John Lignos
Encyclopedia
John Lignos was a U.S. soccer player who spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League
, one in the American Soccer League
and one in the United Soccer League
. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
and was selected for the 1980 U.S. Olympic soccer team.
, but moved to New York when he was eleven. In 1979, he was the top draft pick of the New England Tea Men
of the North American Soccer League
. While usually playing on the defensive line, he moved to defensive midfielder in 1980 to make room for rookie defender Mike Gibbon. Following the 1980 season, the Tea Men moved to Jacksonville, Florida
. Lignos moved with the team. He played twenty-seven games, scoring one goal, as the Tea Men remained in the NASL for the 1981 and 1982 seasons. In 1983, the Tea Men left the NASL for the American Soccer League
(ASL). They won the 1983 ASL championship over the Pennsylvania Stoners
. The ASL folded at the end of the season. On April 17, 1984, Lignos signed with the Fort Lauderdale Sun
in the United Soccer League
for the 1984 season. He played at least one season with the Canton Invaders
during the 1987-1988 American Indoor Soccer League
season. He returned to the professional game in 1996 for one season with the Toronto Shooting Stars
in the National Professional Soccer League.
of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League
. In 1989, the Greek-Americans went to the U.S. Open Cup where it fell, 2-1, to the St. Petersburg Kickers. Lignos scoring the Greek-Americans’ lone goal.
boycotted the Olympics following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Lignos earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in a 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago
on March 21, 1982 when he came on for Tom O’Hara.
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:...
, one in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
and one in the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. He also earned one cap 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...
and was selected for the 1980 U.S. Olympic soccer team.
Professional
Born in the town of Amades on the Greek island of ChiosChios
Chios is the fifth largest of the Greek islands, situated in the Aegean Sea, seven kilometres off the Asia Minor coast. The island is separated from Turkey by the Chios Strait. The island is noted for its strong merchant shipping community, its unique mastic gum and its medieval villages...
, but moved to New York when he was eleven. In 1979, he was the top draft pick of the New England Tea Men
New England Tea Men
The New England Tea Men were a soccer team based out of Foxboro, MA that played in the NASL from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was Schaefer Stadium....
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:...
. While usually playing on the defensive line, he moved to defensive midfielder in 1980 to make room for rookie defender Mike Gibbon. Following the 1980 season, the Tea Men moved to Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville, Florida
Jacksonville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Florida in terms of both population and land area, and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the county seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968...
. Lignos moved with the team. He played twenty-seven games, scoring one goal, as the Tea Men remained in the NASL for the 1981 and 1982 seasons. In 1983, the Tea Men left the NASL for the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
(ASL). They won the 1983 ASL championship over the Pennsylvania Stoners
Pennsylvania Stoners
Pennsylvania Stoners is an American soccer team based in Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2007, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Eastern Keystone Division.The team plays its home...
. The ASL folded at the end of the season. On April 17, 1984, Lignos signed with the Fort Lauderdale Sun
Fort Lauderdale Sun
Fort Lauderdale Sun was a U.S. soccer team which played two seasons in the United Soccer League. In 1983, the team was known as the Fort Lauderdale Sun, but in 1985, changed its name to the South Florida Sun.-Origins:...
in the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
for the 1984 season. He played at least one season with the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
during the 1987-1988 American Indoor Soccer League
American Indoor Soccer League
The American Indoor Soccer League was a semi-professional indoor soccer league founded in 2003 and for now folded in 2008.- History :Founded in 2002, the AISL's headquarters are based in West Springfield, Massachusetts, but the media relations office is based out of Cleveland, Ohio. The league...
season. He returned to the professional game in 1996 for one season with the Toronto Shooting Stars
Toronto Shooting Stars
Toronto Shooting Stars were an indoor soccer team based in Toronto, Ontario that competed in the defunct NPSL. The team began play in the 1996-1997 season, with home games taking place at Maple Leaf Gardens. However, the ownership of the franchise collapsed just 3 games into its first season,...
in the National Professional Soccer League.
Semi-professional
Lignos then moved back to New York where he joined the Greek-American/AtlasGreek American AA
Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
of the Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur soccer league consisting of clubs based in and around New York City. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States and has contributed greatly to the nation's soccer history...
. In 1989, the Greek-Americans went to the U.S. Open Cup where it fell, 2-1, to the St. Petersburg Kickers. Lignos scoring the Greek-Americans’ lone goal.
National team
Lignos was selected for the U.S. soccer team which qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics. However, he and his team mates did not compete after President Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
boycotted the Olympics following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Lignos earned one cap 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 a 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
on March 21, 1982 when he came on for Tom O’Hara.