Jim Benedek
Encyclopedia
Janos “Jim” Benedek was a Hungarian-American soccer forward
who later coached at both the collegiate and national team levels. Benedek was an All American collegiate soccer player before spending six seasons in the North American Soccer League
. He earned four caps with the U.S. national team
in 1968 and was a member of the U.S. soccer team which failed to qualify for the 1968 Summer Olympics
.
in Ithaca, New York
where he was a 1965 first team All American
at outside left. In 1961, he was also a member of Chicago Schwaben as that team toured West Germany and later served in the U.S. Army.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL) in 1968. The Houston Stars
folded at the end of the 1968 season and Benedek moved to the Kansas City Spurs
for the 1969 season. In 1969, the Spurs won the NASL championship. Benedek then moved to the Dallas Tornado
where he played a single season, his most productive, as a defender
. He was again a member of a championship team when the Tornado took the 1971 NASL title. He left the NASL following the 1973 season to become a college soccer coach.
. On May 21, 1967, he scored in a 1-1 tie with Bermuda in the first qualification game. The U.S. lost the away match and did not qualify for the tournament.
Benedek earned four caps with the U.S. national team
in 1968. His first game with the U.S. came in a 3-3 tie with Israel
on September 15, 1968. His last two games, both played in November 1968 against Bermuda
were qualifiers for the 1970 FIFA World Cup
. While the U.S. won both games, it failed to qualify for the finals after several losses in 1969.
(SMU) hired Benedek to begin a men’s soccer team at the school. He remained with the team through the end of the 1984 season. Benedek also spent several years as an assistant coach with the Hungary
. In 1999, he coached the West Texas Heat of the W-League
to an 8-2 record and the second division title. He also coached the Texas Toros of the USL D-3 Pro League. In 2001, he coached the West Dallas Kings
of the Premier Development League. He went on to coach the women’s soccer team at North Lake College
in Irving, Texas
before dying of cancer in March 2009.
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...
who later coached at both the collegiate and national team levels. Benedek was an All American collegiate soccer player before spending six seasons 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:...
. He earned four 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 1968 and was a member of the U.S. soccer team which failed to qualify for the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
.
College
In 1963, Benedek immigrated to the United States. He attended Ithaca CollegeIthaca College
Ithaca College is a private college located on the South Hill of Ithaca, New York. The school was founded by William Egbert in 1892 as a conservatory of music. The college has a strong liberal arts core, but also offers several pre-professional programs and some graduate programs. The college is...
in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York
The city of Ithaca, is a city in upstate New York and the county seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca-Tompkins County metropolitan area...
where he was a 1965 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:...
at outside left. In 1961, he was also a member of Chicago Schwaben as that team toured West Germany and later served in the U.S. Army.
Professional
After graduating from Ithaca, he attempted to gain a place on several European clubs in Austria, France and Germany, but ultimately returned to the U.S. and signed with the Houston StarsHouston Stars
The Houston Stars were a soccer team based out of Houston, Texas that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Houston club was actually Bangu Atlético Clube from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
of 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) in 1968. The Houston Stars
Houston Stars
The Houston Stars were a soccer team based out of Houston, Texas that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Houston club was actually Bangu Atlético Clube from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil...
folded at the end of the 1968 season and Benedek moved to the Kansas City Spurs
Kansas City Spurs
The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals...
for the 1969 season. In 1969, the Spurs won the NASL championship. Benedek then moved to the Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
where he played a single season, his most productive, 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....
. He was again a member of a championship team when the Tornado took the 1971 NASL title. He left the NASL following the 1973 season to become a college soccer coach.
Olympic and national team
Benedek was a member of the U.S. soccer team which attempted to qualify for the 1968 Summer Olympics1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
. On May 21, 1967, he scored in a 1-1 tie with Bermuda in the first qualification game. The U.S. lost the away match and did not qualify for the tournament.
Benedek earned four 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 1968. His first game with the U.S. came in a 3-3 tie with Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
on September 15, 1968. His last two games, both played in November 1968 against 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....
were qualifiers for the 1970 FIFA World Cup
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
. While the U.S. won both games, it failed to qualify for the finals after several losses in 1969.
Coach
In 1974, Southern Methodist UniversitySouthern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
(SMU) hired Benedek to begin a men’s soccer team at the school. He remained with the team through the end of the 1984 season. Benedek also spent several years as an assistant coach with the Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
. In 1999, he coached the West Texas Heat of the W-League
W-League
The USL W-League is a national women's soccer league in the United States on the 2nd level of women's soccer in the United States soccer pyramid, alongside the Women's Premier Soccer League and below Women's Professional Soccer....
to an 8-2 record and the second division title. He also coached the Texas Toros of the USL D-3 Pro League. In 2001, he coached the West Dallas Kings
West Dallas Kings
West Dallas Kings were an American soccer team, founded in 2001, who were members of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, for only one season...
of the Premier Development League. He went on to coach the women’s soccer team at North Lake College
North Lake College
North Lake College is a community college that is part of the Dallas County Community College District and is located in the Las Colinas area of Irving, Texas between Macarthur Boulevard and Walnut Hill Lane...
in Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
before dying of cancer in March 2009.