Because I hate myself, I decided to construct my list of the top ten players in Louisville city history. This was not easy, simple, or without stress, but it was fun to some degree. What made it tough, and what we as fans should be thankful for, is the depth of players to pick from. This list could have been a top 20, and it still would have been just as stressful because of the legacy of success that LouCity has built. This will be a 10-part series highlighting those who have helped make Louisville City the tremendous success that it is. I hope you enjoy it! (I also accept no criticism for my opinions!)
Honorable Mentions: These gentlemen just missed the cut for a variety of reasons.
Wilson Harris- The man who has led the LouCity attack the last couple of seasons has 53 goals to his name and a USL Championship all-league first-team selection. He narrowly misses the list
George Davis IV- 123 appearances and 23 goals to his name was tough to ignore, but Davis’ impact goes beyond his playing days as he is currently the Director of both the LouCity and Racing Foundations.
Paco Craig- Craig found success with LouCity as a two-time champion and two All-League First Team appearances and one Second team in three straight seasons, but the bad came with the good as he was a yellow card machine
Matt Fondy- The inaugural season Captain broke the league record for goals scored at 22 and won the MVP, but was here for just that season.
Bryan Burke- Ditto the above. Burke came to LouCity as almost a rehab stint on behalf of Orlando City and all he did was lead the league in assists and win Defender of the Year
10. JOSH WYNDER
The first homegrown Academy player to go overseas. The summation could end there. Josh debuted for City in 2021 at the ripe age of 16 and went on to log 38 appearances across 2 and a half seasons before making his USL record-breaking move, $1.2 million, to Benfica in Portugal, where he currently plays for their second team and has been impressing this season with 3 goals to his name already. The teenage Centerback showed maturity beyond his years and elite athleticism and ball skills in his time at LouCity, and was able to overtake veteran Wes Charpie in the starting defense. Josh may have only scored 2 goals and not broken 50 caps, but his impact is measured in representing City as a pathway for young players to grow, develop, and make huge moves.
9. Jonathan Gomez
JoGo may have only been at LouCity for 2 seasons, but what a run it was. City signed him to his first professional deal at 17 in 2020 and he would go on to appear in 36 games. Gomez had an outstanding 2021 season that saw him named the USL Championship Young Player of the Year and to the All-League First Team. After that fantastic season, he was acquired by Real Sociedad in Spain where he primarily played on their second team and recently moved to a team in the Greek league. I slot him slightly ahead of Josh Wynder, even though he spent less time in Louisville, because JoGo acquired more accolades. You could argue whether he was the most dynamic Left-Back in team history, but what you can’t debate is that he was the first young player to use City as a launching pad to a European career.
8. Magnus Rasmussen
How could you not put the first ever goal scorer in franchise history on this list? The left-footed Danish maestro was much more than just that inaugural goal as he bagged 25 goals across his 5 seasons which included a USL Cup in 2018 and an all-League First Team selection in 2019. That 2019 season saw him lead LouCity in scoring with 13 USL goals and 17 total. Magnus still ranks third in franchise history in goals scored at 29, though he hasn’t played for the club since 2020. A lesser-known moment in Magnus’ career is that technically he scored the winner vs. Indy in the Eastern Conference Finals once the game went to stoppage time. True to form, Magnus toe poked with his left even though it was a perfect setup for a right-footed finish. The franchise has never quite been able to replace or replicate his ability to score from the top of the box, and if it wasn’t for COVID, who knows what his legacy here would have been.
7. Greg Ranjitsingh
The longest serving Goalie in franchise history, but that isn’t the main reason Greg is on this list. He began his career as Scotty Goodwin’s backup, but came to be the starter once Goodwin retired to attend Harvard Medical School (what a nerd). Greg was in the net for City’s two title wins and was a catalyst for finally dethroning the New York Red Bulls II in the Eastern Conference Finals as he made two saves in the 2017 PK shootout that included him somehow tipping one off the crossbar. To this day my eyes still don’t believe he saved that fifth penalty from my view in Scouse House. Greg was also the first international call-up in franchise history when Trinidad and Tobago called him up during his time with City. Ranjitsingh left LouCity to follow Coach O’Connor to Orlando City, where he played sparingly and was ultimately released and has bounced around MLS since. Greg is without a doubt the greatest goalie in franchise history, sorry Ben Lundt, and is deservedly a top ten inclusion.
