With U.S. Open Cup finalists Seattle and Columbus both headed to the MLS playoffs, U.S. soccer historian Roger Allaway recounts the history of clubs that havewon the U.S. double — the pro league and cup in the same year.
Since the launch of MLS in 1996, three teams have won the MLS and U.S. Open Cup titles in the same year: D.C. United(1996), the Chicago Fire (1998) and Los Angeles Galaxy (2005).
Allaway lists other double winners, going all the way back to the American Football Association Cup, first held in 1885.Allaway’s criteria for the league champion is the winner of the best league in existence at the time. Allaway’s first double winner is West Hudson, champion of the National Association Foot BallLeague and AFA Cup in 1912. The only two-time double winners are the Fall River (Mass.) Marksmen and Ukrainian Nationals of Philadelphia.
Seattle hosts Columbus in the final on Tuesday (FoxSoccer Channel, 10 pm ET).