Mike Stojanovic
Encyclopedia
Momčilo Stojanović (born January 27, 1947 in Lapovo
, Serbia
, then FPR Yugoslavia, died November 18, 2010 in Toronto
, Canada
) was an NASL
and Canadian international soccer forward. In English
, he was referred to as Mike Stojanovic.
Stojanović was 33 years old when he won his first cap with Canada's senior team on 15 September 1980 in Vancouver, BC (a 4:0 win over New Zealand). He also played for Canada's World Cup Qualifying team in 1980-81 (Canada failed to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup
in Spain by one goal). He scored a total of 5 goals in 14 caps for the Canadian National Team.
Stojanović was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Association Hall of Fame on June 6, 2009.
, Stojanović was set to join OGC Nice
but there were complications with the papers. A high scoring forward with the Rochester Lancers
(1976–1980), Stojanović had 17 goals and 41 points to be the league's fourth leading scorer as a rookie in 1976. He was fifth best the following season with 14 goals and 33 total points. His most productive season was 1981 when finished third with 23 goals and 52 total points while playing for the San Diego Sockers (1981–1982) and was named the NASL Player Of The Year. Stojanović also played for the Golden Bay Earthquakes (1982). Stojanović is 9th on the All-Time NASL Top Scorers list with 83 goals in 179 appearances and 10th on the all time points list with 211, ahead of fellow NASL players George Best
, Pelé
and Franz Beckenbauer
. Stojanović's final NASL season was 1982.
In Stojanović's career in his home land of Yugoslavia, he played for Radnički Kragujevac and FK Vardar
which at that time were both part of the Yugoslav First League
. It is said that he might have played for Red Star Belgrade
, although if he played he didn´t play league matches with them.
Stojanović also played for Serbian White Eagles FC, a club that played in the National Soccer League
when Stojanović was there, but now competes in the Canadian Soccer League. Stojanović scored 96 goals in only two season including 52 in 1974 which was his first season with the club, and to this day is still a league record. In the early 1990s, Stojanović, aged 45, played for United Serbs FC based in Oshawa
.
Lapovo
Lapovo is a municipality located in the central part of Serbia and in east part of Šumadija district which it belongs to and extends to 5,522 acres. The population of the town is 7,404, according to 2011 census.-History:...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, then FPR Yugoslavia, died November 18, 2010 in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) was an NASL
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:...
and Canadian international soccer forward. In English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, he was referred to as Mike Stojanovic.
International highlights
Stojanović, nicknamed Stollie in North America and Stole in Serbia, played in all of Canada's games in 1980 and '81, a total of 14 times. He scored in three straight games in the autumn of 1981.Stojanović was 33 years old when he won his first cap with Canada's senior team on 15 September 1980 in Vancouver, BC (a 4:0 win over New Zealand). He also played for Canada's World Cup Qualifying team in 1980-81 (Canada failed to qualify for the 1982 FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
in Spain by one goal). He scored a total of 5 goals in 14 caps for the Canadian National Team.
Stojanović was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Association Hall of Fame on June 6, 2009.
Club highlights
Before moving to North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, Stojanović was set to join OGC Nice
OGC Nice
Olympique Gymnaste Club Nice Côte d'Azur is a French association football club based in Nice. The club was founded in 1904 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top-tier of French football. Nice plays its home matches at the Stade Municipal du Ray located within the city. In 2013, the club is...
but there were complications with the papers. A high scoring forward with the Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
(1976–1980), Stojanović had 17 goals and 41 points to be the league's fourth leading scorer as a rookie in 1976. He was fifth best the following season with 14 goals and 33 total points. His most productive season was 1981 when finished third with 23 goals and 52 total points while playing for the San Diego Sockers (1981–1982) and was named the NASL Player Of The Year. Stojanović also played for the Golden Bay Earthquakes (1982). Stojanović is 9th on the All-Time NASL Top Scorers list with 83 goals in 179 appearances and 10th on the all time points list with 211, ahead of fellow NASL players George Best
George Best
George Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
, Pelé
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
and Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Beckenbauer
Franz Anton Beckenbauer is a German football coach, manager, and former player, nicknamed Der Kaiser because of his elegant style, his leadership, his first name "Franz" , and his dominance on the football pitch...
. Stojanović's final NASL season was 1982.
In Stojanović's career in his home land of Yugoslavia, he played for Radnički Kragujevac and FK Vardar
FK Vardar
FK Vardar Skopje is a Macedonian football club based in the capital city of Skopje. FK Vardar is currently a member of the 1-MFL. FK Vardar is the most popular and renowned Macedonian football club both domestically and abroad, having won 6 national championships and 6 national cups...
which at that time were both part of the Yugoslav First League
Yugoslav First League
The Yugoslav First League was the premier football league in the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and socialist Yugoslavia...
. It is said that he might have played for Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
, although if he played he didn´t play league matches with them.
Stojanović also played for Serbian White Eagles FC, a club that played in the National Soccer League
Canadian National Soccer League
The Canadian National Soccer League, known as the National Soccer League until 1993, was a professional soccer league in Canada that existed from 1926 to 1997...
when Stojanović was there, but now competes in the Canadian Soccer League. Stojanović scored 96 goals in only two season including 52 in 1974 which was his first season with the club, and to this day is still a league record. In the early 1990s, Stojanović, aged 45, played for United Serbs FC based in Oshawa
Oshawa
Oshawa is a city in Ontario, Canada, on the Lake Ontario shoreline. It lies in Southern Ontario approximately 60 kilometres east of downtown Toronto. It is commonly viewed as the eastern anchor of both the Greater Toronto Area and the Golden Horseshoe. It is now commonly referred to as the most...
.
External links
- Profile at National-football-teams.
- NASL/MISL stats
- http://www.soccer.on.ca/OSN.nsf/c1bfa845a2dec3bf85256b0b005d4116/bce8ecca81fb0c628525758b006c6e3a?OpenDocument
- Profile at CanadaSoccer.
- CanadaSoccer
- NASL All-time leaders at SoccerHall