Efrain Chacurian
Encyclopedia
Efrain or Yeprem “Chico” Chacurian (born 22 February 1924 in Córdoba, Argentina
) is a retired Argentine-American soccer forward
. He was earned four caps, scoring one goal, as a member of the U.S. national team in 1953 and 1954. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
in 1992
immigrant parents. In 1939, he.signed with Racing Club
of the Argentine First Division
. He was fifteen years old at the time. In 1947 at the age of twenty-three, he moved to the United States to live with relatives of his mother to find work when a players strike in Argentina left him penniless. When he arrived in New York, he joined the semi-pro New York Armenians of the New York Eastern District League. In the six months he spent with the Armenians, he was named the league MVP as his team took the league title. This brought him to the attention of Brooklyn Hispano
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). He signed with Hispano in 1947. When not playing Chacurian held several side jobs including time as a printer and as a watchmaker. He also played with several All Star teams against visiting European national and professional clubs. This included games in 1949 against Scotland
, Inter-Milan
and Celtic
. However, in the fall of 1949, Chacurian considered returning to Argentina. As he related it, “I bought a ticket to go home and visit. It took 18 days sailing one-way to Argentina. I saw my mother, and I played professional soccer down there again. Everything was successful, but I realized, I can’t live here anymore. America is pulling me back.” http://national.soccerhall.org/RNO%20-%20WATN/ChicoChacurian_WATN.htm He was back in the U.S. by the end of February 1950. When he returned to the U.S., he joined the New York Swiss of the German American Soccer League
(GASL). He spent the next eight seasons with the Swiss. In 1958, he moved to Bridgeport City in Connecticut.
. While the team had considered adding Chacurian to the roster, his return to Argentina to visit his family in 1949 led to his not being selected for the team.http://national.soccerhall.org/news/2005/Chico_GoTL_462005.htm Chacurian was not called up to the U.S. until 8 June 1953 when the team lost 6-3 to England
. He played the first three games in 1954 as the U.S. attempted to qualify for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
. After two losses to Mexico
, the U.S. was out of the cup. However, the team had two more qualification games against Haiti
yet to play. Chacurian played in both losses to Mexico and the first game against Haiti. In that game, a 3-2 win in Port-au-Prince
, Chacurian scored. It was his last game with the national team.
. He spent ten years with Southern Connecticut. In the fall of 1972 Yale University hired Chacurian to coach Freshman Soccer at Yale. During his first season there Chico guided the team to an undefeated season (10-0) and established a culture of winning and camaraderie; his charges scored 34 goals and had only four scored against them, posting seven consecutive shutouts and even beating the Yale Varsity team. In 1976, when freshman were allowed to join the Varsity directly, and the Ivy League discontinued Freshman Soccer in favor of a Junior Varsity program, Yale University
moved Chacurian up to work in both the men’s and then the women’s soccer programs. In May 1989, he became the head coach at Bridgeport College
after serving as an assistant coach for six years.http://web1.ncaa.org/web_video/NCAANewsArchive/1989/19890510.pdf He also won five league titles as the coach of Bridgeport Vasco da Gama between 1974 and 1980
Chacurian lives in Stratford, Connecticut
and has a soccer field in Short Beach
named after him. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
) is a retired Argentine-American soccer forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
. He was earned four caps, scoring one goal, as a member of the U.S. national team in 1953 and 1954. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
in 1992
Professional career
Chacurian was born in Argentina to ArmenianArmenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
immigrant parents. In 1939, he.signed with Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
of the Argentine First Division
Primera División Argentina
The Primera División is a professional football league in Argentina. It is the country's premier football division and is at the top of the Argentine football league system. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the Primera B Nacional. The season runs...
