The club was one of the founding ten members of MLS in 1996, and in the league's early years was the most successful of all the teams.<br />United won the first double in modern U.S.<br />soccer history in 1996, beating the Los Angeles Galaxy to take the MLS Cup and the USL First Division club the Rochester Raging Rhinos to win the U.S.<br />Open Cup.<br />They have also been successful in CONCACAF competitions, winning the Champions' Cup and the Interamerican Cup in 1998.<br />Following his domestic successes the club's first coach Bruce Arena went on to direct the national team.<br />Arena's departure from United would signal a significant downturn in the team's fortunes. (*)