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.
As of 2025, Red Bulls II is the only team to ever win both the USL Championship (then known as the United Soccer League) and MLSNP championships.
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.
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.
On March 19, 2015, the soccer club announced the signing of their first-ever player, and former academy standout, Tyler Adams. 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. A week later, on March 28, the club played in their inaugural match, drawing 0–0 against the Rochester Rhinos. 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.
A New York Red Bulls team composed mostly of NYRB II players defeated Chelsea F.C. in a friendly on July 22, 2015.
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.
The club won their first ever trophy on September 7, 2016, claiming the Regular Season Title (the equivalent of the Supporters' Shield) 4–1 victory at Harrisburg City Islanders. On October 23, Red Bulls II won their first USL Cup after a 5–1 victory against Swope Park Rangers at Red Bull Arena.
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.
On February 7, 2022, the club appointed Gary Lewis as new head coach. However, amid a dismal first season that saw the team win just three of 34 games, Lewis was fired in July. 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.
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. 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. Sekagya was replaced by former US international and ex-MetroStar Michael Bradley.
Red Bulls II finished atop both the Eastern Conference and the Northeast Division, securing the No. 1 seed in the East and placing second overall in the league table. In the postseason, New York won the Eastern Conference playoffs and then captured the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro Cup, defeating Colorado Rapids 2 on penalties after a 3–3 draw at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Following the title, Bradley signed with Red Bull New York, becoming head coach of the club's first team.
Club culture Supporters The team-recognized, fan organized supporters group of Red Bulls II was The Rampage, founded by members of the New York Red Bulls supporters club Viking Army. The Rampage stopped operations after the Red Bulls II last home USL Championship game in September 2022 following the decision to not support the team after they moved the club to MLS Next Pro, a league dedicated for the MLS reserves teams to develop players.
Team records Overall records
Season USL Championship Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer Player Goals201528121064645424th (East)Conference Semifinals2R Marius Obekop620163021366121691st (East)*ChampionsNot eligible (MLS Reserve Team) Brandon Allen 21201732131455760447th (East)Conference Finals Stefano Bonomo 13201834138137159525th (East)Conference Finals Amando Moreno Brian White 10201934171167451576th (East)Conference Quarterfinals Jared Stroud 15202016511030371514th (East)3rd (Group F)Did not qualify Omar Sowe 7202132718742672814th (East)7th (Atlantic)Did not qualify Omar Sowe 8202234325624761514th (East)Did not qualify Jordan Adebayo-Smith 7 Season MLS Next Pro Play-offs U.S. Open Cup Top Scorer Player Goals20232814685336514th (Eastern)Conference SemifinalsNot eligible (MLS Reserve Team) Ibrahim Kasule 152024281061256614011th (Eastern)Did not qualify2R Roald Mitchell 820252817566856581st (Eastern)ChampionsNot eligible (MLS Reserve Team) Nehuén Benedetti11 * 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.
Head coach record
Includes USL Regular season, USL Play-offs and U.S. Lamar Hunt Open Cup
NameNationalityFromToPWLDWin%John WolyniecGary LewisIbrahim SekagyaMichael Bradley
Player honors YearPosPlayerCountryHonor(s)2016FWBrandon Allen United StatesAll-League First TeamUSL Cup MVPUSL Rookie of the YearDFAaron Long United StatesUSL Defender of the YearAll-League First Team2017MFVincent Bezecourt FranceAll-League Second Team2019Jared Stroud United StatesAll-League First Team2023Ibrahim Kasule UgandaMLS Next Pro Best XI2025Nehuén Benedetti ArgentinaMLS Next Pro Best XI
Players Roster
No.Pos.NationPlayer
Out on loan No.Pos.PlayerNation
Player statistics Top appearances
#NameCareerUSLPlayoffsOpen CupTotal1 Konrad Plewa2015–2016476154 Dan Metzger2015–20174941542 Derrick Etienne2015–20194241473 Brandon Allen2016–20174140454 Devon Williams2015–20163630395 Stefano Bonomo2015–2018316037 Tim Schmoll2016–2017343037 Vincent Bezecourt2016–2019334037 Bold signifies current Red Bulls II player
Top goalscorers
#NameCareerUSLPlayoffsOpen CupTotal1 Brandon Allen2016–20172460302 Jared Stroud2018–20202200223 Stefano Bonomo2015–2018183021 Tom Barlow2018–20191920214 Junior Flemmings2016–20171610175 Vincent Bezecourt2016–20191220146 Florian Valot2016–20211120137 Derrick Etienne2015–201792011 Bold signifies current Red Bulls II player
Honors
ContinentalCompetitionsTitlesSeasonsRunner-upNationalCompetitionsTitlesSeasonsRunner-upMLS Next Pro MLSNP Cup (Tier 3) 1 2025 - MLSNP Supporters' Shield 0 - 2025 MLSNP Eastern Conference (Regular Season) 1 2025 - MLSNP Eastern Conference (Playoffs) 1 2025 - MLSNP Northeast Division 1 2025 -USL Championship USLC Cup (Tier 3) 1 2016 - USLC Players' Shield 1 2016 - USLC Eastern Conference (Regular Season) 1 2016 - USLC Eastern Conference (Playoffs) 1 2016 2017, 2018
See also
Soccer in New York City New York Red Bulls U-23
References
External links