Bruce Miller (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Bruce Miller is a retired Canadian soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
, and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned eight caps with the Canadian national team
and coached the Cleveland Crunch
to two National Professional Soccer League titles. He now coaches youth soccer in Northern Ohio
.
in 1975 and 1976. SFU reached the NAIA national men's soccer championship
finals in 1975 and won the championship 1976.
. He saw time in two games before moving to the Seattle Sounders
where he played only one game that season. As mentioned above, he then played the 1975 and 1976 college seasons with Simon Fraser. In 1978, he returned to the pros with the Sounders. He continued to play for the Sounders through at least the 1980 season. In the fall of 1979, the Sounders loaned Miller to the Cleveland Force
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. There is no record of him playing in 1981. In 1982, Miller signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Miller was a 1983 NASL All-Star Honorable Mention with the Strikers. Following the 1983 season, Joe Robbie, owner of the Strikers, moved the team to Minneapolis, Minnesota
and renamed the team the Minnesota Strikers
. Miller made the move north and continued to play for the Strikers in the NASL's last season, 1984. The Strikers then moved to the MISL where Miller played two indoor seasons. Miller was forced to retire in 1986 due to complications from knee injury.
at 17 years, 6 months of age which until as recently as the late 1990s was (and still may be) the youngest 'A' international debut of a Canadian. Miller went on to play 6 more times in 1980, and a final time in 1984 against Haiti
.
of the National Professional Soccer League for 5 and a half seasons. The Crunch hired him in September 1995. He led them to two league championships, in 1996 and 1999. The Crunch fired him in March 2002.
Miller is currently an Under-11 and U-13 coach with the Northern Alliance 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 Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned eight caps with the Canadian national team
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
and coached the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
to two National Professional Soccer League titles. He now coaches youth soccer in Northern Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Youth
Miller played collegiat soccer with Simon Fraser UniversitySimon Fraser University
Simon Fraser University is a Canadian public research university in British Columbia with its main campus on Burnaby Mountain in Burnaby, and satellite campuses in Vancouver and Surrey. The main campus in Burnaby, located from downtown Vancouver, was established in 1965 and has more than 34,000...
in 1975 and 1976. SFU reached the NAIA national men's soccer championship
NAIA national men's soccer championship
-Previous winners:* - Co-Champions.+ - Davis & Elkins vacated second place due to an ineligible player^ - Park vacated second place due to an ineligible player1963 Title game canceled due to Snow-Players:...
finals in 1975 and won the championship 1976.
Professional
In 1975, Miller began playing with the Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
. He saw time in two games before moving to the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
where he played only one game that season. As mentioned above, he then played the 1975 and 1976 college seasons with Simon Fraser. In 1978, he returned to the pros with the Sounders. He continued to play for the Sounders through at least the 1980 season. In the fall of 1979, the Sounders loaned Miller to the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. There is no record of him playing in 1981. In 1982, Miller signed with the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Miller was a 1983 NASL All-Star Honorable Mention with the Strikers. Following the 1983 season, Joe Robbie, owner of the Strikers, moved the team to Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
and renamed the team the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
. Miller made the move north and continued to play for the Strikers in the NASL's last season, 1984. The Strikers then moved to the MISL where Miller played two indoor seasons. Miller was forced to retire in 1986 due to complications from knee injury.
National team
Miller played eight times for Canada. He made his 1975 debut against CubaCuba national football team
The Cuba national football team is the national team of Cuba and is controlled by the Asociación de Fútbol de Cuba. They are affiliated to the Caribbean Football Union of CONCACAF....
at 17 years, 6 months of age which until as recently as the late 1990s was (and still may be) the youngest 'A' international debut of a Canadian. Miller went on to play 6 more times in 1980, and a final time in 1984 against Haiti
Haiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
.
Coach
After his retirement from playing, Miller spent six years coaching soccer at the Minnesota Sports Center. Miller was head coach of the Cleveland CrunchCleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
of the National Professional Soccer League for 5 and a half seasons. The Crunch hired him in September 1995. He led them to two league championships, in 1996 and 1999. The Crunch fired him in March 2002.
Miller is currently an Under-11 and U-13 coach with the Northern Alliance Soccer League.