6. Oscar Jimenez
Oscar quietly went about his business. He played both left and right back, and was a fixture in the lineup during his six seasons in Louisville. What you may not have realized is all he did was sit 4th in appearances at 205 and second in assists at 39. He was a model of consistency and professionalism that was also our main corner kick taker. He is a two-time USL Cup winner and USL All-League First Team selection in 2019. Oh, and all of that came from a guy who was signed after an open tryout session. Oscar was also one of our first, if not the first, to wear his first name on the back of his kit. He is a Louisville City legend, but unfortunately not in the first names you would think of. Selfishly he has one of my favorite goals in team history two years ago, when he scored a late stoppage time volley to beat Oakland at Lynn after a controversial game.
5. Paolo DelPiccolo
This was a tough decision for me. Paolo is the longest serving Captain in club history, the appearances leader at 242, 4th in assists at 19, and scored 23 goals in his time in Louisville. Doesn’t hurt he is also a University of Louisville alumni. Paolo was a two-time USL Cup winner and the MVP of the 2018 USL Cup Final, where he marked, harassed, and maintained Didier Drogba all game. As a holding midfielder in the center of our team, he didn’t produce much impact statistically beyond his appearances total, which was a main reason I have him at 5. He also never achieved any All-League status. He was a member of the infamous “Triumvirate”, him/Luke Spencer/George Davis IV, that managed the team after James O’Connor left to take over Orlando City. His impact is ongoing though as he is an assistant with City and helps run the Academy.
4. Brian Ownby
Can we figure out what stick Brian Ownby stepped on at some point to cause the universe to continually injure and strike him down? The most dynamic and threatening player in franchise history only sits at 4 because of that meddlesome injury history. When he is on the field, City are a different animal. Ownby forces the opposition to cheat his way and it still doesn’t matter with his pace and skill. Brian scored the winning goal, and a magnificent upper 90 one at that, vs. the New England Revolution in the Open Cup in 2018. Ownby led the team in scoring in the 2017 playoffs with 3 goals on the way to City’s first title. He is fifth all-time with 203 appearances and second in goals scored with 35. His 46 assists are the most in franchise history. It is also a crime that he has never made a USL All-League team (begins sharpening pitchfork and lighting torch). It is his lack of accolades and health history that forced my hand at putting him #4, despite his cult figure stature and popularity as a whole. Please don’t let his beard read that I ranked him 4th, I have a family.
3. Niall McCabe
It has got to be lonely being Niall McCabe. All of his friends and colleagues from the initial LouCity roster have moved on. He is the sole standard bearer left from Year 1. Now I am not describing trotting out a dinosaur and evoking memories once a year, but a player who has transformed in front of our eyes. He joined LouCity as more of an attacking midfielder, scoring 6 goals across his first two seasons. Along the way he has been bitten (thanks Djiby and FC Cincy), won two USL Cups, and evolved from a fiery attacking midfielder (I know stereotypical with the whole Irish thing) into a calming, controlling presence at the back of the midfield and a club leader. Niall does not have the individual accolades of others, nor does he hold any club records (aside from maybe curse words utilized), but he has one thing no one else can claim: He has been here since Day 1.
2. Cam Lancaster
Did Cam step on the same stick that cursed Brian Ownby? Cameron Lancaster, a product of the Tottenham Hotspur system, was actually a year 1 Louisville City player, but he missed practically all year with his second torn ACL. He would continuously fight fitness issues his whole career, but especially so in the early years. He came to the forefront of City in 2017 when he scored 10 goals including the winning header in the USL Cup Final vs Swope Park Rangers. He followed that up by setting the league record for goals in 2018 with 25, winning the Golden Boot, and being named to the All-League First Team. He would leave after that season for MLS Nashville, but return later. He would make another All-League First Team in 2020 with 10 goals scored and All-League Second Team in 2021 with 20 league goals scored. The most prolific scorer in franchise history with 88 goals bagged, a record he will likely hold for the foreseeable future, he did in just 148 appearances.
- Sean Totsch
Sean Totsch is as good a definition of consistency as you will find, if he did come from Rochester (we won’t completely hold that against him). All he has done is win two USL Cups, make three straight All-League First Teams (2020-2022), and back to back All-League Second Teams (2023-2024). He sits second in appearances in franchise history at 235, but barring some kind of unforeseen issue, he will hold the club record for it. He became an unlikely automatic selection as City’s designated PK taker, and took on a mythical status doing it. One of the best to ever lace them up in USL Competition, and #1 on this list. I struggled with who to put at #1, and originally had Cam here, but after stepping away and thinking on it, it is Sean. He is the most individually accomplished player in terms of accolades. He will likely be our appearances leader and finish in the top 5 for goals scored (already at 25). About the only thing you can say he hasn’t done is win USL Defender of the Year, somehow. He made it cool to tuck your jersey in, what more is there to say.
Corner Kicks with Cecil 
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