Following the transfer of Panos Armenakas to Memphis 901 FC, more than half the players who featured for Phoenix Rising FC in the 2023 USL Championship Final are no longer competing for the club. | Photo courtesy Michael Wiser / Charleston Battery
On November 12, 2023, Phoenix Rising FC walked off the field USL Championship title winners for the first time.
Less than nine months later, more than half the players who appeared that night – and both the Head Coach and First Assistant that guided a historic run from the sidelines – are no longer with the club.
Attacking midfielder Panos Armanakas was the latest departure on Thursday, transferred to fellow Championship club Memphis 901 FC. He followed the likes of Danny Trejo, Carlos Harvey and Manuel Arteaga in either departing as free agents or being transferred elsewhere.
Here’s a timeline on how the defending champions – who currently sit ninth in the Western Conference under interim Head Coach Diego Gomez – underwent a dramatic transformation.
December 1, 2023 – Defender Daniël Krutzen announces his retirement at 25 years old, electing to step away from the professional game due to accumulated injuries.
December 19, 2023 – Forward Manuel Arteaga is transferred to fellow USL Championship club the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The Venezuelan is currently fourth in the league with 11 goals this season, almost double the total of Rising’s leading scorer.
January 4, 2024 – Captain Darnell King announces his retirement and joins Rising’s coaching staff following a career that spanned 12 seasons, including four in Phoenix where he recorded more than 100 appearances for Rising in the USL Championship.
January 12, 2024 – Forward Danny Trejo signs with Korona Kielce of the Polish First Division as a free agent. In half a season with Korona, Trejo records two goals and two assists in 13 appearances to help the side avoid relegation.
January 16, 2024 – Head Coach Juan Guerra departs Rising to join the coaching staff of Houston Dynamo FC of Major League Soccer after a transfer agreement between the two clubs is reached.
January 24, 2024 – Midfielder Carlos Harvey is transferred to Minnesota United FC of Major League Soccer. The Panamanian international has made nine appearances and logged one assist for the Loons in MLS this season.
March 29, 2024 – Defender Eddie Munjoma is transferred to fellow USL Championship club the Tampa Bay Rowdies. The 26-year-old has made 19 appearances for Tampa Bay this season as a center back and wingback.
April 10, 2024 – Henry Uzochukwu signs with FK Sūduva of the Lithuanian First Division as Free Agent.
June 29, 2024 – Phoenix Rising FC announces it has parted ways with Head Coach Danny Stone. The 41-year-old served for 17 league contests following his promotion this offseason having served as an assistant coach at the club for three seasons.
July 9, 2024 – Winger Erickson Gallardo is transferred to Carabobo FC in the Venezuelan First Division having recorded one goal and five assists for the club in 36 appearances.
August 1, 2024 – Attacking midfielder Panos Armenakas is transferred to fellow USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC. The Australian recorded six goals and seven assists in 43 league appearances for Rising.
***
Where this leaves Phoenix Rising FC
Phoenix Rising FC goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo is putting together another stellar season behind the collection of retained talent in the club's defensive corps. | Photo courtesy Cameron Moon / Phoenix Rising FC
Of the seven players that remain with Rising from last year’s final, goalkeeper Rocco Rios Novo and defenders Mohamed Traore, John Stenberg and Alejandro Fuenmayor have been part of a defense that has been the foundation for Rising’s title defense.
Phoenix ranks tied for sixth in goals conceded at 23 in 20 games, good for a 1.15 goals-against average this season. It ranks seventh in Expected Goals against at 23.15xGA and tied for third in fewest shots allowed (206).
Forward Dariusz Formella, meanwhile, ranks second on the team with four goals and has notched two assists, while midfielders Emil Cuello and Jose Hernandez remain regulars.
Rising has added new pieces, too, including highly touted 20-year-old center back Pape Mar Boye out of Clemson and 19-year-old Italian midfielder Guilio Dorattioto, both of whom have contributed this season. More recently, it brought aboard attacking playmaker Charlie Dennis from the Tampa Bay Rowdies to try and help address its most pressing concern.
Rising has scored only 21 goals in 20 games this season, which is a key reason why it’s yet to win consecutive games. That’s slightly underperforming the club’s 23.55 Expected Goals mark this season, but even then, that mark is below average in the Championship – by comparison the Tampa Bay Rowdies lead the league with 41.53xG in 20 games.
There’s still time for Rising to come out of this, either through on-field improvement with what it’s got presently, or through more additions before the Championship’s roster freeze on September 9. Let’s not forget, at this point last year Phoenix was sitting in eighth place in the Western Conference standings and fighting for its playoff life, just as it is now. There’s no reason why the defending champion can’t rally again this fall.
What’s certain, though, is if Rising gets to defend its crown in November, it will be with a massively changed roster.
And with only one previous back-to-back title winner in league history, 2023’s magic will be hard to replicate.
