New York Red Bulls II

New York Red Bulls II
Nickname(s)Baby Bulls
Dos Toros
FoundedJanuary 21, 2015 (January 21, 2015)[1]
StadiumMSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field
Capacity5,000
OwnerRed Bull GmbH
Sporting DirectorDenis Hamlett
Head coachMichael Bradley
LeagueMLS Next Pro
202411th, Eastern Conference
Playoffs: Did not qualify
Websitenewyorkredbulls.com/2

The New York Red Bulls II is an American professional soccer team based in Montclair, New Jersey. They are the reserve team of the New York Red Bulls and play in MLS Next Pro, the third tier in the American soccer pyramid.

History

USL era, winning the double (2015-2022)

Red Bull New York II were founded on January 21, 2015, when the New York Red Bulls acquired the rights to start a USL club. Red Bulls II competes in the second tier of American soccer and serves as a reserve side for the first team as well as a developmental stage for young prospects and academy players. The club follows in the footsteps of many MLS clubs who created USL sides to help promote youth development throughout the nation.[2]

It was announced on March 2, 2015, that former MetroStars and Red Bulls player, John Wolyniec would be the club's new head coach. Wolyniec previously served as an assistant coach to the senior team and the academy. Former Red Bulls defender, Ibrahim Sekagya will also serve on his coaching staff.[3]

On March 19, 2015, the soccer club announced the signing of their first-ever player, and former academy standout, Tyler Adams.[4] Following their first signing, the club's first roster consisted of senior team players who were loaned down, draft picks, academy players and local trialists.[5] A week later, on March 28, the club played in their inaugural match, drawing 0–0 against the Rochester Rhinos.[6] Senior team loanee, Anatole Abang scored the club's first ever goal in a 4–1 victory against Toronto FC II, marking the first victory in club history.[7]

A New York Red Bulls team composed mostly of NYRB II players defeated Chelsea F.C. in a friendly on July 22, 2015.[8]

After spending the majority of the 2015 and 2016 season playing at Red Bull Arena, the club announced on May 10, 2016, that their new home field would be at Montclair State University's MSU Soccer Park at Pittser Field starting in 2017.[9]

The club won their first ever trophy[10] on September 7, 2016, claiming the Regular Season Title (the equivalent of the Supporters' Shield) 4–1 victory at Harrisburg City Islanders.[11] On October 23, Red Bulls II won their first USL Cup after a 5–1 victory against Swope Park Rangers at Red Bull Arena.[12]

For the abbreviated 2020 USL Championship season, due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, Red Bulls II are playing home matches at Red Bull Arena with no fans in attendance.[13]

On February 7, 2022, the club appointed Gary Lewis as new head coach.[14] However, amid a dismal first season that saw the team win just three of 34 games, Lewis was fired in July. [15] Assistant coach Ibrahim Sekagya was named interim coach.

MLS Next Pro era (2023-present)

MLS announced that it would be one of the new eight teams to join MLS Next Pro in 2023.[16]

Sekagya, who had been with the team as an assistant since its founding in 2015, was named the full-time head coach to start the 2023 season.[17] New York made the playoffs and advanced to the Eastern Conference Semifinals in 2023 before falling to New England Revolution II.

In 2024, they failed to make the postseason but re-established their reputation for promoting players to first team action, as Roald Mitchell, Ibrahim Kasule, AJ Marcucci, Omar Valencia and Mohammed Sofo all made their debuts for the first team in either 2024 or 2025.

After a first half of 2025 that saw the team top the overall table through their first 13 games, Sekagya was promoted to a full-time assistant coach for the first team, after doing double duty with both teams through the previous 18 months.[18] Sekagya was replaced by former US international and ex-MetroStar Michael Bradley.[19]

Club culture

Supporters

The team-recognized, fan organized supporters group of Red Bulls II is The Rampage, founded by members of the New York Red Bulls supporters club Viking Army.[20]

