in convincing fashion with a 3-0 win, its first-ever victory in its nascent MLS NEXT Pro history.
After a competitive but goalless first half, CFC opened the floodgates early in the second, courtesy of a quickfire brace from half-time substitute Jesus Ibarra. The first of the two was the pick of the bunch with Ibarra finding the top corner with a long-range strike with the outside of his boot. His trivela was later voted MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchweek. Mehdi Ouamri added the cherry on top with an assured finish after Gray slotted him in with a carefully-weighted through pass into the penalty area.
CFC wrapped up the month by completing the signing of versatile winger Minjae Kwak and grabbing a point in its first-ever away match in MLS NEXT Pro against NYCFC II.
April: Strong start continues
The strong start to life in a new league continued into April with an outstanding 6-2 victory over Inter Miami CF II, accentuated by Jalen James' first-half hat-trick.
The result set a new club record for most goals scored in a single match in its professional era. James' hat-trick was the third of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season. CFC was also named MLS NEXT Pro Team of the Matchweek on the backend of that emphatic performance.
CFC followed that up with another huge three points, defeating Huntsville City FC 1-0 for the club's first-ever away win in MLS NEXT Pro thanks to a late Alex McGrath strike, which also saw the club go top of the Southeast Division. Goalkeeper Jean Antoine also returned from injury to make his first start in MLS NEXT Pro.
CFC then travelled to Kennesaw to face Atlanta United 2 and fell narrowly 1-0 with the hosts getting a rather fortunate handball decision and converting the resulting penalty kick.
However, CFC bounced back immediately with a 2-0 win in the first-ever Battle of the Independents against fellow independent club Carolina Core FC at Fort Finley.
The club was recognized for a fantastic month of April with the MLS NEXT Pro Team of the Month honor.
May: CFC remains top of the East
Chattanooga Football Club began May by defeating Orlando City B 5-4 in a penalty shootout after the match ended 1-1 in regulation to take home two points and remain top of the Eastern Conference.
CFC followed that up by beating Inter Miami CF II for the second consecutive time as a spectacular, late Mehdi Ouamri goal sealed a 2-1 victory at Chase Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.
CFC closed out the month of May strongly, both on and off the field. A significant development regarding the club's future was announced with a new 6-story building on Riverfront Parkway to become headquarters for Chattanooga Football Club in 2026.
The club also inducted the inaugural Hall of Legends at Finley Stadium, recognizing key figures in its foundation.
A drama-filled shootout win over Atlanta United 2 saw CFC finish the month of May at the top of the Eastern Conference.
June: Ouamri bicycle kick stands out
June started in spectacular fashion as forward Ouamri scored a match-winning bicycle kick in the rain to defeat New England Revolution II, which helped CFC momentarily rocket to the top of the league standings. The goal was the number two play on ESPN SportsCenter's Top 10 later that evening.
CFC then earned a point on the road at Chicago Fire II before earning another two points in Orlando after coming from behind and scoring in the final minute of stoppage time thanks to a finish from centerback Duvan Viafara.
In the second Battle of the Independents of the season, Chattanooga FC was defeated narrowly 2-1 by Carolina Core FC in front of nearly 4,000 supporters at Finley Stadium as James scored his fifth goal of the season.
July: Antoine takes on Goalie Wars
July was a challenging month on the field from a results perspective with the club going on a four-match losing run.
However goalkeeper Jean Antoine made history for Chattanooga FC during MLS All-Star Week as he was just one of four goalkeepers in the league selected to compete in MLS NEXT Pro's Goalie Wars.
"To be honest, I had a blast," said Antoine from Lower.com Field in Columbus, Ohio. "I'm sad I didn't score a goal but it was fun. I had fun, and the guys (other goalkeepers) made it even more fun. I had amazing support from everyone, the coaching staff who made it out here, and everyone watching back home. I really had a great time."
Antoine and Co carried that momentum into the final match of the month and returned to winning ways, edging Orlando City B 1-0 at Fort Finley thanks to a lone goal from captain McGrath.
August: Naglestad returns in time for playoff push
CFC opened the month with a home shootout win in the first-ever encounter with Toronto FC II.
After a narrow defeat at Huntsville City FC, the club announced the return of club record goalscorer Markus Naglestad. The 33-year-old from Kristiansand, Norway returned to CFC after a decorated spell with the club from 2021-2023, scoring a club-record 58 career goals, recording 16 career assists in 87 total games, including friendlies. "It's really cool [to be back]," said Naglestad. "These are the games you want to play and the ones that really count. The team's done a really good job so far to put us in a spot to fight for a place in the playoffs. I just want to come in and help out in whatever way I can."
Naglestad came on as a substitute in the club's come-from-behind 1-1 draw at Crown Legacy FC, which it ultimately won 3-2 in a shootout highlighted by an outstanding performance by goalkeeper Jonathan Burke.
September: Win over Crew 2 ignites playoff challenge
Following defeats at Inter Miami CF II and at home to Atlanta United 2, Chattanooga FC snapped Columbus Crew 2's 12-match unbeaten run with a crucial 2-1 victory thanks to the return of Ibarra from a long-term injury. Goals from Ibarra and Garvanian either side of halftime saw CFC return to winning ways with just three matches remaining in the regular season.
After a bye week, CFC travelled to a rainy Gillette Stadium and defeated New England Revolution II in a wild 5-4 penalty shootout to keep its playoff hopes alive. Kwak scored his first goal for Chattanooga FC in another MLS NEXT Pro Goal of the Matchweek for the club.
Ahead of the final two regular season matches of the season, the club announced that it was parting ways with Sporting Director and Head Coach Rod Underwood.
Led by interim Head Coach Chris Nugent, CFC travelled to the club's first-ever international match when it faced Toronto FC II on September 29th. The team made more history on the field with a magnificent 5-1 victory, its largest away win of the season and its MLS NEXT Pro history.
October: Season finale and attendance record
The club closed out its first-ever regular season competing in MLS NEXT Pro with a dramatic finish on Decision Day. Chattanooga FC faced New York Red Bulls II for the first time and won its joint-league leading eighth shootout of the season after the match finished 1-1 at the end of regulation. The result saw the club miss out on the playoffs by the finest of margins as it finished level on points with NYCFC II (6th place), Columbus Crew 2 (7th) and Crown Legacy FC (8th).
Despite narrowly missing out on the playoffs, the club's future looks brighter than ever as it set a new club record for regular season attendance in 2024.
Chattanooga FC's MLS NEXT Pro Matchweek Honors in 2024
- Goal of Matchweek 2: Jesus Ibarra
- Team of Matchweek 5: Chattanooga FC
- Goal of Matchweek 12: Mehdi Ouamri
- Team of Matchweek 26: Chattanooga FC
- Goal of Matchweek 28: Minjae Kwak
- Team of Matchweek 29: Chattanooga FC
Chattanooga FC's MLS NEXT Pro Monthly Honors in 2024
- April Team of the Month: Chattanooga FC
Team Leaders for the 2024 Season
- Goals: Mehdi Ouamri (12) - fifth-highest in the league
- Assists: Taylor Gray (8) - fifth-highest in the league
- Minutes played: Andres Jimenez Aranzazu (2,280)
- Key passes: Alex McGrath (45)
