Joel Shanker
Encyclopedia
Joel Shanker is a retired U.S. soccer forward
who spent his entire professional career in the U.S. indoor leagues. He was a three time MISL All Star and was a member of the U.S. national futsal team at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship.
. He graduated in 1990. He then attended Indiana University where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, the Hoosiers went to the NCAA championship game
where they lost to the University of Virginia
.
. He remained with the Neon through the 1995 season. That fall, he moved to the St. Louis Ambush
in the National Professional Soccer League, playing the 1995-1996 season with them. In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
selected Shanker in the 16th round (152nd overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. The Rapids released Shanker on March 25, 1996 during its final pre-season roster reduction. He returned to the Ambush for the next two NPSL seasons. In 1999, Shanker began the season with the Philadelphia KiXX
. On January 30, 2000, the KiXX sent Shanker and Genoni Martinez to the Detroit Rockers
in exchange for Bojan Vuckovic
. He played for the Rockers through the 2000-2001 season. The Rockers folded at the end of the seasons and on September 11, 2001 the KiXX selected Shanker in the MISL Dispersal Draft. He finished his career with four seasons in Philadelphia. In 2002, he was the MVP of the MISL All Star Game.
team which competed at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship. He played six games in the finals as the U.S. went to the 1-1-4.
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 spent his entire professional career in the U.S. indoor leagues. He was a three time MISL All Star and was a member of the U.S. national futsal team at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship.
Youth
Shanker grew up in St. Louis where he played soccer at Parkway Central High SchoolParkway Central High School
Parkway Central High School is a secondary school located in Chesterfield, Missouri. The school's mascot is the Colt. Parkway Central High School is the original high school in the Parkway School District in St. Louis County. It serves 1,353 students in grades 9-12...
. He graduated in 1990. He then attended Indiana University where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1991 to 1994. In 1994, the Hoosiers 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...
where they lost to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Professional
In 1995, Shanker signed with the Detroit Neon in the Continental Indoor Soccer LeagueContinental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. He remained with the Neon through the 1995 season. That fall, he moved to the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...
in the National Professional Soccer League, playing the 1995-1996 season with them. In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids
Colorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
selected Shanker in the 16th round (152nd overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. The Rapids released Shanker on March 25, 1996 during its final pre-season roster reduction. He returned to the Ambush for the next two NPSL seasons. In 1999, Shanker began the season with the Philadelphia KiXX
Philadelphia KiXX
The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.The team colors were red, black, white, and blue...
. On January 30, 2000, the KiXX sent Shanker and Genoni Martinez to the Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
in exchange for Bojan Vuckovic
Bojan Vuckovic (soccer player)
Bojan "Bo" Vučković is a Serbian footballer, who currently owns and plays for Vermont Voltage in the USL Premier Development League.-Youth and College:...
. He played for the Rockers through the 2000-2001 season. The Rockers folded at the end of the seasons and on September 11, 2001 the KiXX selected Shanker in the MISL Dispersal Draft. He finished his career with four seasons in Philadelphia. In 2002, he was the MVP of the MISL All Star Game.
Futsal
In 2004, Shanker was selected to the U.S. national futsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
team which competed at the 2004 FIFA Futsal World Championship. He played six games in the finals as the U.S. went to the 1-1-4.