Derek Backman
Encyclopedia
Derek Backman is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder who played in the USISL.
Backman played for the Arcadia Shepherds in his native South Africa before moving to the United States in 1983 to attend the College of Boca Raton. In 1987, Backman and his team mates won the NAIA national men's soccer championship
. Backman was also a two time first team NAIA All American. He graduated in 1989 and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 1988, Backman signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies as it prepared to enter the newly established American Soccer League. He moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the first part of the 1989 season before returning to the Rowdies for the end of the season. He then remained a regular with the team until sidelined in 1993 with a stress fracture in his left ankle. In 1990, the Rowdies moved to the American Professional Soccer League
and folded at the end of the 1993 season. Backman remained in the Tampa area, coaching youth soccer and working in his family’s interior design business. He also played with the amateur St. Petersburg Kickers. In 1995, Backman gained his U.S. citizenship. That year, he played for the expansion Tampa Bay Cyclones in the USISL. In February 1996, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
selected Backman in the 11th round (107th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. He played 25 games with the Mutiny in 1996, but only three in 1997. He retired in 1998.
Backman played for the Arcadia Shepherds in his native South Africa before moving to the United States in 1983 to attend the College of Boca Raton. In 1987, Backman and his team mates won 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:...
. Backman was also a two time first team NAIA All American. He graduated in 1989 and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 1988, Backman signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies as it prepared to enter the newly established American Soccer League. He moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers for the first part of the 1989 season before returning to the Rowdies for the end of the season. He then remained a regular with the team until sidelined in 1993 with a stress fracture in his left ankle. In 1990, the Rowdies moved to the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
and folded at the end of the 1993 season. Backman remained in the Tampa area, coaching youth soccer and working in his family’s interior design business. He also played with the amateur St. Petersburg Kickers. In 1995, Backman gained his U.S. citizenship. That year, he played for the expansion Tampa Bay Cyclones in the USISL. In February 1996, the Tampa Bay Mutiny
Tampa Bay Mutiny
The Tampa Bay Mutiny was a charter franchise of Major League Soccer active from 1996 - 2001. They initially played in Tampa Stadium and were immediately successful, winning the first MLS Supporters' Shield behind MLS MVP Carlos Valderrama and high-scoring forward Roy Lassiter, whose 27 goals in...
selected Backman in the 11th round (107th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. He played 25 games with the Mutiny in 1996, but only three in 1997. He retired in 1998.