Brian Quinn (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Brian Quinn is a retired Irish-American soccer player and coach. He spent most of his professional career in North American where he played in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League. He later coached in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
and Major League Soccer
.
and hurling
to soccer. It was not until he was fourteen that he began to play the game regularly. In 1978, he began his playing career with Larne F.C.
In 1979, he signed with Everton F.C.
between 1979 and 1981, but spent his entire team on the reserve squad. In 1981, Quinn moved to the USA to join the Los Angeles Aztecs
of the North American Soccer League
. When the Aztecs folded at the end of the season, he moved to the Montreal Manic
for 1982 and 1983 outdoor seasons. The Manic folded at the end of the 1983 season, and Quinn signed with the San Diego Sockers as they prepared for the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season. In 1984, he played the last NASL season with the Sockers. In the fall of 1984, the Sockers jumped to the Major Indoor Soccer League as the NASL collapsed. He also played a season in the Canadian Soccer League in the late '80s with the Hamilton Steelers. Brian played seven MISL seasons Sockers winning six championships. In 1987, he played one outdoor season with the Hamilton Steelers
of the Canadian Soccer League
. In August 1991, he announced that he was leaving the team to sign with the U.S. national team. In October 1991, the national team sent Quinn on loan back to the Sockers until January 1992.
. He made his debut against the Republic of Ireland
in a friendly played at Foxboro Stadium
.
, hired Quinn to replace long-time head coach Ron Newman
. In 1997, he became the head coach of the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer
. As the youngest coach in league history, he compiled a 35-41 record over nearly three seasons. He then returned to the San Diego Sockers. He remained with them until the team ceased operations at the end of 2004. He has launched the Brian Quinn School of Soccer. In 2008, he became an assistant coach with the University of San Diego
men's team.
He also wrote the foreword to the book, "A History of the World Cup: 1930-2006," that was released in August 2007.
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 Major Indoor Soccer League. He later coached in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
and Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
.
Professional
As a youth, Quinn had preferred Gaelic footballGaelic football
Gaelic football , commonly referred to as "football" or "Gaelic", or "Gah" is a form of football played mainly in Ireland...
and hurling
Hurling
Hurling is an outdoor team game of ancient Gaelic origin, administered by the Gaelic Athletic Association, and played with sticks called hurleys and a ball called a sliotar. Hurling is the national game of Ireland. The game has prehistoric origins, has been played for at least 3,000 years, and...
to soccer. It was not until he was fourteen that he began to play the game regularly. In 1978, he began his playing career with Larne F.C.
Larne F.C.
Larne F.C. is an intermediate, Northern Irish football club playing in IFA Championship 1. The club, founded in 1889, hails from Larne and plays its home matches at Inver Park. Club colours are red and white...
In 1979, he signed with Everton F.C.
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
between 1979 and 1981, but spent his entire team on the reserve squad. In 1981, Quinn moved to the USA to join the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:...
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:...
. When the Aztecs folded at the end of the season, he moved to the Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic
Montreal Manic were a soccer team based out of Montreal that played in the NASL. They played from 1981 to 1983. Their home field was Olympic Stadium...
for 1982 and 1983 outdoor seasons. The Manic folded at the end of the 1983 season, and Quinn signed with the San Diego Sockers as they prepared for the 1983-1984 NASL indoor season. In 1984, he played the last NASL season with the Sockers. In the fall of 1984, the Sockers jumped to the Major Indoor Soccer League as the NASL collapsed. He also played a season in the Canadian Soccer League in the late '80s with the Hamilton Steelers. Brian played seven MISL seasons Sockers winning six championships. In 1987, he played one outdoor season with the Hamilton Steelers
Hamilton Steelers
The Hamilton Steelers were a charter member of the newly formed Canadian Soccer League and were locally owned by Mario DiBartolomeo. The club played mainly out of Brian Timmis Stadium adjacent to Ivor Wynne Stadium.Coaches for the opening CSL season were Kevin Grant, Jimmy Young and John Charles...
of the Canadian Soccer League
Canadian Soccer League
The Canadian Soccer League is the top soccer league in Canada and is controlled by the Canadian Soccer Association. It was formerly known as the Canadian Professional Soccer League , and was officially re-branded on May 17, 2006...
. In August 1991, he announced that he was leaving the team to sign with the U.S. national team. In October 1991, the national team sent Quinn on loan back to the Sockers until January 1992.
National team
Quinn earned 48 caps for the U.S. national team between 1991 and 1994 upon becoming an American citizen. A midfielder, he was a final cut for the 1994 World Cup squad. He scored his only international goal in a 3-0 win over GuatemalaGuatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
. He made his debut against the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland national football team
The Republic of Ireland national football team represents Ireland in association football. It is run by the Football Association of Ireland and currently plays home fixtures at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, which opened in May 2010....
in a friendly played at Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
.
Coach
In February 1995, the San Diego Sockers, now playing in the Continental Indoor Soccer LeagueContinental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
, hired Quinn to replace long-time head coach Ron Newman
Ron Newman (footballer)
Ronald Vernon Newman is a former association football player and coach. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame....
. In 1997, he became the head coach of the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. As the youngest coach in league history, he compiled a 35-41 record over nearly three seasons. He then returned to the San Diego Sockers. He remained with them until the team ceased operations at the end of 2004. He has launched the Brian Quinn School of Soccer. In 2008, he became an assistant coach with the University of San Diego
University of San Diego
The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs...
men's team.
He also wrote the foreword to the book, "A History of the World Cup: 1930-2006," that was released in August 2007.