Charlie Fajkus
Encyclopedia
Charlie Fajkus is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League
and five in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He also earned three caps with the U.S. national team
between 1982 and 1985.
, a suburb of Chicago
. He attended Wheaton Central High School
from 1973 to 1975. In his time on the Wheaton boys soccer team, he assisted on 56 goals in 43 games which places him fourteenth on the Illinois state high school career list.http://www.ihsa.org/activity/sob/records/alltime.htm As a senior, he also led the Tigers Varsity to 2nd Place in the 1974 Illinois State Soccer Tournament (IHSA), dropping the final to New Trier West 1-0 in 4 overtimes.http://www.ihsa.org/activity/sob/records/team1-2.htm Fajkus also played for the Sparta F.C. youth teams growing up. After graduating from high school, Fajkus attended Indiana University where he played on the mens soccer team from 1975 to 1978. During his four seasons, he scored thirty-eight goals and assisted on thirty-eight other goals while the Hoosiers went to the 1976 and 1978 NCAA championship
games. Unofficially, the Hoosiers were the 1978 Champions because San Francisco later vacated the title due to the use of an ineligible player.http://www.ncaa.com/history/soccer-men/d1
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) selected Fajkus in the NASL College Draft. He immediately stepped into the lineup, seeing time in nineteen games. Over the next five season, Fajkus was an integral part of the Sting as they went to the 1981 NASL championship. In 1984, Fajkus started the season with the Sting, but was traded on July 10, 1984 along with Ricardo Alonso
to the Golden Bay Earthquakes
for Manny Rojas and Hayden Knight
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EFDA1339F933A25754C0A962948260
(MISL) during the NASL off-season. Fajkus found himself back in MISL when the Kansas City Comets
purchased his contract from the Earthquakes on September 19, 1985. Fajkus signed a two year contract and stayed with the club through the 1986-1987 season.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07EEDE173BF93AA2575AC0A962948260 At the end of that season, he moved back to the Chicago Sting
for their last season in existence. Fajkus retired from playing professionally at the end of the season.
on March 21, 1982. He did not play again until October 6, 1984 when the U.S. defeated the Netherlands Antilles
. His last game came on May 15, 1985, another victory over Trinidad Tobago
.
Fajkus is a member of the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame.http://www.ihssca.com/hallfame.htm
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 five in the 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...
. He also earned three 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 1982 and 1985.
Youth and college
Fajkus grew up Wheaton, IllinoisWheaton, Illinois
Wheaton is an affluent community located in DuPage County, Illinois, approximately west of Chicago and Lake Michigan. Wheaton is the county seat of DuPage County...
, a suburb of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. He attended Wheaton Central High School
Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Wheaton Warrenville South High School, or WWSHS, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Butterfield Road and Wiesbrook Road in the southwest corner of the Wheaton, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
from 1973 to 1975. In his time on the Wheaton boys soccer team, he assisted on 56 goals in 43 games which places him fourteenth on the Illinois state high school career list.http://www.ihsa.org/activity/sob/records/alltime.htm As a senior, he also led the Tigers Varsity to 2nd Place in the 1974 Illinois State Soccer Tournament (IHSA), dropping the final to New Trier West 1-0 in 4 overtimes.http://www.ihsa.org/activity/sob/records/team1-2.htm Fajkus also played for the Sparta F.C. youth teams growing up. After graduating from high school, Fajkus attended Indiana University where he played on the mens soccer team from 1975 to 1978. During his four seasons, he scored thirty-eight goals and assisted on thirty-eight other goals while the Hoosiers went to the 1976 and 1978 NCAA championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
games. Unofficially, the Hoosiers were the 1978 Champions because San Francisco later vacated the title due to the use of an ineligible player.http://www.ncaa.com/history/soccer-men/d1
NASL
In 1979, the Chicago StingChicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
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) selected Fajkus in the NASL College Draft. He immediately stepped into the lineup, seeing time in nineteen games. Over the next five season, Fajkus was an integral part of the Sting as they went to the 1981 NASL championship. In 1984, Fajkus started the season with the Sting, but was traded on July 10, 1984 along with Ricardo Alonso
Ricardo Alonso
Ricardo Alonso was a soccer player who began as a forward before moving to defender later in his career. Alonso spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, four in Major Indoor Soccer League, at least three in the American Indoor Soccer Association, one in the American Soccer League and...
to the Golden Bay Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
for Manny Rojas and Hayden Knight
Hayden Knight
Hayden Knight is a retired Trinidad-American soccer defender and current high school soccer coach. He earned three caps with the United States men's national soccer team in 1984.-Youth:...
.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EFDA1339F933A25754C0A962948260
MISL
At the end of the 1982 NASL season, the Sting entered the Major Indoor Soccer LeagueMajor 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) during the NASL off-season. Fajkus found himself back in MISL when the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
purchased his contract from the Earthquakes on September 19, 1985. Fajkus signed a two year contract and stayed with the club through the 1986-1987 season.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B07EEDE173BF93AA2575AC0A962948260 At the end of that season, he moved back to the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
for their last season in existence. Fajkus retired from playing professionally at the end of the season.
National team
First game came in the only U.S. game of 1982 when the U.S. beat Trinidad TobagoTrinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
on March 21, 1982. He did not play again until October 6, 1984 when the U.S. defeated the Netherlands Antilles
Netherlands Antilles national football team
The Netherlands Antilles national football team was the national team of the former Netherlands Antilles and was controlled by the Nederlands Antilliaanse Voetbal Unie. The NAVU consisted of Curaçao and Bonaire. Aruba split in 1986 and has its own team....
. His last game came on May 15, 1985, another victory over Trinidad Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
.
Fajkus is a member of the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame.http://www.ihssca.com/hallfame.htm