By Timothy Belin
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - March 7, 2025
As we look ahead to the start of a seventh season — the Legion kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday against Loudoun United FC — here’s everything you need to know before we get underway.
Who are Birmingham Legion FC?
Birmingham Legion FC were founded in 2018 and compete in the USL Championship, the second-highest division of professional soccer in the United States, since 2019. They are one of 12 teams comprising USL Championship’s Eastern Conference, competing with the likes of Louisville City FC, the Charleston Battery and Indy Eleven.
Nicknamed either the Three Sparks — in reference to the three sparks on the club’s hammer and anvil logo — or the Black and Gold — reflecting the team colors — Birmingham finished in the playoff spots in each of their first five seasons. Last year, the 2024 season, was the first time the Legion missed out on the postseason, doing so by just three points.
Coached by Tom Soehn since its inception, the team plays its home games at Protective Stadium, in downtown Birmingham, since 2022.
What returning players should I know about?
Perhaps the Legion’s most recognizable talent is attacking midfielder Enzo Martínez, immediately noticeable for his imposing ginger beard. The 34-year-old veteran has been a Birmingham player since 2022 and surpassed 100 appearances for the club last season while leading all Legion players for minutes played with more than 3,000. He was also the team’s second-highest scorer and joint-leader for assists, getting six goals and six assists across the season.
Birmingham’s only other ever-present player last season, appearing in all 36 games, was at the other end of their career. Kobe Hernández-Foster joined the Legion at the beginning of the 2024 season and immediately made himself a vital cog of the team’s midfield at just 22 years of age. A product of the Los Angeles Galaxy academy, Hernández-Foster spent a few years in Europe before returning to the States with the Legion and will no doubt be looking to kick on from an impressive first season.
Last but not least is Phanuel Kavita. Signed ahead of the 2021 season, Kavita immediately received the Legion captaincy and has been an ever-present at the heart of the Three Sparks’ backline ever since. The 31-year-old DR Congo native already has over 100 Legion appearances and will no doubt be crucial to any hopes of a successful season.
Who are the new faces to look out for?
Birmingham Legion’s most exciting addition ahead of the new season is undoubtedly Mexican forward Danny Trejo. Drafted 14th overall by the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2021, Trejo is best known for his stint at Phoenix Rising FC, one of the USL Championship’s Western Conference teams, where he led the team with 17 goals and nine assists in 2023 on the way to the USL Championship title. After spending the past year in the Polish top-flight with Korona Kielce, 26-year-old Trejo is back in the States and will be heavily leaned on to fill in the void left by Stéfano Pinho, last season’s top scorer for the Three Sparks.
Partnering him upfront will be Ronaldo Damus, who joined on loan from Swedish outfit GIF Sundsvall. Despite his contract with the Swedish side, Damus is a veteran of the USL Championship. He spent time with Orange County SC prior to his move across the Atlantic and returned Stateside for the past two seasons, with loan stints first with the San Diego Loyal and then the Colorado Springs Switchbacks. Damus was the Switchbacks’ leading scorer last year as the team claimed the USL Championship crown, and he is also a fully capped international for the Haitian national team.
Stephen Turnbull is another exciting offseason addition for the Legion, joining from fellow USL Championship side Rhode Island FC. Primarily a right-back, Turnbull appeared 34 times for Rhode Island as the team made it to the USL Championship final in its inaugural season. The 26-year-old previously played for MLS-side New York City FC, making 11 top-flight appearances.
What can we expect from the season?
Having missed out on the playoffs for the first time last season, Birmingham’s primary objective will no doubt be to right that wrong in 2025. To do so, the team will need to finish among the best eight teams in the USL Championship Eastern Conference.
A key difference from last season should come in the goalscoring department, thanks to the additions of Trejo and Damus. After scoring just 44 goals from 34 league games last season, the Black and Gold will be hopeful that the addition of not one, but two USL-winning goal scorers will take the team to new heights.
When are the games?
Birmingham Legion kicks off the USL Championship season with back-to-back home games against Loudoun United FC and Louisville City SC, on March 8 and 15, respectively. Both games start at 7 p.m. and take place at Protective Stadium.
The team will then travel to Arizona for the first round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, a nationwide cup competition pitting together teams from across the U.S. soccer landscape, ranging from MLS sides to amateur outfits. The Legion with face off with the Little Rock Rangers, a USL League Two team, March 19 at ESC Wildcat Stadium.
Download the Birmingham Legion FC home schedule from our website!