What is the MLS Wooden Spoon? An Explainer

Finishing last isn’t usually something to celebrate. But in Major League Soccer, it comes with a unique tradition: the MLS Wooden Spoon. This isn’t just some joke; it’s a real, fan-created award with a powerful origin story. It all started when frustrated Chicago Fire fans brought hundreds of spoons to a game. That act of defiance evolved into the official wooden spoon trophy we know today. For teams that earn the wooden spoon in MLS, it’s a strange badge of honor—a symbol of resilience and a reminder that even at the bottom, the passion never dies.

The trophy no MLS team wants: how The Wooden Spoon came to be
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What Is the MLS Wooden Spoon?

The Wooden Spoon symbolizes the last-place team in MLS and was born from a fan protest.
Fan reactions vary from humor to pride, showcasing a deeper connection to the league.
Several fans highlighted the uncanny nature of the spoon breaking multiple times, almost serving as a metaphor.
The ongoing conversation includes ideas of creating similar traditions for last-place finishes across other leagues.

The Fan-Created Opposite of the Supporters’ Shield

While every team strives for the Supporters’ Shield, awarded to the club with the best regular-season record, there’s an unofficial award for the team at the other end of the spectrum: the Wooden Spoon. This isn’t some league-mandated consolation prize; it’s a fan-created tradition, brought to life by the Independent Supporters Council. According to ESPN, the Spoon was designed to highlight the struggles of the league’s worst-performing team each season. But it’s more than just a marker of a tough year. It has become a way for fans to “find humor and build community even when their team is at the bottom of the league.” It’s a testament to the resilience of supporters who stick by their team through thick and thin, a sentiment we’ve seen in fans across all sports, like the heartfelt goodbyes from Oakland A’s fans.

A Response to No Promotion or Relegation

The Wooden Spoon’s significance is amplified by the structure of MLS itself. Unlike many international soccer leagues, MLS doesn’t have a promotion and relegation system, where the worst teams are demoted to a lower division. This means there’s no built-in penalty for finishing last. That’s where the Spoon comes in. The Independent Supporters Council, the group behind the award, calls it a “tool for fans to ‘shame’ owners who don’t invest enough in their teams.” It’s a grassroots form of accountability, a way for the fanbase to publicly express their dissatisfaction and push for better performance. This fan-driven pressure creates a different kind of controversy, one that holds teams accountable when the league structure doesn’t.

The Unlikely History of the Wooden Spoon Trophy

The Wooden Spoon trophy may have a humorous name, but its origins are rooted in a serious protest. During a match of the Chicago Fire, fans brought hundreds of wooden spoons to signal their dissatisfaction with the team’s performance and ownership choices. This playful yet pointed criticism unexpectedly turned into a trophy idea for the team finishing last in the league. Initially, it was a lighthearted jab at struggling teams, but over time, it morphed into a more nuanced badge of honor, a bit like the Lanterne Rouge in the Tour de France. As one user humorously pointed out, ‘If you’re going to come in last, at least you have something to haze your ownership about ‘winning.” This notion of using the trophy as a source of fraternity within struggling teams has transformed the perception of failure into an occasion for camaraderie.

Creation by the Independent Supporters Council (ISC)

The concept for the Wooden Spoon didn’t just appear out of thin air; it was a direct result of fan frustration. The idea was first floated by the Independent Supporters Council (ISC) in 2016, but it took a particularly dedicated fan to bring it to life. In 2017, Daniel Giroux, a supporter of the Chicago Fire, decided to create the first physical trophy. His motivation was simple and relatable: his team had finished in last place for two consecutive years, and the fanbase was fed up. This act transformed a collective feeling of disappointment into a tangible, league-wide tradition, proving that sometimes the most enduring symbols in sports come directly from the stands, not the front office.

From an Idea to a Physical Trophy

With the idea in place, the next step was creating the award itself. The design was intentionally humble and a bit comical. The trophy is constructed mostly from plywood and wood glue, featuring a prominent, cracked wooden spoon right in the middle. According to the creators, it was specifically designed to look cheap, oversized, and impossible to ignore. This wasn’t meant to be a polished, gleaming piece of hardware. Instead, its DIY aesthetic perfectly captures its grassroots origins and the unflattering “honor” it represents, making it a unique and memorable piece of fan-made sports culture that feels more like a tale of humorous misadventure than a celebration of victory.

A Purposefully Unflattering Design

The trophy’s shoddy construction is part of its charm and symbolism. In fact, the Wooden Spoon has reportedly broken on multiple occasions, a detail that many fans find fitting. Some see the breakages as a perfect metaphor for the poor performance of the team that “earned” it. The unflattering design serves as a constant, physical reminder of a season gone wrong. Unlike other trophies that celebrate success, the Spoon is a monument to failure. Its awkward, clunky presence is a form of dark humor, a shared joke among fans who understand that finishing last is a painful experience, but one that can also be met with a bit of gallows humor and resilience.

