Jean Willrich
Encyclopedia
Jean Willrich is a retired German-American soccer forward
. He played two seasons in the Netherlands, eight in the North American Soccer League
and twelve in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
, Germany
, began playing club soccer and played professionally in his home country before joining Dutch First Division
club PSV Eindhoven during the 1977-1978 season. That season Eindhoven won the UEFA Cup
, but Willrich was not a first team player.
(NASL). The Sockers had played the 1977 NASL season as the Las Vegas Quicksilver before moving to San Diego and changing its name to the Sockers. In 1979 and 1980, the Sockers negotiated a deal with the Mexican First Division
club UNAM Pumas to exchange players during the offseason. The Mexican league played in the fall, winter and early spring while the NASL played in the spring and summer. As part of this exchange, Willrich spent time with UNAM in 1979 and 1980.
During its years playing outdoor soccer in the NASL, the Sockers were a decent, but not dominant team. However, the NASL introduced an indoor soccer season in 1980. That year the Sockers failed to qualify for the playoffs but the next year, they swept to the championship. The NASL decided against an indoor season in 1982-1983 so, at the completion of the NASL outdoor season in 1982, the Sockers jumped to Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) where it again won the championship. The next year, the NASL ran its last indoor season and the Sockers took that title. At the end of the 1984 outdoor season, the NASL collapsed and the Sockers moved permanently to MISL.
Willrich remained with the Sockers through all this, growing into a powerful and reliable forward. In his first season with the team, he scored nine goals in thirty games. While that was a decent number, he blossomed when playing indoors. During the Sockers run to the 1980-1981 NASL indoor title, Willrich was second in team scoring with sixteen goals. Willrich continued to enjoy a scoring touch and the Sockers titles through at least the 1987-1988 season. The San Diego Sockers inducted Willrich into its Hall of Fame.
which competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles. In the first game, against Costa Rica, Willrich both scored and assisted on a goal in the U.S. victory. Despite this achievement, he was never called up to the full U.S. national team.
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 played two seasons in the Netherlands, eight 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 twelve in the Major Indoor Soccer League.
Europe
Willrich, a native of KoblenzKoblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, began playing club soccer and played professionally in his home country before joining Dutch First Division
Eredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
club PSV Eindhoven during the 1977-1978 season. That season Eindhoven won the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
, but Willrich was not a first team player.
San Diego Sockers
In 1978, Willrich moved to the United States and signed with the San Diego Sockers 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). The Sockers had played the 1977 NASL season as the Las Vegas Quicksilver before moving to San Diego and changing its name to the Sockers. In 1979 and 1980, the Sockers negotiated a deal with the Mexican First Division
Primera División de México
The Primera División Profesional , known simply as the Primera División, is the top level of the Mexican football league system and is administered by the Mexican Football Federation. It was established in 1943 and as of 2011 has 18 clubs. Up to June 2011, it was divided into three groups competing...
club UNAM Pumas to exchange players during the offseason. The Mexican league played in the fall, winter and early spring while the NASL played in the spring and summer. As part of this exchange, Willrich spent time with UNAM in 1979 and 1980.
During its years playing outdoor soccer in the NASL, the Sockers were a decent, but not dominant team. However, the NASL introduced an indoor soccer season in 1980. That year the Sockers failed to qualify for the playoffs but the next year, they swept to the championship. The NASL decided against an indoor season in 1982-1983 so, at the completion of the NASL outdoor season in 1982, the Sockers jumped to Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) where it again won the championship. The next year, the NASL ran its last indoor season and the Sockers took that title. At the end of the 1984 outdoor season, the NASL collapsed and the Sockers moved permanently to MISL.
Willrich remained with the Sockers through all this, growing into a powerful and reliable forward. In his first season with the team, he scored nine goals in thirty games. While that was a decent number, he blossomed when playing indoors. During the Sockers run to the 1980-1981 NASL indoor title, Willrich was second in team scoring with sixteen goals. Willrich continued to enjoy a scoring touch and the Sockers titles through at least the 1987-1988 season. The San Diego Sockers inducted Willrich into its Hall of Fame.
U.S. Olympic team
While with the Sockers, Willrich gained his U.S. citizenship. In 1984, he was selected for the U.S. Olympic soccer teamUnited States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
which competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles. In the first game, against Costa Rica, Willrich both scored and assisted on a goal in the U.S. victory. Despite this achievement, he was never called up to the full U.S. national team.