Greg Makowski
Encyclopedia
Gregory "Greg" Makowski is a retired U.S. soccer defender
. He was a three time first team collegiate All American and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic soccer team which was prevented from competing in the Moscow Olympics due to President Carter's boycott of the games. He also earned fourteen caps with the U.S. national team
. Between 1978 and 1988, he played with multiple teams in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League
.
where he played youth soccer with Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. He attended Rosary High School. After graduating from high school, Makowski attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1974 to 1977. His sophomore year, the Cougars went to the NCAA championship game
only to fall to San Francisco
. While he never won a championship at Southern Illinois, he was selected as a first team All American
in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He also finished his four seasons with the Cougars in thirty-second place on the school’s career scoring record with seventeen goals and ten assists. Makowski failed to attain his degree during his four years playing at Southern Illinois, but he continued to work toward it and was awarded a B.S. in 1979. In 2005, SIU-E inducted Makowski into the school’s Hall of Fame.
, an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League
(NASL), selected Makowski with the first pick in the 1978 NASL College Draft. When the Caribous moved to Atlanta between the 1978 and 1979 seasons, Makowski went with them. In 1979, played as a member of the Atlanta Chiefs
. He played fifty-nine regular season games in his two NASL seasons.
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). Makowski spent at least two seasons with the Steamers. He then was with the Kansas City Comets
from 1983 to 1984 when he returned to the Steamers for at least one more season. According to the National Soccer Hall of Fame
records, Makowski played in MISL until 1987.
from 1978 to 1980. His first match with the national team came in a September 20, 1978 loss to Portugal
. That was the last U.S. game of the year, but in 1979, he saw time in six of the seven U.S. games. On October 7, 1979, he scored his lone national team goal in a 3-1 victory over Bermuda
. His last match came on October 9, 1970 in a loss to Mexico
.
By the time he earned his first cap with the U.S., Makowski was already a veteran of the U.S. Olympic soccer program. He began playing with the team in 1977 and would continue to see time in games until 1981. In 1980, the U.S. qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
to be held in Moscow
. However, Makowski and his team mates were prevented from competing when President Carter
boycotted the games after the Soviet Union
invaded Afghanistan
.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He was a three time first team collegiate All American and was a member of the 1980 U.S. Olympic soccer team which was prevented from competing in the Moscow Olympics due to President Carter's boycott of the games. He also earned fourteen 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 1978 and 1988, he played with multiple teams in 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:...
and 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...
.
Youth and college
Makowski grew up in St. Louis, MissouriSt. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
where he played youth soccer with Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. He attended Rosary High School. After graduating from high school, Makowski attended Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, commonly abbreviated SIUE, is a four-year coed public university in Edwardsville, Illinois about from St. Louis, Missouri. SIUE was established in 1957 as an extension of Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and is the younger of the two largest...
where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1974 to 1977. His sophomore year, the Cougars went to the NCAA championship game
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...
only to fall to San Francisco
San Francisco Dons
The San Francisco Dons is the nickname of the athletic teams at the University of San Francisco .-History:Athletics at USF dates back to its founding in 1855, when founder Anthony Maraschi, S.J. organized ball games as recreation for the first students...
. While he never won a championship at Southern Illinois, he was selected as a 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:...
in 1975, 1976 and 1977. He also finished his four seasons with the Cougars in thirty-second place on the school’s career scoring record with seventeen goals and ten assists. Makowski failed to attain his degree during his four years playing at Southern Illinois, but he continued to work toward it and was awarded a B.S. in 1979. In 2005, SIU-E inducted Makowski into the school’s Hall of Fame.
NASL
The Colorado CaribousColorado Caribous
The Colorado Caribous was a professional soccer team based in Denver, Colorado, that played in the North American Soccer League...
, an expansion franchise in 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 Makowski with the first pick in the 1978 NASL College Draft. When the Caribous moved to Atlanta between the 1978 and 1979 seasons, Makowski went with them. In 1979, played as a member of 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'...
. He played fifty-nine regular season games in his two NASL seasons.
MISL
In 1980, he joined the expansion St. Louis SteamersSt. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
of 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...
(MISL). Makowski spent at least two seasons with the Steamers. He then was with 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...
from 1983 to 1984 when he returned to the Steamers for at least one more season. According to 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:...
records, Makowski played in MISL until 1987.
National and Olympic teams
Makowski earned twelve caps with the United StatesUnited 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...
from 1978 to 1980. His first match with the national team came in a September 20, 1978 loss to Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
. That was the last U.S. game of the year, but in 1979, he saw time in six of the seven U.S. games. On October 7, 1979, he scored his lone national team goal in a 3-1 victory over Bermuda
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
. His last match came on October 9, 1970 in a loss 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...
.
By the time he earned his first cap with the U.S., Makowski was already a veteran of the U.S. Olympic soccer program. He began playing with the team in 1977 and would continue to see time in games until 1981. In 1980, the U.S. 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...
. However, Makowski and his team mates were prevented from competing 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 after 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....
invaded 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...
.