A Form of Protest: The Naming Convention

Beyond its role as a symbol of last place, the Wooden Spoon has also become a powerful tool for fan protest. Supporters have taken to renaming the trophy to call out team owners they feel are responsible for their club’s failures. For instance, it has been unofficially dubbed the “Andrew Hauptman Memorial Wooden Spoon” and the “Anthony Precourt Memorial Wooden Spoon” in the past. This practice turns the award from a simple joke into a sharp piece of commentary on team management and ownership. It’s a way for fans to voice their discontent and hold leadership accountable, sparking the kind of heated reactions that can lead to real change within a club.

How Fans Really Feel About Winning Last Place

<pThe reactions from fans regarding the Wooden Spoon vary drastically, ranging from laughter to pride. Some see it as a hilarious way to recount the misfortunes of their favorite teams. “It’s very funny that the Wooden Spoon has broken multiple times,” remarked one fan, highlighting the almost comical nature of the trophy’s symbolism. This breaking serves as both a literal and figurative representation of the fragility of a team’s standing in the league. Others, however, see the spoon as a foundation for future success. “We take PRIDE in our collection. It’s the foundation in which our success is now built upon,” said a user proudly addressing their club’s previous struggles. This blend of humor and acknowledgment of past failures creates a unique culture within the fanbase, fostering community among supporters who have seen their teams struggle.

The League’s Official Stance: Hands-Off

One of the most interesting aspects of the Wooden Spoon is that Major League Soccer wants nothing to do with it. The award is entirely unofficial and operates outside the league’s purview. It was created, and is still managed, by a collection of fan organizations known as the Independent Supporters Council (ISC). This hands-off approach from the MLS is precisely what gives the trophy its authentic power. It’s not a manufactured marketing ploy or a league-approved consolation prize; it’s a genuine, grassroots tradition born from the passion and frustration of the fans themselves. This separation ensures the Spoon remains a pure symbol of supporter sentiment, for better or for worse.

Varied Reactions from Supporters’ Groups

Naturally, no fanbase is thrilled to “win” the Wooden Spoon, and the initial reaction is often one of shame. However, many supporters’ groups have learned to embrace the trophy with a sense of humor and irony. They see it as a way to find a silver lining in a dismal season—after all, they still “won” something. More importantly, the Spoon has become a powerful tool for accountability. It serves as a tangible, constant reminder to team owners and front offices that the fans are paying attention and expect a higher standard of performance. This shared experience of disappointment, much like the sentiments of dedicated fans facing team struggles, can galvanize a community and turn a season of failure into a rallying cry for a better future.

A Look at the Wooden Spoon ‘Winners’ Circle

While no team sets out to win the Wooden Spoon, this fan-created tradition has developed its own unique history and a list of recipients who have endured the league’s toughest seasons. The unofficial award is given to the Major League Soccer (MLS) team that finishes with the worst record, turning a season of struggle into a memorable, if not desirable, piece of club lore. Looking back at the teams that have “earned” this title reveals stories of resilience, fan loyalty, and the cyclical nature of sports, where today’s last-place team could be tomorrow’s champion. It’s a testament to the supporters who stick with their club through thick and thin, finding community and even humor in the face of disappointment.

Past Recipients of the Spoon

The list of Wooden Spoon recipients is a who’s who of teams that have faced significant challenges, from roster shake-ups to tactical misfires. Since its inception, the trophy has been passed around the league, with various clubs experiencing the sting of finishing at the bottom of the table. For fans, it becomes a part of their team’s story—a low point that makes future successes feel even sweeter. This shared experience often strengthens the bond within a fan base, creating an “us against the world” mentality. It’s a quirky part of MLS culture that acknowledges the hardship of a long season without the promise of a playoff run, something supporters of struggling teams know all too well.

The Record for Most Last-Place Finishes

When it comes to holding the record for the most last-place finishes, one club stands apart. The San Jose Earthquakes have “won” the MLS Wooden Spoon five times, marking them as the most frequent recipients of the undesirable honor. This recurring struggle has become a significant part of the team’s narrative over the years. For their dedicated followers, it’s a history that tests loyalty, much like fans who have watched their teams face immense challenges, like the relocation of the Oakland A’s. Yet, it also serves as a powerful reminder that in sports, fortunes can change, and the hope for a turnaround season is what keeps fans coming back.

The COVID-19 Exception

The tradition of the Wooden Spoon saw a brief pause. The award was not given out in 2020, a year marked by the unprecedented disruption of the COVID-19 pandemic. With a shortened and altered season, it was widely agreed that naming a “worst” team under such unique and challenging circumstances would be unfair. This decision highlighted the community-focused spirit of the award; it’s meant to be a part of the normal ebb and flow of a full season, not a penalty during a global crisis. The hiatus was a small footnote in the trophy’s history, but it underscored the thoughtful nature of the fan groups who uphold the tradition.

It’s Not Just MLS: Other Unwanted Sports Trophies

<pThe conversation surrounding the Wooden Spoon also led to an interesting comparison with other sports and their own traditions of recognizing last-place finishes. One participant in the thread mentioned the Lanterne Rouge in cycling, awarded to the last rider in the Tour de France. This acknowledgment of endurance and commitment raises the question: should other leagues adopt similar practices? Could recognizing the struggle be a way to encourage teams to fight harder rather than just focusing on avoiding last place? As a fan insightfully pointed out, “I’m surprised there isn’t a similar tradition in pro/real leagues at least.” It’s a point worth pondering in professional sports; perhaps embracing failure could lead to greater resilience and competition in leagues worldwide.

