LOS ANGELES (Saturday, March 16, 2024) – Ventura County FC today announced the club’s inaugural roster ahead of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season. Kicking off the 2024 campaign at home, VCFC plays host to The Town FC at Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track & Field Stadium on Sunday, March 17 (5:00 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass).
Ventura County FC Head Coach Matt Taylor begins his first season with the club, after being named manager on Jan. 22, 2024. Taylor embarks on his first full-time head coaching role with VCFC after spending the last six years as an assistant coach for Real Salt Lake (2021-23) and at his alma mater UCLA (2018-20). Taylor’s coaching staff includes Assistant Coach Alex Yi, Goalkeeper Coach Ian Feuer, Video Analyst Grant Heywood and Performance Coach Luke Garcia.
When the MLS NEXT Pro season kicks off March 17, 12 players will be signed to the Ventura County FC roster. Returning players from the 2023 MLS NEXT Pro campaign include goalkeeper Nolan Anderson, defenders Ascel Essengue and Carson Klein, midfielder Diego López and forward Sergio Villalpando. Seven new additions have been signed to Ventura County ahead of the 2024 campaign: defenders Harbor Miller (LA Galaxy Academy, U-17 USMYNT) and Christian Tchouante (Kadji Sports Academy), midfielders Nicolas Barros Schelotto (LA Galaxy Academy), Max Middleby (Central Coast Mariners II, U-20 Australia International) and Isaiah Parente (Columbus Crew) and forwards Sean Karani (UCLA) and Ruben Ramos Jr. (LA Galaxy Academy, U-17 USMYNT). Notably five players signed to VCFC are products of the LA Galaxy Academy: defenders Carson Klein and Harbor Miller, midfielders Nicolas Barros Schelotto and Diego López and forward Ruben Ramos Jr.Additionally, Ventura County FC will play host to United Premier Soccer League side Irvine Zeta FC II in the First Round of the U.S. Open Cup at Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track & Field Stadium on Thursday, March 21 (7:30 p.m. PT). The U.S. Open Cup First Round match on March 21 will be open to the public.
As previously announced, the LA Galaxy today unveiled the new brand identity for the organization’s MLS NEXT Pro club: Ventura County FC (Ventura County Fútbol Club; VCFC) in partnership with Oak Sports Holding. Previously known as LA Galaxy II, Ventura County’s newest professional sports team will play their home matches at Cal Lutheran University. VCFC will play its first two matches of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Regular Season at Dignity Health Sports Park’s Track & Field Stadium, with both matches open to the public. Ventura County will play the remaining matches of the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro season at Cal Lutheran University.
2024 VENTURA COUNTY FC ROSTER (as of March 16, 2024)
FORWARDS (3): Sean Karani, Ruben Ramos Jr. - @, Sergio Villalpando
MIDFIELDERS (4): Nicolas Barros Schelotto - @, Diego López - @, Max Middleby, Isaiah Parente
DEFENDERS (4): Ascel Essengue, Carson Klein - @, Harbor Miller - @, Christian Tchouante
GOALKEEPERS (1): Nolan Anderson
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
NEW SIGNINGS (7): Nicolas Barros Schelotto - @, Sean Karani, Max Middleby, Harbor Miller - @, Isaiah Parente, Ruben Ramos Jr. - @, Christian Tchouante
RETURNING (5): Nolan Anderson, Ascel Essengue, Carson Klein - @, Diego López - @, Sergio Villalpando
@ - LA Galaxy Academy Product
