REIGNING EMLS CUP CHAMPION WILL REPRESENT NASHVILLE SC IN 2020
NASHVILLE – Before Nashville Soccer Club takes Major League Soccer by storm in 2020, it’s bringing in a big name to make some waves in the eSports world.
Nashville SC announced today it has signed reigning eMLS Cup Champion Cormac “Doolsta” Dooley to represent the club in Major League Soccer’s EA Sports FIFA eSports competition. After becoming the only player in history to win all three official eMLS tournaments, "Doolsta," a 19-year old freshman at Temple University, will be able to excel at the highest level of eSports while getting an education.
“I’m delighted to join Nashville SC and be a part of their first season in Major League Soccer,” said "Doolsta," Nashville SC eMLS player. “I’m looking forward to representing Nashville in the eMLS where I hope to defend my title, as well as on the international stage. I’m grateful for the team giving me a platform where I can attend college at no cost and earn a degree, while continuing to compete at the highest level. I’m excited for the future and can’t wait to get started.”
Nashville SC and "Doolsta" reached a unique partnership that enables the eMLS player to continue his professional eSports career while also pursuing a degree in Sports Management through a scholarship funded by Nashville SC. "Doolsta" is currently attending his freshman year at Temple University. As a result of signing with Nashville SC, Dooley will represent the club in all eMLS FIFA 20 competitions moving forward while maintaining a full academic schedule at Temple University.
In addition to having his expenses covered, Nashville SC has created an Advisory Board to assist in his professional development as a sports management professional. This Advisory Board which includes current and former executives from Major League Soccer, the video game, sportswear and advertising industries, will help prepare "Doolsta" to become a leader in the eSports category.
“We are very excited to have Cormac join our team,” said Nashville SC CEO Ian Ayre. “We are building the foundation of Nashville SC on and off the pitch and we have said from the outset that in MLS we are coming to compete not just to take part! Adding the reining eMLS Cup Champion to our roster sets our ambition in the gaming arena. Not only will he be a strong player and proven talent when we first compete in eMLS, but he will also become a fantastic asset and mentor to future Nashville SC gamers.”
Once an all-star high school soccer player, "Doolsta" will play on Temple’s club soccer team and in FIFA esports competing all around the world. Last season’s eMLS competition featured three main events: League Series One, League Series Two and the eMLS Cup. "Doolsta" swept all three events to capture the 2019 title while representing the Philadelphia Union.
On top of his domestic success, Dooley got the chance to compete on a global stage during his 2019 season. He qualified for the eChampions League in Manchester, England and represented the United States in the 2019 eNations Cup. His high global ranking gave him the chance to compete in the FIFA 19 Global Series Playoffs, where he came just short of qualifying for the 2019 FIFA eWorld Cup. Dooley finished 2019 ranked 19th in the entire world.
Born in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Dooley grew up outside of Galway, Ireland before moving back to the United States at the age of 16. Encouraged by a friend in 2018, he entered an open competition to represent the Philadelphia Union in all official eMLS competitions which he won, finishing 2018 in the Top 8 of all eMLS players.
Nashville SC fans will have the chance to meet Dooley this week at the Tennessee EA Sports FIFA Challenge Invitational Final in Nashville on Sunday, Nov. 3, where the top eight players from the four regional tournaments conducted across Tennessee will compete to become the ultimate state champion. The Invitational Final is open to the public and scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. CT in the Memorial Room at Alumni Hall on the campus of Vanderbilt University.
Cormac “Doolsta” Dooley – FIFA Gaming Resume
2020 Season
- Qualified - EA SPORTS FIFA 20 Global Series - First Event (Bucharest, Romania)
2019 Season
- Champion - Series One eMLS Cup
- Champion - Series Two eMLS Cup
- Champion - eMLS Cup
- Qualified - FUT Champions Cup #1 (Bucharest, Romania)
- Qualified - FUT Champions Cup #4 (Atlanta, GA)
- Qualified - LQE March (London, England)
- Qualified - LQE May (Atlanta, GA)
- Qualified - eChampions League (Manchester, England)
- Represented the United States in 2019 eNations Cup
- Qualified - FIFA 19 Global Series Playoffs representing the top 64 players in the world (Berlin, Germany)
- Finished 2019 season as #19 ranked FIFA 19 player in the world
2018 Season
- Champion - Philadelphia Union eSports Open Tournament
- Top 8 - eMLS Cup