The Original Wooden Spoon: A Cambridge Tradition

The idea of giving a “wooden spoon” for finishing last didn’t begin on a soccer pitch or a rugby field. Its origins are actually academic, tracing back to the University of Cambridge in England. For over a century, the term was given to the student who achieved the lowest passing score in the university’s notoriously difficult mathematics exam. This booby prize wasn’t meant to be a mark of shame but rather a lighthearted acknowledgment of their performance. It was a playful way to recognize that while they came in last, they still successfully completed the challenge. This tradition of humorously highlighting the bottom of the rankings created a cultural touchstone that eventually spilled over into the world of competitive sports.

Wooden Spoons in Rugby and Australian Sports

The Cambridge tradition set the stage for the wooden spoon’s widespread adoption in sports, particularly in Rugby Union. In international competitions like the Six Nations Championship, the team that finishes at the bottom of the standings is informally said to have “won” the wooden spoon. It’s a tongue-in-cheek honor that recognizes a tough season without the sting of a formal punishment. This practice is also a major part of the sports culture in Australia, where last-place teams across various leagues earn the same title. This shared custom shows that the MLS trophy is part of a larger global tradition of finding community and humor in struggle, a sentiment that resonates with fans who stick by their teams through thick and thin, much like the heartfelt goodbyes shared when a team faces hardship.

The Debate: A Badge of Shame or a Rallying Cry?

<pThe nature of the conversations surrounding the Wooden Spoon also reflects broader ideas about team ownership and the quality of play in the league. One fan sarcastically questioned whether an ownership group actually wanted the trophy, prompting others to share anecdotes from their teams. Discussions about the state of the league are often tinged with humor, but there’s also an underlying seriousness as fans hold ownership accountable. “The actual wooden spoon on the trophy was one of hundreds that were brought to a Chicago Fire game in protest,” one fan revealed, adding depth to the trophy’s history. The connection fans feel to the Wooden Spoon often transcends just a symbol of last place; it’s a reminder to ownership about the responsibilities that come with being at the helm. The ongoing conversation serves as a collective testament to the fan base’s resilience, highlighting that regardless of results, their passion for the sport remains steadfast.

<pOverall, the Wooden Spoon trophy has morphed from a rather simplistic symbol of failure into an emblem of community, humor, and resilience within the MLS scene. It showcases the unique bond fans share with their teams, transforming adversity into moments of laughter and collective spirit. Whether it’s a proud display of how a team has overcome struggles or a humorous jab at continuously falling short, the Wooden Spoon remains an iconic symbol within football culture. As the league evolves, it will be interesting to see how the trophy influences fan interactions and perhaps even becomes a rallying point for underdog teams in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Wooden Spoon an official award from Major League Soccer? Not at all. The Wooden Spoon is a completely fan-driven tradition and is not recognized by the league. This separation is what gives the award its power. It’s a genuine expression from the supporters themselves, created to hold teams accountable when the official league structure doesn’t.

Why would fans create an award for finishing in last place? It’s less about celebrating failure and more about acknowledging it with a sense of humor and purpose. For many, it’s a way to cope with a disappointing season. More importantly, it serves as a very public and tangible message to team owners that the fans are paying attention and demand a better performance from the club.

Does the team actually get a physical trophy to keep? Yes, there is a real, physical trophy, and its design is part of the message. It’s intentionally oversized, made from cheap materials, and has even broken a few times. The supporters’ group of the team that finishes last is typically responsible for the trophy for the year, and it often makes appearances at fan events and tailgates.

What’s the point of the Spoon if there’s no relegation in MLS? That’s precisely why it exists. In leagues with promotion and relegation, finishing last has immediate consequences. Since MLS doesn’t have that system, the Wooden Spoon was created by fans to serve as a form of public accountability. It’s a way for the community to apply pressure on underperforming teams and their ownership.

Has any team ever turned things around after “winning” the Spoon? Absolutely. While it’s a mark of a tough season, many fanbases have used it as a rallying cry. The public nature of the “award” can motivate a club’s front office to make significant changes. Several teams have followed up a Wooden Spoon season with a much-improved performance, using that low point as the motivation needed to rebuild and succeed.

Key Takeaways

Fans Hold the Power, Not the League: The Wooden Spoon is a powerful symbol because it’s entirely fan-created. Supporters use it to hold owners accountable for a poor season, creating consequences in a league that lacks a promotion and relegation system.
Embrace the Humor in Hardship: Instead of just being a mark of shame, fan groups have turned the Spoon into a tool for community and resilience. It’s a way to find a silver lining in a tough season and rally together for a better future.
It’s a Unique Spin on a Global Tradition: The concept of a “wooden spoon” for last place exists in other sports, but the MLS version is special. It has a physical, comically oversized trophy that gets passed between teams, making it a tangible piece of fan culture.

The MLS Wooden Spoon: A History of Soccer’s Unwanted Trophy