FC Dallas will officially unveil the brand-new East Side of Toyota Stadium this Saturday, Sept. 5 when the club hosts Sporting Kansas City at 7:30 p.m.
Along with the new club spaces, roof canopy, seating and amenities within the stadium, there’s also a new feature on the park’s exterior. Recently, FC Dallas commissioned local artist Carly Haynie to design murals on Toyota Stadium’s southeast walls as an homage to four key figures in the club’s history: Lamar Hunt, Fernando Clavijo, Bobby Rhine and Kenny Cooper.
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt, a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame and FC Dallas’ patriarch, played an instrumental role in the very formation of Major League Soccer in the mid 1990s and was its steward during the league’s turbulent early years. Hunt, who initially controlled the Kansas City and Columbus franchises, took ownership of the Dallas club in 2003 (the Dallas Burn, the precursor to FC Dallas, was originally a league-owned team). Two years later, Hunt rebranded the team as FC Dallas and opened Toyota Stadium, MLS’s third soccer-specific venue. Without Hunt’s vision and ambition, soccer in both Dallas and the United States would look very, very different.
Fernando Clavijo
Another member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Fernando Clavijo served as FC Dallas’ Technical Director from 2012 to 2018 and helped build the side that reached back-to-back 60-point seasons, as well as winning the MLS Supporters’ Shield and Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup double in 2016. Prior to laying the foundation for FC Dallas’ most successful era, Clavijo enjoyed a storied playing career in both indoor and outdoor soccer in the United States after emigrating from Uruguay. After gaining U.S. citizenship, Clavijo represented the USMNT 61 times, including at the 1994 FIFA World Cup on home soil. After hanging up his boots, Clavijo coached around MLS and internationally for a decade before joining the FC Dallas front office. Sadly, Clavijo stepped away from his role in 2018 amid a five-year battle with multiple myeloma. Clavijo passed away in February of 2019 but his memory and legacy will always be part of the FC Dallas family.
Bobby Rhine
Bobby Rhine left an indelible mark on FC Dallas. Having joined the club as the sixth overall pick in the 1999 MLS College Draft, Rhine went on to rack up 212 regular season appearances (3rd most in club history) while earning a reputation as a do-it-all player who could contribute all over the field. Rhine became a constant fan-favorite over his eight seasons and remained with the club following his retirement, first as Manager of Community Development and then as the team’s color commentator. Tragically, Rhine passed away unexpectedly in 2011 but his legacy in Dallas will never be forgotten. In addition to his mural on the southeast wall, Rhine’s memory is honored through the FC Dallas supporters’ section at Toyota Stadium, which bears his name.
Kenny Cooper Jr.
Kenny Cooper’s name is known to FC Dallas fans old and new. The son of Dallas Tornado goalkeeper Kenny Cooper Sr, Cooper Jr. joined the club in 2006 from Manchester United and went on to score 40 goals over four seasons while being named to the MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI along the way. After five years playing in Europe and around MLS, Cooper returned to Dallas in 2013 when he scored a memorable last-minute winner against Texas Derby rivals Houston Dynamo. Nowadays, you can spot Cooper at FC Dallas matches and events as he serves in his current role of official Club Ambassador.
