Sarasota Paradise
| Founded | November 19, 2022 | ||
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| Stadium | Premier Sports Campus Lakewood Ranch, Florida | ||
| Owners | Marco Assis and Marcus Walfridson | ||
| Head Coach | Mika Elovaara | ||
| League | USL League One | ||
| Website | sarasotaparadise.us | ||
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Sarasota Paradise is an American soccer club based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, competing at USL League One. The club began play in 2023 and plays their home games at Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.
Sarasota Paradise is principally owned by Marco Assis, CEO of Propio Language Services, with Marcus Walfridson as co-owner.
History
Club branding was announced by founder Marcus Walfridson on January 14, 2023.
Sarasota Paradise made their league debut on May 20, 2023, a 1–0 loss away at Miami AC.[1] They made their home debut on June 3, 2023, defeating FC Miami City 2–1 in front of a crowd of nearly 500 spectators.[2] The team finished 4th in the South Florida Division, 6 points behind division winners Weston FC. Their final home game of the season garnered 1086 fans in attendance. Defender Hosei Kojima was selected to the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year, drafted number 17 in the MLS Superdraft, and is now playing for MLS side St. Louis City SC.[3][4]
In their second season, Sarasota Paradise secured their first South Florida Division Championship in club history with a 1-0 victory away against St. Petersburg FC. Sarasota Paradise remained undefeated at home throughout the season. Key results included a commanding 4-0 win over Miami AC, a thrilling 4-4 draw with Tampa Bay United, and a decisive 3-0 victory against Weston FC. This success earned the team a spot in the playoffs, where they faced Brave SC.[5]
On February 19, 2025, Sarasota Paradise was announced as an expansion team in USL League One of the third division of the United States soccer league system to start play in the 2026 season.[6] Garrett McLaughlin was announced as the first professional player signed in club history in November of that year.[7]
Stadium
The club currently plays at Premier Sports Campus at Lakewood Ranch.[8]
Players and staff
Technical staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach & Technical Director | Mika Elovaara |
| Assistant Coach | Trevor Sinclair[9] |
| Assistant Coach | Mark Ward[9] |
| Assistant Coach | Glodi Konga[9] |
| Goalkeeping Coach | Mark MacPhee[9] |
Current roster
- As of March 9, 2026
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular season | Playoffs | Open Cup | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4 | USL League Two | 4th, South Florida | Did not qualify | Did not qualify | 426 |
| 2024 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, South Florida | Conference Quarter Finals | Did qualify | 521 |
| 2025 | 4 | USL League Two | 1st, South Florida | Conference Semi Finals | First Round | 1,348 |
| 2026 | 3 | USL League One | N/A | N/A | Did not qualify | N/A |
Honors
League
- USL League Two South Florida Conference
- Winner (1): 2024
Player
| Year | Player | Country | Pos | Honor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Hosei Kijima | JPN | D | Team of the Year |
References
- ^ "Miami AC vs. Sarasota Paradise - Final Score - May 20, 2023". Fox Sports. Archived from the original on November 25, 2024. Retrieved November 25, 2024.
- ^ Kohn, Ryan (June 7, 2023). "Sarasota Paradise soccer team scores on and off field in first home game". Observer. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Hosei Kijima Selected in THE BEST 11 of The Nation". Sarasota Paradise. August 15, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Presenting the 2023 USL League Two Team of the Year". USL League Two. August 11, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
- ^ "Paradise Playoff and Season Recap". Sarasota Paradise. Retrieved September 20, 2024.
- ^ "Sarasota Paradise to join USL League One". USL League One. February 19, 2025. Retrieved February 20, 2025.
- ^ "Sarasota Paradise Signs Garrett McLaughlin as First Player in Club History". USL League One. November 12, 2025.
- ^ "New Home Field for Paradise". SarasotaParadise.us. Sarasota Paradise. December 19, 2024. Archived from the original on February 14, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Sarasota Paradise Announces Technical Staff Appointments Ahead of New Season". Sarasota Paradise. January 14, 2026. Retrieved January 25, 2026.