El Paso Locomotive FC, also known as El Paso Loco or simply El Paso FC, is an American professional soccer team based in El Paso, Texas. Founded in 2018, the team made its debut in the USL Championship in 2019.
History
First season
In February 2018, the United Soccer League announced that El Paso was selected as an expansion team for the 2019 USL Championship season. The club will be run by MountainStar Sports Group. In June 2018, El Paso announced the signing of their first player, Omar Salgado. In July 2018, El Paso announced that their first head coach would be Mark Lowry, who had previously coached NASL's Jacksonville Armada FC. After a 34-game season, El Paso Locomotive FC qualified for the USL Championship play-offs, reaching the Western Conference finals before falling 2–1 to the Real Monarchs.
2020 With COVID-19 shutting down many organizations worldwide, USL followed suit on March 12, 2020, announcing the season would be temporarily suspended. In June 2020, USL Championship announced their return to play would be in an altered format of four team groups, competing for a spot in the playoffs starting in July 2020. After the shortened season, El Paso Locomotive FC qualified for the playoffs advancing to the Western Conference Finals for a second year in a row, before falling to Phoenix Rising FC 4–2 in a shootout.
2021–2024 The 2021 USL Championship season returned to normal scheduling, consisting of a 32 game season, after which El Paso Locomotive FC qualified for their third straight playoffs, but failing to get past the first round, falling to the Oakland Roots 1–0. Though they fell out of the playoffs in the first round, El Paso had a great season, with Coach Lowry and six players being chosen for the USL Copa XI. El Paso earned the title of best Division II team in Texas by winning the Copa Tejas Trophy. In addition, El Paso was recognized as the most successful club in Texas, winning the inaugural Copa Tejas Shield. Coach Lowry announced on November 15, 2021 that he would be leaving El Paso Locomotive FC.
In December 2021, El Paso Locomotive FC announced they had hired John Hutchinson as their head coach going into the 2022 USL Championship season. 2022 was again a 34 game season for the USL Championship, but for the first time in club history, El Paso failed to make the playoffs, finishing eight in the Western Conference. After the 2022 season, Coach Hutchinson stepped down as coach to return with his family back to Australia.
In January 2023, El Paso Locomotive announced they had hired Brian Clarhaut as their head coach going into the 2023 USL Championship season. After a 34 game season, El Paso finished in 7th place in the Western Conference, qualifying for the playoffs before losing to Orange County SC 1–0 in the Western Conference quarterfinals.
In the 2024 season, El Paso started with a 1–8–2 record in their first eleven games. On May 17, the team announced they had parted ways with head coach Brian Clarhaut and assistant coach Jon Burklo.
Club crest and colors
The Locomotive brand was unveiled on October 4, 2018, beating out finalists Lagartos, Estrellas, Stars, and Tejanos. The crest is shaped in a manner similar to Mission Style buildings and features three main colors: West Texas Sky blue, Desert Dusk blue, and High Noon Sun. The crest has 11 vertical stripes that represent the eleven players on the field and resemble the front of a locomotive. A city icon, The Star on The Mountain, adorns the top of the crest, which is shaped in the silhouette of the Franklin Mountains.
Kit history
Home, away, and third kits.
Home
Away
Third
Sponsorship PeriodKit manufacturerShirt sponsor 2019–2020 BLKSouthwest University 2021–2023 Adidas 2024–presentHummel
Stadium The club play at Southwest University Park, a baseball stadium in Downtown El Paso that is also the home field for the El Paso Chihuahuas of the Pacific Coast League.
Rivalries El Paso's primary rivals are New Mexico United and FC Juárez.
Players and staff Roster
Front-office staff Alan Ledford – president Mike Digiulio – general manager Brad Taylor - senior vice president
Technical staff Junior Gonzalez – head coach Ray Saari – technical director Vacant – 1st assistant coach Gianluca Masucci – assistant coach JC Garzon – goalkeeper coach Saul Soto – coordinator, equipment and player operations
Club captains
YearsNameNation 2019–2020 Chiró N'Toko 2021–2024 Yuma 2025–present Eric Calvillo
Team records Year-by-year
SeasonUSL Championship Play-offs U.S. Open Cup USL Jägermeister Cup Top scorer Head coach Player Goals2019341310114236506th, WesternConference FinalSecond round — Jerome Kiesewetter12 Mark Lowry2020169252414324th, Western1st, Group CConference FinalCancelled — Aarón Gómez5202132184105634642nd, Western1st, Mountain DivisionConference QuarterfinalsCancelled — Aarón Gómez Luis Solignac10202234131475652468th, WesternDid not qualifySecond round — Luis Solignac16 John Hutchinson202334131384151477th, WesternConference QuarterfinalsSecond round — Luis Solignac9 Brian Clarhaut202434818827463212th, WesternDid not qualifyThird round — Amando Moreno6 Brian Clarhaut Wilmer Cabrera202529108114540414th, WesternR1R32Group Stage Andy Cabrera10 Wilmer CabreraTotal213846960302273312––––Luis Solignac35– Notes 1. Top scorer includes statistics from league matches only.
Head coaches Coach Nationality Start End Games Win Loss Draw Win % Mark Lowry John HutchinsonBrian ClarhautMay 17, 2024Wilmer CabreraNovember 3, 2025Junior GonzalezDecember 29, 2025present00000.0 Notes *Includes USL Regular Season, USL Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup. Excludes friendlies.
Average attendance Year Reg. season Playoffs 2019 6,584 7,460 2020 1,458 1,659 2021 6,214 7,201 2022 6,517 DNQ 2023 6,590 N/A 2024 5,814 N/A 2025 5,514 3,469 Notes
Honors Minor Copa Tejas (Division 2) Winners (1): 2021, 2024 Copa Tejas (Shield) Winners (1): 2021
Player honors YearPlayerCountryPositionHonor2021Diego Luna United StatesMidfielderAll-League Second Team
References
External links