Erik Imler
Encyclopedia
Erik Bradley Imler is a former soccer defender from the United States
. He won national championships while playing at the University of Virginia
before becoming part of the US team
that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
.
in Bowie, Maryland
. In 1988, his senior year, he was named a Parade Magazine high school All American soccer player. After high school, he attended the University of Virginia
where he played as a defender
and defensive midfielder
on the men’s soccer team from 1989 to 1992. During his four season at Virginia, the Cavaliers took the NCAA title
twice (1991 and 1992) and were co-champions once (1989). In 1992, he was the team captain as a senior. Imler was a two time second team All American. While at Virginia, he majored in sports medicine. In 2000, SoccerAmerica
magazine named Imler to its College Team of the Century
.
of USISL. However, in 1995 he was with the Raleigh Flyers. In February 1996, D.C. United
of Major League Soccer
(MLS) drafted Imler in the third round (30th overall) in the 1996 MLS Draft
. He spent the 1996 season in central defense with United, playing in nineteen games as the team took both the MLS and U.S. Open Cup
titles. United released Imler in 1997 and he signed with the Worcester Wildfire
of USISL. At the same time, he pursued a return to MLS and had a two week try out with the New England Revolution
. On May 7, 1997, the Revs signed Imler as a Discovery Player after impressing the coaches during his trial. The Revs waived Imler on November 10, 1997. In 1999, Imler played one game, twelve minutes total, for the Charleston Battery
.
in Canada
. He then went on to play with the U.S. U-20 national team
, but was not a member of the team at any cups. In 1991, Imler was part of the U.S. gold winning soccer team at the Pan American Games
.
He then continued to play for the U-23 national team leading up to the 1992 Summer Olympics
. Imler started all six games as the U.S. successfully qualified for the tournament. He was then named to the U.S. soccer team
for the games. At the Olympics, the U.S. went 1-1-1 and did not qualify for the second round.
On March 23, 1993, Imler earned his only caps with the U.S. national team
in a 2-2 tie with El Salvador
. However in the 43d minute, he tore ligaments in his right knee during the game and was replaced by Yari Allnutt
who scored a goal. Imler never appeared again for the senior national team.
.
He has just accepted the Assistant Coaching position for the U17 Mens National Team in Bradenton, FL.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He won national championships while playing at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
before becoming part of the US 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...
that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
.
Youth and college
Imler grew up in Maryland, attending Bowie High SchoolBowie High School (Maryland)
Bowie High School is a public high school in Bowie, Maryland. It is part of Prince George's County Public Schools.-Academics:Bowie High School has the second highest student SAT average in Prince George's County, and is rated second on The Washington Post's Advanced Placement Challenge Index....
in Bowie, Maryland
Bowie, Maryland
Bowie is a city in Prince George's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 54,727 at the 2010 census. Bowie has grown from a small railroad stop to the largest municipality in Prince George's County, and the fifth most populous city and third largest city by area in the state of...
. In 1988, his senior year, he was named a Parade Magazine high school All American soccer player. After high school, he attended the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
where he played as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
and defensive midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
on the men’s soccer team from 1989 to 1992. During his four season at Virginia, the Cavaliers took the NCAA title
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...
twice (1991 and 1992) and were co-champions once (1989). In 1992, he was the team captain as a senior. Imler was a two time second team All American. While at Virginia, he majored in sports medicine. In 2000, SoccerAmerica
Soccer America Magazine
Soccer America Magazine is a national American magazine devoted to soccer founded in the early 1970s and is still being published. Its primary focus is soccer in the United States, but it also covers the international game extensively. It was begun by publisher Clay Berling during a period of...
magazine named Imler to its College Team of the Century
Soccer America College Team of the Century
The Soccer America College Team of the Century were chosen by the editors of the American periodical Soccer America to comprise, as one men's and one women's eleven-member side divided each as one goalkeeper, three defenders, four midfielders, and three forwards, the best players of collegiate...
.
Professional
Some time in his career, Imler played with the Delaware WizardsDelaware Wizards
The Delaware Wizards were soccer club based in Wilmington and New Castle, Delaware. The team played their first game in 1993 and their last in 2000...
of USISL. However, in 1995 he was with the Raleigh Flyers. In February 1996, D.C. United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) drafted Imler in the third round (30th overall) in the 1996 MLS 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 spent the 1996 season in central defense with United, playing in nineteen games as the team took both the MLS and U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
titles. United released Imler in 1997 and he signed with the Worcester Wildfire
Boston Bulldogs (soccer)
The Boston Bulldogs were a soccer club originally founded in 1996 as the Worcester Wildfire. The team debuted in the USISL and would play in the A-League from 1997 to 2000...
of USISL. At the same time, he pursued a return to MLS and had a two week try out with the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
. On May 7, 1997, the Revs signed Imler as a Discovery Player after impressing the coaches during his trial. The Revs waived Imler on November 10, 1997. In 1999, Imler played one game, twelve minutes total, for the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
.
National and Olympic teams
Imler was a member of the U.S. team at the 1987 U-16 World Cup1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1987 was held in the cities of Toronto, Saint John, Montreal, and St. John's in Canada between 12 July and 25 July 1987...
in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. He then went on to play with the U.S. U-20 national team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
, but was not a member of the team at any cups. In 1991, Imler was part of the U.S. gold winning soccer team at the Pan American Games
Football at the 1991 Pan American Games
The eleventh edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Havana, Cuba from August 4 to August 13, 1991. Eight teams competed, with title holder Brazil missing...
.
He then continued to play for the U-23 national team leading up to the 1992 Summer Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. Imler started all six games as the U.S. successfully qualified for the tournament. He was then named to the U.S. soccer team
United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics
- Gold:* Michael Marsh — Athletics, Men's 200 metres* Quincy Watts — Athletics, Men's 400 metres* Kevin Young — Athletics, Men's 400 m Hurdles...
for the games. At the Olympics, the U.S. went 1-1-1 and did not qualify for the second round.
On March 23, 1993, Imler earned his only 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...
in a 2-2 tie with El Salvador
El Salvador national football team
El Salvador's national football team represents El Salvador in international football and is sanctioned by the Federación Salvadoreña de Fútbol . In 1899, Santa Ana and San Salvador met for the first hosted football game in El Salvador...
. However in the 43d minute, he tore ligaments in his right knee during the game and was replaced by Yari Allnutt
Yari Allnutt
Yari Allnutt is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in Mexico and the United States, including the American Professional Soccer League and Major League Soccer...
who scored a goal. Imler never appeared again for the senior national team.
Retirement
Since retiring from playing professionally, Imler has held several positions as a youth soccer coach. He was a Director of Coaching and team coach with Charlotte Soccer Academy in North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
.
He has just accepted the Assistant Coaching position for the U17 Mens National Team in Bradenton, FL.