Bruce Savage
Encyclopedia
William Bruce Savage is a retired U.S. soccer defender
. He played four seasons in the North American Soccer League
, nine in Major Indoor Soccer League
and earned sixteen caps with the U.S. national team
between 1983 and 1992. He currently coaches youth soccer in Florida.
where he played soccer in 1978 and 1979.
of the North American Soccer League
in 1980 and played two seasons with the team. The Chiefs folded at the end of the 1981 season and the Portland Timbers
purchased Savage's contract from the Chiefs. However, the Timbers traded Savage to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers where he played the 1982 season. In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation
attempted to create a more successful U.S. national team by entering the team into the NASL as a franchise. As a result, the Strikers loaned Savage to Team America
for the 1983 season. However, the team stumbled to a 10-20 record and the bottom of the league standings in 1983 and USSF pulled it from the NASL at the end of the year. Savage returned to the Strikers who sold his contract to the Phoenix Pride of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In July 1984, the Pride sold Savage's contract to the Baltimore Blast
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). Savage remained with the team through the 1991-1992 season when the MISL folded and the Blast moved to the National Professional Soccer League. Since Savage joined the Blast in 1981, he bounced between the outdoor NASL and indoor MISL until the end of the 1983 season when he devoted himself to the indoor game. Savage became a regular in the All Star games, being named the 1986-1987 MISL Defender of the Year and was a first team MISL All Star in 1986-1987 and 1988-1989. In February 2005, the Baltimore Blast inducted Savage into the team's Hall of Fame.
which competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles. He played all three games as the team ran to a 1-1-1 record and failed to qualify for the second round. In 1991, Bora Milutinović, recently hired as the national team coach, called Savage back into the team for the first time since 1984. Savage then played most of the national team games through the end of 1992. He earned a total of 16 caps.
boys team. In February 2008, Savage led Gulf Breeze to the FHSAA State Final Four for the fifth time in the school's history. In the semi-finals the Dolphins defeated top-ranked Meritt Island 1-0 in overtime from a goal by Brad Parrish, marking the first time GBHS has ever played in a state championship game. In the finals, they lost to Nease (Ponte Vedra Beach) 2-1. This 4A state-runner up team produced three all-state players from the Class of 2008. He is also a coach at Bayside Soccer Club.
His son, Keith Savage
, was drafted by Chivas USA in 2008.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played four 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:...
, nine in Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
and earned sixteen caps with the U.S. 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...
between 1983 and 1992. He currently coaches youth soccer in Florida.
Youth
Savage grew up in Florida and graduated from Miami Norland High School in 1978. He attended Miami-Dade North Junior CollegeMiami Dade College
Miami Dade College, or simply Miami Dade or MDC, is a state college with eight campuses and twenty-one outreach centers located throughout Miami-Dade County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Florida College System. Miami Dade College is the largest school in the Florida College...
where he played soccer in 1978 and 1979.
Professional
He joined the Atlanta ChiefsAtlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
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:...
in 1980 and played two seasons with the team. The Chiefs folded at the end of the 1981 season and the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
purchased Savage's contract from the Chiefs. However, the Timbers traded Savage to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers where he played the 1982 season. In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation
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...
attempted to create a more successful U.S. national team by entering the team into the NASL as a franchise. As a result, the Strikers loaned Savage to 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...
for the 1983 season. However, the team stumbled to a 10-20 record and the bottom of the league standings in 1983 and USSF pulled it from the NASL at the end of the year. Savage returned to the Strikers who sold his contract to the Phoenix Pride of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In July 1984, the Pride sold Savage's contract to the Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast (1980-92)
Baltimore Blast were a longtime member of the Major Indoor Soccer League. From 1978 to 1980, the team was played as Houston Summit but moved prior to the 1980-81 season. The team won the league's championship in 1984. The team folded when the MISL ceased operation in the summer of 1992.-History:The...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). Savage remained with the team through the 1991-1992 season when the MISL folded and the Blast moved to the National Professional Soccer League. Since Savage joined the Blast in 1981, he bounced between the outdoor NASL and indoor MISL until the end of the 1983 season when he devoted himself to the indoor game. Savage became a regular in the All Star games, being named the 1986-1987 MISL Defender of the Year and was a first team MISL All Star in 1986-1987 and 1988-1989. In February 2005, the Baltimore Blast inducted Savage into the team's Hall of Fame.
National team
In 1983, Savage earned his first cap with the national team in the team's only game that year, a 2-0 victory over Haiti. In 1984, Savage was an integral part of the U.S. Olympic teamUnited States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
which competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles. He played all three games as the team ran to a 1-1-1 record and failed to qualify for the second round. In 1991, Bora Milutinović, recently hired as the national team coach, called Savage back into the team for the first time since 1984. Savage then played most of the national team games through the end of 1992. He earned a total of 16 caps.
Coach
He coaches the Gulf Breeze High SchoolGulf Breeze High School
Gulf Breeze High School is a public secondary school located at 675 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze, Florida. It is one of six high schools of the Santa Rosa County School District and is the only high school in the city of Gulf Breeze....
boys team. In February 2008, Savage led Gulf Breeze to the FHSAA State Final Four for the fifth time in the school's history. In the semi-finals the Dolphins defeated top-ranked Meritt Island 1-0 in overtime from a goal by Brad Parrish, marking the first time GBHS has ever played in a state championship game. In the finals, they lost to Nease (Ponte Vedra Beach) 2-1. This 4A state-runner up team produced three all-state players from the Class of 2008. He is also a coach at Bayside Soccer Club.
His son, Keith Savage
Keith Savage
Keith Savage is an American soccer player currently playing for FC Tampa Bay in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
, was drafted by Chivas USA in 2008.