Jim Zylker
Encyclopedia
Jim Zylker is a retired American soccer player who spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League
. He was also a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics
.
. He graduated from South San Francisco High School
before attending San Jose State University
where he played three seasons (1971-1973) on the men’s soccer team. He was a 1972 second team All American and holds the school’s single season assists record. He was inducted into the SJSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 1971, he joined the U.S. Olympic soccer team as it prepared for the 1972 Olympics
. He played the final U.S. group game, a 7-0 loss to West Germany. In 1975, he returned to the Olympic team as it failed to qualify for the 1976 Summer Olympics
. He played seven games in total with the U.S. Olympic team.
Zykler played for the San Francisco Vikings, a club founded by his grandfather. In 1975, he signed with the San Jose Earthquakes
of the North American Soccer League
. He played fifteen games that season. He began the 1976 season in San Jose before being traded to the San Antonio Thunder
mid way through the season.
He has coached the Cañada College
women’s soccer team.
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 was also a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
.
Youth
Zylker grew up in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. He graduated from South San Francisco High School
South San Francisco High School
South San Francisco High School, known colloquially as "South City High", is an American public high school located in South San Francisco, California which serves grades 9-12 as part of the South San Francisco Unified School District .-Campus:...
before attending San Jose State University
San José State University
San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States...
where he played three seasons (1971-1973) on the men’s soccer team. He was a 1972 second team All American and holds the school’s single season assists record. He was inducted into the SJSU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004.
In 1971, he joined the U.S. Olympic soccer team as it prepared for the 1972 Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
. He played the final U.S. group game, a 7-0 loss to West Germany. In 1975, he returned to the Olympic team as it failed to qualify for the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. He played seven games in total with the U.S. Olympic team.
Zykler played for the San Francisco Vikings, a club founded by his grandfather. In 1975, he signed with the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
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:...
. He played fifteen games that season. He began the 1976 season in San Jose before being traded to the San Antonio Thunder
San Antonio Thunder
The San Antonio Thunder were an American soccer team founded in 1975 as a member of the North American Soccer League. The team existed only two seasons in San Antonio, Texas before moving to Hawaii.-History:...
mid way through the season.
He has coached the Cañada College
Cañada College
Cañada College is a community college located at 4200 Farm Hill Boulevard in an unincorporated area of Redwood City, California, just off Highway 280. Cañada College opened in 1968 as part of the three-school San Mateo County Community College District. It is one of the smallest community...
women’s soccer team.