.gif)
Alan Green (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Alan Green is a retired English-American Association football forward
. He began his career with Coventry City
before moving to the United States in 1979. He played a total of seven seasons in the North American Soccer League
and earned one cap with the U.S. national team.
, England
, began his professional career with Coventry City
. He joined the club as a striker
in 1970, but did not make his first team debut until April 22, 1972. That was his only appearance during the 1971-1972 season. He peaked with the club during the 1975-1976 season when he played 31 games and scored 9 goals. After that his appearances and goals slowly began to taper off. In 1977, Coventry loaned Green to the Washington Diplomats
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). The NASL’s season ran during the summer months allowing British players to join the teams during the English off season. Green played 16 games, scoring 9 goals and assisting on 5 others. At the end of the 1978-1979 English season, Green left Coventry to move permanently to the North American Soccer League
. He rejoined the Washington Diplomats
where he remained for the next two years. Green became a prolific scorer with the Dips, finding the net 42 times in 56 games. His scoring feats led to his selection as an NASL All Star Honorable Mention for 1980. At the end of the 1980 season, the Dips sold Green to the Jacksonville Tea Men
. He spent two seasons with the Tea Men. In his first season, Green again gained NASL All Star Honorable Mention. However, his scoring pace began to fade in 1982 when he bagged only six goals on 18 games. At the end of the season, the Tea Men traded Green to the San Jose Earthquakes
. He played the 1982-1983 NASL indoor season with the Earthquakes, scoring seven goals. In 1983, U.S. Soccer
, in coordination with the NASL, entered the United States national team
, as Team America
, into the NASL as a franchise. The team drew on American citizens playing in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Soccer League
. However, both U.S. Soccer and the NASL soon discovered that many top American players preferred to remain with their existing clubs. In order to fill the roster, U.S. Soccer was forced to draw on foreign imports, and it negotiated with the Earthquakes to loan Green to Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10-20 record, the worst in the NASL, U.S. Soccer withdrew the team from the league. At the end of the 1983 outdoor NASL season, Green became a free agent and signed with the New York Cosmos
as the team prepared for the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season. When Green moved to the Cosmos, he still had not yet become an American citizen, but received his citizenship in November 1983. Green played with the Cosmos through the indoor season and the subsequent 1984 outdoor season.
in a May 30, 1984 scoreless tie with Italy
. He started but came off for Perry Van der Beck
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He began his career with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
before moving to the United States in 1979. He played a total of seven seasons in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and earned one cap with the U.S. national team.
Professional
Green, a native of WorcesterWorcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, began his professional career with Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
. He joined the club as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
in 1970, but did not make his first team debut until April 22, 1972. That was his only appearance during the 1971-1972 season. He peaked with the club during the 1975-1976 season when he played 31 games and scored 9 goals. After that his appearances and goals slowly began to taper off. In 1977, Coventry loaned Green to the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). The NASL’s season ran during the summer months allowing British players to join the teams during the English off season. Green played 16 games, scoring 9 goals and assisting on 5 others. At the end of the 1978-1979 English season, Green left Coventry to move permanently to the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
. He rejoined the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
where he remained for the next two years. Green became a prolific scorer with the Dips, finding the net 42 times in 56 games. His scoring feats led to his selection as an NASL All Star Honorable Mention for 1980. At the end of the 1980 season, the Dips sold Green to the Jacksonville Tea Men
Jacksonville Tea Men
The Jacksonville Tea Men were an American soccer team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. Overall, the Tea Men played a total of four seasons in Jacksonville, first in the major league-level North American Soccer League from 1980–1982, then in the lower level American Soccer League and United...
. He spent two seasons with the Tea Men. In his first season, Green again gained NASL All Star Honorable Mention. However, his scoring pace began to fade in 1982 when he bagged only six goals on 18 games. At the end of the season, the Tea Men traded Green to the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
. He played the 1982-1983 NASL indoor season with the Earthquakes, scoring seven goals. In 1983, U.S. Soccer
United States Soccer Federation
The United States Soccer Federation is the official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States. Its headquarters are located in Chicago, Illinois. It is a member of FIFA and is responsible for governing amateur and professional soccer, including the men's, women's, youth, futsal...
, in coordination with the NASL, entered the United States national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
, as Team America
Team America (soccer)
Team America was a professional version of the United States men's national soccer team which played as a franchise in the defunct North American Soccer League during the 1983 season...
, into the NASL as a franchise. The team drew on American citizens playing in the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. However, both U.S. Soccer and the NASL soon discovered that many top American players preferred to remain with their existing clubs. In order to fill the roster, U.S. Soccer was forced to draw on foreign imports, and it negotiated with the Earthquakes to loan Green to Team America. When Team America finished the 1983 season with a 10-20 record, the worst in the NASL, U.S. Soccer withdrew the team from the league. At the end of the 1983 outdoor NASL season, Green became a free agent and signed with the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
as the team prepared for the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season. When Green moved to the Cosmos, he still had not yet become an American citizen, but received his citizenship in November 1983. Green played with the Cosmos through the indoor season and the subsequent 1984 outdoor season.
U.S. National Team
Once Green gained U.S. citizenship, he earned a single cap with the United States national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in a May 30, 1984 scoreless tie with Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
. He started but came off for Perry Van der Beck
Perry Van der Beck
Perry Van der Beck is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder and manager and a current soccer executive....
.