# Sarasota Paradise

Sarasota Paradise is an American soccer club based in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, competing in the South Florida Division of USL League Two. The club began play in 2023 and plays their home matches at Premier Sports Campus.
The club is partly owned by Audigr Group Inc., a joint venture between entrepreneurs Marcus Walfridson and Kenneth Bethune.
Sarasota Paradise will join the professional league USL League One in the 2026 season.

## History

It was first announced on October 27, 2022, that a team in Sarasota would be joining USL League Two for the upcoming 2023 season, simply known at the time as Sarasota USL. Owned by operated by Sarasota Professional Soccer LLC with support from Audigr Group Inc., the clubs' branding and identity was to be decided through a Name the Team contest, with the results announced January 2023.
Club branding was announced by owner Marcus Walfridson on January 14, 2023.
Sarasota Paradise made their league debut on May 20, 2023, a 1–0 loss away at Miami AC. They made their home debut on June 3, 2023, defeating FC Miami City 2–1 in front of a crowd of nearly 500 spectators. 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.
On July 13, 2023, Walfridson announced his hopes for the club to turn professional and join USL League One in either 2025 or 2026.
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.
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.

## Stadium

Sarasota Paradise played their 2023 and 2024 home matches at Charlie Cleland Stadium at Ihrig Field, located on the campus of Sarasota High School, just south of downtown Sarasota.
The club will begin play at Premier Sports Campus in Lakewood Ranch for their 2025 season.

## Players and staff
### Technical staff

| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Mirko Dakovic |
| Assistant coach | Jamie Hutchison |
| Assistant coach | Glodi Konga |
| Assistant coach | Mark Macphee |

### Roster

| Position | Name | Number |
| Forward | Kai Tamashiro | 7 |
| Defender | Jaden Berman | 3 |
| Defender | Mikey Burke | 2 |
| Defender | Roman Holt | 47 |
| Forward | Seth Mahlmeister | 9 |
| Midfielder | JP Jordan | 6 |
| Midfielder | Valerio Tatafiore | 10 |
| Defender | Enzo Panozzo | 14 |
| Defender | Michael Carboni | 13 |
| Defender | Felipe Rojas | 12 |
| Midfielder | Victor Van den Broek | 14 |
| Defender | Hosei Kijima | 16 |
| Forward | William Pierce | 18 |
| Forward | Caleb Powell | 19 |
| Midfielder | Christian Leon | 15 |
| Midfielder | Ben Goldberg | 22 |
| Forward | Ryan Sims | 26 |
| Forward | Isaiah Easley | 30 |
| Forward | Oliver Dahlen | 35 |
| Forward | Andres Friere | 21 |
| Goalkeeper | Charlie Farrar | 38 |
| Goalkeeper | Brendan Reilly | 29 |

## 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 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 |