Team records

Overall records

As of October 27, 2024
Season USL Championship Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer
P W L D GF GA Pts Position Player Goals
2015 28 12 10 6 46 45 42 4th (East) Conference Semifinals 2R Marius Obekop 6
2016 30 21 3 6 61 21 69 1st (East)* Champions Not eligible
(MLS Reserve Team) 		Brandon Allen 21
2017 32 13 14 5 57 60 44 7th (East) Conference Finals Stefano Bonomo 13
2018 34 13 8 13 71 59 52 5th (East) Conference Finals Amando Moreno
Brian White 		10
2019 34 17 11 6 74 51 57 6th (East) Conference Quarterfinals Jared Stroud 15
2020 16 5 11 0 30 37 15 14th (East)
3rd (Group F) 		Did not qualify Omar Sowe 7
2021 32 7 18 7 42 67 28 14th (East)
7th (Atlantic) 		Did not qualify Omar Sowe 8
2022 34 3 25 6 24 76 15 14th (East) Did not qualify Jordan Adebayo-Smith 7
Season MLS Next Pro Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer
P W L D GF GA Pts Position Player Goals
2023 28 14 6 8 53 36 51 4th (East) Conference Semifinals Not eligible
(MLS Reserve Team) 		Ibrahim Kasule 15
2024 28 10 6 12 56 61 40 11th (East) Did not qualify 2R Roald Mitchell 8
2025

* Regular season title winners

  • As of the 2016 season, MLS reserve sides are not allowed to compete in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.
  • As of the 2024 season, New York Red Bulls were 1 of 11 clubs to play their MLS Next Pro club in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. For the 2025 season, MLS provided new criteria for qualification to enter the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.[21]

Head coach record

As of February 7, 2022
  • Includes USL Regular season, USL Play-offs and U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup
Name Nationality From To P W L D Win%
John Wolyniec  United States February 14, 2015 December 10, 2021 188 90 62 36 047.87
Gary Lewis  England February 7, 2022 July 2, 2022 17 1 13 3 005.88
Ibrahim Sekagya  Uganda July 2, 2022 July 12, 2025 14 2 3 9 014.29

Player honors

Year Pos Player Country Honor(s)
2016 FW Brandon Allen United States All-League First Team
USL Cup MVP
USL Rookie of the Year
DF Aaron Long United States USL Defender of the Year
All-League First Team
2017 MF Vincent Bezecourt France All-League Second Team
2019 MF Jared Stroud United States All-League First Team
2023 MF Ibrahim Kasule Uganda MLS Next Pro Best XI

Players

Roster

As of February 24, 2025[22]
No. Pos. Nation Player
7 FW  POL Wiktor Bogacz ([A])
14 MF  CHI Marcelo Morales ([A])
16 MF  USA Julian Hall ([A])
21 GK  ENG Aidan Stokes ([A])
22 MF  NOR Dennis Gjengaar ([A])
24 DF  USA Curtis Ofori ([A])
27 DF  USA Davi Alexandre ([A])
33 FW  USA Roald Mitchell ([A])
34 DF  COL Juan Gutierrez
35 DF  GER Brooklyn Schwarz (on loan from SG Sonnenhof Großaspach)
37 FW  GHA Mohammed Sofo ([A])
39 MF  ARG Nehuén Benedetti (on loan from Estudiantes de la Plata)
40 DF  BRA Caio Ramalho (on loan from Sfera Futebol Clube)
45 DF  USA Copeland Berkley
46 MF  USA Dylan Sullivan
50 DF  ECU Jair Collahuazo
52 DF  PAN Aimar Modelo (on loan from CA Independiente)
53 DF  USA Ian Paola ([B])
55 GK  USA Austin Causey
56 DF  USA Matthew Dos Santos
57 GK  USA Alan Rutkowski
60 GK  VEN Charlie DeMarco
65 MF  UGA Steven Sserwadda
66 FW  USA Tanner Rosborough ([A])
70 FW  CRC Andy Rojas (on loan from C.S. Herediano)
73 GK  JAM Joshua Grant ([B])
74 MF  USA Timothy Logan ([B])
75 MF  USA Ezra Widman
76 DF  USA Jeffrey Bryjak
77 MF  USA Adri Mehmeti ([A])
79 MF  PAN Rafael Mosquera (on loan from C.D. Plaza Amador)
80 MF  USA Nate Worth (on loan from Tampa Bay Rowdies)
82 MF  UGA Ibrahim Kasule
88 MF  ATG Aiden Jarvis ([A])
89 FW  USA Christian Gallagher ([B])
90 MF  MLI Malick Dembele (on loan from Yeelen Olympique)
91 FW  PAN Mijahir Jiménez (on loan from C.D. Plaza Amador)
92 FW  USA Dennis Nelich ([B])
-- GK  POL Tobias Szewczyk
  1. ^
    Signed to first team contract with New York Red Bulls.
    2.
  2. ^
    New York Red Bulls Academy player.
    3.

