Helmut Dudek
Encyclopedia
Helmut Dudek is deceased Polish-German football (soccer)
defender
who won the 1978–79 UEFA Cup with Borussia Mönchengladbach. He also played eight seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1978, Dudek, native of Poland who later became a West German citizen, signed with Borussia Mönchengladbach
and was a member of the team as it won the 1978–79 UEFA Cup. He played a total of six games for Borussia before moving to the United States in 1980. That summer, he signed with the Memphis Americans
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He would play four seasons with the Americans in Memphis and another after the team moved west to Las Vegas, Nevada
where they became the Las Vegas Americans
. In 1982, he was a First Team All Star. The Americans folded at the end of the 1985-1986 season and the Pittsburgh Spirit
hired the Don Popovic
, the American head coach. Popovic brought Dudek, and several other players, to the Spirit as free agents. Dudek spent he 1985-1986 season in Pittsburgh. The team folded at the end of the season and Dudek signed with the Minnesota Strikers
on September 18, 1986. After one season, the Strikers sent Dudek to the Baltimore Blast for future considerations. He spent one season in Baltimore, then left the league to return to Germany. He died on May 22, 1994 of cancer.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
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....
who won the 1978–79 UEFA Cup with Borussia Mönchengladbach. He also played eight seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1978, Dudek, native of Poland who later became a West German citizen, signed with Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach
Borussia Mönchengladbach is a German association football club based in Mönchengladbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. The team plays in the Bundesliga and is one of the country's most well-known, well-supported, and successful teams. Borussia Mönchengladbach has over 40,000 members and is the sixth...
and was a member of the team as it won the 1978–79 UEFA Cup. He played a total of six games for Borussia before moving to the United States in 1980. That summer, he signed with the Memphis Americans
Memphis Americans
The Memphis Americans were a soccer team based out of Memphis, Tennessee that played in the old Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1981 to 1984. Their home arena was the Mid-South Coliseum....
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He would play four seasons with the Americans in Memphis and another after the team moved west to Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
where they became the Las Vegas Americans
Las Vegas Americans
The Las Vegas Americans were a soccer team based out of Las Vegas that played in the Major Soccer League. They played only one season, 1984 and lost in the first round of the championship that year. The Americans finished their only season in the league with a 30-18 record earning them second place...
. In 1982, he was a First Team All Star. The Americans folded at the end of the 1985-1986 season and the Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit
Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based out of Pittsburgh and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
hired the Don Popovic
Don Popovic
Dragan "Don" Popovic is a retired professional soccer midfielder and current coach in the United States. He played professionally in Yugoslavia, Canada and the North American Soccer League...
, the American head coach. Popovic brought Dudek, and several other players, to the Spirit as free agents. Dudek spent he 1985-1986 season in Pittsburgh. The team folded at the end of the season and Dudek signed with the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
on September 18, 1986. After one season, the Strikers sent Dudek to the Baltimore Blast for future considerations. He spent one season in Baltimore, then left the league to return to Germany. He died on May 22, 1994 of cancer.