George Nanchoff
Encyclopedia
George Nanchoff is a retired Yugoslavian-American soccer player. He spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League
and seven seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. He also earned ten caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team
between 1979 and 1980.
, formerly part of Yugoslavia
, when he was sixteen years old. His family settled in Akron, Ohio
, United States, where he attended Central-Hower High School. After high school, he attended the University of Akron
where he played as a forward on the men’s soccer team from 1973-1976. He led the team in scoring his first three seasons, but lost out to his brother Louis
in 1976. That year, both George and Louis earned first team All American
. George also had garnered first team honors in 1975. He finished his four year career with the Zips second on the team’s career scoring list with fifty-six goals and thirty-two assists. The University of Akron inducted George into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1987, Summit County inducted Louis into its Sports Hall of Fame.
(NASL) selected Nanchoff in the NASL College Draft. That season, he led the team in both scoring and points with eight goals and twenty-two points. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dulyjs/strikers/strikers_honors.html His points production dropped precipitously in 1978 as he scored no goals in ten games. The Strikers then traded him to the Atlanta Chiefs
where he rejoined his brother Louis. He played two seasons, 1979 and 1980, with the Chiefs before moving to indoor soccer.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
. In 1982, the Inferno traded Nanchoff to the Cleveland Force
mid way through the season. Nanchoff remained with the force until he retired from playing professionally in 1985.
between 1977 and 1979. His first cap came in a September 18, 1977 loss to Guatemala
. On October 16, 1977, he scored his lone national team goal in a 2-1 victory over China
. His last game came in a February 11, 1979 loss to the Soviet Union.
In 1979, Nanchoff was also a critical part of the U.S. Olympic soccer team which qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
to be held in Moscow
. He led the team in scoring, but his, and his team mates, hopes for success at the games were crushed when President Carter
boycotted the games in protest of the Soviet Union
’s invasion of Afghanistan
.
in the U.S. Fourth Division USL Premier Development League
. Nanchoff has served as the team’s coach since then as well as the club’s Director of Coaching.
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 seven seasons 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 ten caps, scoring one goal, 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 1979 and 1980.
Youth and college
In 1969, Nanchoff emigrated with his family from the Republic of MacedoniaRepublic of Macedonia
Macedonia , officially the Republic of Macedonia , is a country located in the central Balkan peninsula in Southeast Europe. It is one of the successor states of the former Yugoslavia, from which it declared independence in 1991...
, formerly part of Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
, when he was sixteen years old. His family settled in Akron, Ohio
Akron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, United States, where he attended Central-Hower High School. After high school, he attended the University of Akron
University of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
where he played as a forward on the men’s soccer team from 1973-1976. He led the team in scoring his first three seasons, but lost out to his brother Louis
Louis Nanchoff
Louis “Louie” Nanchoff Louis “Louie” Nanchoff Louis “Louie” Nanchoff (born May 13, 1956 in Resen, Yugoslavia (Macedonia) is a retired U.S.-Yugoslavian soccer player. He spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League and seven seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned ten...
in 1976. That year, both George and Louis earned first team All American
Division I First-Team All-American (soccer)
The Division I First-Team All-Americans are the best eleven U.S. college soccer players as selected by the NCAA.-1970–1983:From 1970 to 1983 the NCAA only named defenders and forwards in addition to one goalkeeper.-1983–present:...
. George also had garnered first team honors in 1975. He finished his four year career with the Zips second on the team’s career scoring list with fifty-six goals and thirty-two assists. The University of Akron inducted George into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986. In 1987, Summit County inducted Louis into its Sports Hall of Fame.
NASL
In 1977, the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer LeagueNorth 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 Nanchoff in the NASL College Draft. That season, he led the team in both scoring and points with eight goals and twenty-two points. http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dulyjs/strikers/strikers_honors.html His points production dropped precipitously in 1978 as he scored no goals in ten games. The Strikers then traded him to the Atlanta Chiefs
Atlanta 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'...
where he rejoined his brother Louis. He played two seasons, 1979 and 1980, with the Chiefs before moving to indoor soccer.
MISL
In 1980, Nanchoff signed with the Phoenix InfernoPhoenix Inferno
The Phoenix Inferno was an American indoor soccer team based out of Phoenix, United States, that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 new ownership renamed the team the Phoenix Pride. The Pride folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season...
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...
. In 1982, the Inferno traded Nanchoff to the Cleveland Force
Cleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
mid way through the season. Nanchoff remained with the force until he retired from playing professionally in 1985.
National and Olympic Teams
Nanchoff earned ten caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national teamUnited 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 1977 and 1979. His first cap came in a September 18, 1977 loss to Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
. On October 16, 1977, he scored his lone national team goal in a 2-1 victory over China
China national football team
The China PR national football team is the national association football team of the People's Republic of China and is governed by the Chinese Football Association...
. His last game came in a February 11, 1979 loss to the Soviet Union.
In 1979, Nanchoff was also a critical part of the U.S. Olympic soccer team which qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
to be held in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. He led the team in scoring, but his, and his team mates, hopes for success at the games were crushed when President Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
boycotted the games in protest of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
’s invasion of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
.
Coaching
After retiring from playing professionally, Nanchoff became a youth soccer coach with the Cleveland-based Internationals Soccer Club. In 2003, Internationals S.C. entered a men’s team, the Cleveland InternationalsCleveland Internationals
Cleveland Internationals was an American soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2004, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference...
in the U.S. Fourth Division USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. Nanchoff has served as the team’s coach since then as well as the club’s Director of Coaching.