Out on loan

No. Pos. Player Nation
41 MF  USA Aidan O'Connor (at Vancouver FC)

Player statistics

Top appearances

As of June 24, 2017
# Name Career USL Playoffs Open Cup Total
1 Konrad Plewa 2015–2016 47 6 1 54
Dan Metzger 2015–2017 49 4 1 54
2 Derrick Etienne 2015–2019 42 4 1 47
3 Brandon Allen 2016–2017 41 4 0 45
4 Devon Williams 2015–2016 36 3 0 39
5 Stefano Bonomo 2015–2018 31 6 0 37
Tim Schmoll 2016–2017 34 3 0 37
Vincent Bezecourt 2016–2019 33 4 0 37

Bold signifies current Red Bulls II player

Top goalscorers

As of March 7, 2020[23]
# Name Career USL Playoffs Open Cup Total
1 Brandon Allen 2016–2017 24 6 0 30
2 Jared Stroud 2018–2020 22 0 0 22
3 Stefano Bonomo 2015–2018 18 3 0 21
Tom Barlow 2018–2019 19 2 0 21
4 Junior Flemmings 2016–2017 16 1 0 17
5 Vincent Bezecourt 2016–2019 12 2 0 14
6 Florian Valot 2016–2021 11 2 0 13
7 Derrick Etienne 2015–2017 9 2 0 11

Bold signifies current Red Bulls II player

Honors

National
Competitions Titles Seasons Runner-up
USLC Cup (Tier 2) 1 2016 -
USLC Players' Shield 1 2016 -
Eastern Conference (Regular Season) 1 2016 -
Eastern Conference (Playoffs) 1 2016 -

See also

References

  1. ^ "Red Bulls announce USL Pro team". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  2. ^ "FINAL LOOK BACK: The Inaugural New York Red Bulls II season". RedBullsAcademy.com.
  3. ^ "Red Bulls name John Wolyniec head coach of NYRB II". RedBullsAcademy.com.
  4. ^ "Red Bulls II sign Academy product Tyler Adams". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  5. ^ "New York Red Bulls II announce roster ahead of inaugural game". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  6. ^ "MATCH RECAP: Red Bulls II 0, Rochester Rhinos, 0". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved March 19, 2015.
  7. ^ "MATCH RECAP: Red Bulls II 4, Toronto FC II 1". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  8. ^ "New York Red Bulls stun Premier League champs Chelsea – ESPN FC". ESPNFC.com. July 22, 2015. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "New York Red Bulls II Make Montclair State University Home; Remainder of 2016 USL Schedule to be played at Red Bull Arena". newyorkredbulls.com. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  10. ^ "New York Red Bulls II clinch 2016 USL Regular Season Championship". NewYorkRedBulls.com.
  11. ^ "Red Bulls II Claim USL Regular Season Championship". USLSoccer.com. September 7, 2016.
  12. ^ "Allen's Hat Trick Leads Red Bulls II to USL Cup". USLSoccer.com. October 23, 2016.
  13. ^ "New York Red Bulls II Unveil 2020 Return to Play Schedule". New York Red Bulls. July 2, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  14. ^ "Red Bulls II Appoint Gary Lewis as New Head Coach". USLChampionship.com. February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2022.
  15. ^ https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-ii-part-ways-with-gary-lewis
  16. ^ "MLS NEXT Pro Unveils 21 Clubs for Inaugural Season". orlandocitysc.
  17. ^ https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/news/new-york-red-bulls-ii-name-ibrahim-sekagya-as-head-coach
  18. ^ https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/new-york-red-bulls-announce-promotion-of-nyrb-ii-head-coach-ibrahim-sekagya-to-full-time-first-team-assistant-coach
  19. ^ https://www.newyorkredbulls.com/2/news/new-york-red-bulls-ii-appoint-former-u-s-men-s-national-team-midfielder-michael-bradley-as-head-coach
  20. ^ "Meet: The Rampage, First Team-Recognized Supporters Group for NYRB II". newyorkredbulls.com. March 31, 2017. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  21. ^ "North American cups: Where MLS teams will compete in 2025, qualification criteria". MLSSoccer.com. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  22. ^ "NYRBII Players". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  23. ^ "2018 Individual Rankings". USL Championship. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
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