. He was fifteen years old at the time. In 1947 at the age of twenty-three, he moved to the United States to live with relatives of his mother to find work when a players strike in Argentina left him penniless. When he arrived in New York, he joined the semi-pro New York Armenians of the New York Eastern District League. In the six months he spent with the Armenians, he was named the league MVP as his team took the league title. This brought him to the attention of Brooklyn Hispano
Brooklyn Hispano
The Brooklyn Hispano was an American soccer club based in Brooklyn, New York that was an inaugural member of the reformed American Soccer League. The club was named the Brooklyn Giants for the 1942/43 season only....
of the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL). He signed with Hispano in 1947. When not playing Chacurian held several side jobs including time as a printer and as a watchmaker. He also played with several All Star teams against visiting European national and professional clubs. This included games in 1949 against Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, Inter-Milan
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
and Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
. However, in the fall of 1949, Chacurian considered returning to Argentina. As he related it, “I bought a ticket to go home and visit. It took 18 days sailing one-way to Argentina. I saw my mother, and I played professional soccer down there again. Everything was successful, but I realized, I can’t live here anymore. America is pulling me back.” http://national.soccerhall.org/RNO%20-%20WATN/ChicoChacurian_WATN.htm He was back in the U.S. by the end of February 1950. When he returned to the U.S., he joined the New York Swiss of the German American Soccer League
German American Soccer League
The German American Soccer League is the previous name of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League, a semi-professional and amateur soccer league which was founded in 1923. The league competes primarily in the New York metropolitan area and northern New Jersey.-History:In 1923, five teams, S.C. New York,...
(GASL). He spent the next eight seasons with the Swiss. In 1958, he moved to Bridgeport City in Connecticut.
National team
In 1949, the U.S. began preparations for the 1950 FIFA World Cup1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
. While the team had considered adding Chacurian to the roster, his return to Argentina to visit his family in 1949 led to his not being selected for the team.http://national.soccerhall.org/news/2005/Chico_GoTL_462005.htm Chacurian was not called up to the U.S. until 8 June 1953 when the team lost 6-3 to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. He played the first three games in 1954 as the U.S. attempted to qualify for the 1954 FIFA World Cup
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
. After two losses to Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, the U.S. was out of the cup. However, the team had two more qualification games 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...
yet to play. Chacurian played in both losses to Mexico and the first game against Haiti. In that game, a 3-2 win in Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince
Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009....
, Chacurian scored. It was his last game with the national team.
Coaching
After he retired from playing, Chacurian entered the coaching ranks as an assistant at Southern Connecticut State UniversitySouthern Connecticut State University
Southern Connecticut State University is one of four state universities in Connecticut, and is located in the West Rock neighborhood of New Haven, Connecticut...
. He spent ten years with Southern Connecticut. In the fall of 1972 Yale University hired Chacurian to coach Freshman Soccer at Yale. During his first season there Chico guided the team to an undefeated season (10-0) and established a culture of winning and camaraderie; his charges scored 34 goals and had only four scored against them, posting seven consecutive shutouts and even beating the Yale Varsity team. In 1976, when freshman were allowed to join the Varsity directly, and the Ivy League discontinued Freshman Soccer in favor of a Junior Varsity program, Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
moved Chacurian up to work in both the men’s and then the women’s soccer programs. In May 1989, he became the head coach at Bridgeport College
University of Bridgeport
The University of Bridgeport is a private, independent, non-sectarian, coeducational university located on the Long Island Sound in the South End neighborhood of Bridgeport, Connecticut. The University is fully Accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges...
after serving as an assistant coach for six years.http://web1.ncaa.org/web_video/NCAANewsArchive/1989/19890510.pdf He also won five league titles as the coach of Bridgeport Vasco da Gama between 1974 and 1980
Chacurian lives in Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford, Connecticut
Stratford is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, located on Long Island Sound at the mouth of the Housatonic River. It was founded by Puritans in 1639....
and has a soccer field in Short Beach
Short Beach
Short Beach is a beach neighborhood situated in Branford, Connecticut and a small part of East Haven, Connecticut. It is the westernmost of Branford's seven neighborhoods, the others being: The Hill, The Center, Pine Orchard, Stony Creek, Indian Neck, and Brushy Hill. Short Beach's population is...
named after him. In 1992, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a private, non-profit institution established in 1979 that honors soccer achievements in the United States.-History:...
.
International goals
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 3 March 1954 | Paul Magloire Stadium, Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean nation of Haiti. The city's population was 704,776 as of the 2003 census, and was officially estimated to have reached 897,859 in 2009.... , Haiti Haiti Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island... |
2-3 | Win | 1954 FIFA World Cup Q. 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification A total of 45 teams entered the 1954 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 16 spots in the final tournament. , as the hosts, and , as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 14 spots open for competition.... |
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| Correct as of 27 August 2011 | |||||||||||