Michael Collins (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Michael Collins is a former U.S. soccer midfielder. Collins played for at least twelve teams in nearly half a dozen leagues over his seventeen year professional career. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1988.
where he played on the Hicksville Americans youth club. In 1979, the Americans went to the McGuire Cup final where it lost to Imo’s Pizza of St. Louis, Missouri
. Collins also played soccer at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School
in West Islip, New York
. Following his graduation of St. John’s in 1979, he spent the fall semester playing college soccer at Mercy College
before turning professional.
. He spent two seasons with the team, seeing very little playing time, before the team folded at the end of the 1981 season. Collins moved to the New York Arrows
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He made his playing debut on December 3, 1981 and remained with the Arrows until they folded following the 1983-1984 season. In 1984, he signed with the New York Nationals
of the United Soccer League
. The Nationals folded at the end of the season. That winter, he returned to MISL, this time with the Baltimore Blast. The Blast went to the championship series before losing to the San Diego Sockers. Collins left the Blast and signed with the expansion New York Express
on August 27, 1986. The Express went 3-23 before folding during the season. On March 4, 1987, the Los Angeles Lazers
purchased Collins’ contract from the Express.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0D9103DF937A35750C0A961948260 The Lazers folded in 1989. He played at least the 1991-1992 MISL season with the San Diego Sockers. On January 9, 1993, the Milwaukee Wave
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Collins for the remainder of the 1992-1993 season.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DC173DF93AA35752C0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all He then moved to the Milwaukee Rampage
for the 1994 USISL.http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp940707/07070704.htm That winter, Collins signed with the Buffalo Blizzard
(NPSL) for the 1994-1995 season. At the end of the season, he moved to the Seattle SeaDogs
for the 1995 Continental Indoor Soccer League
(CISL) season. In 1996, he played with the Sacramento Knights
of the CISL. That winter, he was back with the Buffalo Blizzard
, then played with the Detroit Safari
for the 1997 CISL season.
in 1988. His first game cap was a 3-0 loss to Chile
on June 5, 1988. He came off for Chris Sullivan
. His second game was a 1-0 loss to Ecuador
on June 7, 1988.
Youth and college
Collins grew up in Hicksville, New YorkHicksville, New York
Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place located within the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census...
where he played on the Hicksville Americans youth club. In 1979, the Americans went to the McGuire Cup final where it lost to Imo’s Pizza of St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Collins also played soccer at St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School
St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School
St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School is a private, Roman Catholic high school in West Islip, New York. It is operated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre.-Faculty:Faculty members at St...
in West Islip, New York
West Islip, New York
West Islip is a hamlet and CDP, located in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Situated on the south shore of Long Island, the population of the CDP was 29,907 at the time of the 2000 census.-Geography:West Islip is located at ....
. Following his graduation of St. John’s in 1979, he spent the fall semester playing college soccer at Mercy College
Mercy College (New York)
Mercy College is a private, non-profit liberal arts college with its main campus in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and satellite locations throughout southeastern New York, including the Bronx, Manhattan, White Plains and Yorktown...
before turning professional.
Professional career
In January, 1980, Collins signed with the New York United of the American Soccer LeagueAmerican 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...
. He spent two seasons with the team, seeing very little playing time, before the team folded at the end of the 1981 season. Collins moved to the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). He made his playing debut on December 3, 1981 and remained with the Arrows until they folded following the 1983-1984 season. In 1984, he signed with the New York Nationals
New York Nationals (USL)
New York Nationals were a New York soccer team which played a single season in 1984 with the United Soccer League. An earlier team also called the New York Nationals played in the American Soccer League during the 1920s.-History:...
of 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...
. The Nationals folded at the end of the season. That winter, he returned to MISL, this time with the Baltimore Blast. The Blast went to the championship series before losing to the San Diego Sockers. Collins left the Blast and signed with the expansion New York Express
New York Express
This article is about the former indoor soccer team.The New York Express were a soccer team based out of Uniondale, New York that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played only one season, the 1986-1987 season. Their home arena was Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum...
on August 27, 1986. The Express went 3-23 before folding during the season. On March 4, 1987, the Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to...
purchased Collins’ contract from the Express.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE0D9103DF937A35750C0A961948260 The Lazers folded in 1989. He played at least the 1991-1992 MISL season with the San Diego Sockers. On January 9, 1993, the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
of the National Professional Soccer League signed Collins for the remainder of the 1992-1993 season.http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE0DC173DF93AA35752C0A965958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all He then moved to the Milwaukee Rampage
Milwaukee Rampage
The Milwaukee Rampage is a defunct American soccer franchise, which played in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the A-League. The Rampage folded in 2002 because of financial problems, despite winning the A-league championship that year, as well as in 1997. The Rampage was founded in 1994 as a member of the...
for the 1994 USISL.http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1994/vp940707/07070704.htm That winter, Collins signed with the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
(NPSL) for the 1994-1995 season. At the end of the season, he moved to the Seattle SeaDogs
Seattle SeaDogs
The Seattle SeaDogs are a defunct indoor soccer team that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1995 to 1997. They won the last CISL championship in 1997.-History:...
for the 1995 Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental 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...
(CISL) season. In 1996, he played with the Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights
Sacramento Knights were an indoor soccer team that played from 1993 to 2001 in ARCO Arena and were owned by the NBA's Sacramento Kings. The team played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997. The team then moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1998 after the CISL folded...
of the CISL. That winter, he was back with the Buffalo Blizzard
Buffalo Blizzard
The Buffalo Blizzard was an indoor soccer team based in Buffalo, New York. The team was a member of the now defunct NPSL from 1992 to 2001. From 1992-1996, the team played at Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, and they moved to HSBC Arena in 1996 where they played until 2001.The team was originally...
, then played with the Detroit Safari
Detroit Safari
The Detroit Safari was a member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League that played at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Their owners, the Palace Sports Group were awarded a franchise on November 4, 1993. Their star player and unofficial coach was experienced indoor player Andy Chapman...
for the 1997 CISL season.
National team
Collins earned two caps with the U.S. national teamUnited 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 1988. His first game cap was a 3-0 loss to Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
on June 5, 1988. He came off for Chris Sullivan
Christopher Sullivan (soccer)
Christopher Sullivan is a retired U.S. soccer midfielder/forward and current soccer trainer and sports broadcaster.-Youth and college:...
. His second game was a 1-0 loss to Ecuador
Ecuador national football team
The Ecuadorian national football team represents Ecuador in international football competitions and is controlled by the Ecuadorian Football Federation. They generally play official home matches at Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa in Quito, but often play friendlies in other stadiums around the country...
on June 7, 1988.