Mike Sweeney (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Michael "Mike" Sweeney is a former Canadian
soccer player.
signed Sweeney. He spent three seasons with the Drillers before moving to the Vancouver Whitecaps
for the 1983 season. While he began the 1984 season with the Whitecaps, he was traded to the Golden Bay Earthquakes. The NASL folded at the end of the 1984 season. Sweeney, never discouraged, continued to display soccer skills far advanced compared to the rest of the league.
MISL
player. He then moved to the Minnesota Strikers
for the 1987-1988 season.http://www.kicksfan.com/1987-88/box/season/game51.htm He then moved to the Baltimore Blast. In 1989, the Cleveland Crunch
selected Sweeney in the Expansion Draft. On June 30, 1989, he signed with the Crunch and remained with the team through at least the 1991-1992 season.http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/allender/misl9192.htm
of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL).
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). In 1990, the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
to form the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). The Bolts spent one season, 1990, in the APSL before folding.
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inducted Sweeney in 2002.http://www.thesoccerhalloffame.ca/OSN.nsf
in a September 1980 friendly match against New Zealand and earned 61 caps, scoring 1 goal. He has represented Canada in 24 FIFA World Cup qualification
matches and played 2 of Canada's games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
finals, the country's only appearance at a World Cup finals. Sweeney was sent off in the second game against Hungary
, making him the only Canadian player ever to be dismissed at a World Cup Finals tournament.
He also played for Canada at the 1984 Olympics
and was a squad member at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
but did not play.
His final international game was an August 1993 World Cup qualification match against Australia.
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...
soccer player.
NASL
In 1980, the Edmonton Drillers of the North American Soccer LeagueNorth 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:...
signed Sweeney. He spent three seasons with the Drillers before moving to the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
for the 1983 season. While he began the 1984 season with the Whitecaps, he was traded to the Golden Bay Earthquakes. The NASL folded at the end of the 1984 season. Sweeney, never discouraged, continued to display soccer skills far advanced compared to the rest of the league.
MISL
Sweeney was also a long-time Cleveland ForceCleveland Force (1978 – 1988)
The original Cleveland Force was one of the six charter franchises in the original Major Indoor Soccer League . The team played from 1978 to 1988 at the Richfield Coliseum, the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, and occasionally drew crowds in excess of 20,000 in the mid-80's.Akron businessman Eric J...
MISL
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...
player. He then moved to the Minnesota Strikers
Minnesota Strikers
The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The team played one season in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League....
for the 1987-1988 season.http://www.kicksfan.com/1987-88/box/season/game51.htm He then moved to the Baltimore Blast. In 1989, the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
selected Sweeney in the Expansion Draft. On June 30, 1989, he signed with the Crunch and remained with the team through at least the 1991-1992 season.http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/allender/misl9192.htm
Toronto Blizzard
In 1988, Sweeney spent time with the Toronto BlizzardToronto Blizzard (1986-1993)
-National Soccer League:In 1985, less than one year after the Toronto Blizzard ceased operations due to the failure of the North American Soccer League , Blizzard owners York-Hanover purchased Dynamo Latino of the semi-professional Ontario-based National Soccer League with the intention of...
of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL).
Boston Bolts
In 1988, he signed with the Boston BoltsBoston Bolts
The Boston Bolts were a short lived U.S. soccer team which came into existence in 1988 as a member of the third American Soccer League . They played in Boston, Massachusetts at Nickerson Field...
of 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). In 1990, the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
to form the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). The Bolts spent one season, 1990, in the APSL before folding.
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inducted Sweeney in 2002.http://www.thesoccerhalloffame.ca/OSN.nsf
International career
A defender or midfielder, Sweeney made his debut for CanadaCanada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in a September 1980 friendly match against New Zealand and earned 61 caps, scoring 1 goal. He has represented Canada in 24 FIFA World Cup qualification
FIFA World Cup qualification
The FIFA World Cup qualification is the process that a national association football team goes through to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Finals. The FIFA World Cup is a global event, so qualification is required to reduce the large field of participants from about 200 to 32.Qualifying tournaments...
matches and played 2 of Canada's games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
finals, the country's only appearance at a World Cup finals. Sweeney was sent off in the second game against Hungary
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, making him the only Canadian player ever to be dismissed at a World Cup Finals tournament.
He also played for Canada at the 1984 Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
and was a squad member at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship, the second staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Japan from August 26 to September 7, 1979. The tournament took place in four venues — Kobe, Omiya, Tokyo and Yokohama — where a total of 32 matches were played, four more than in the...
but did not play.
His final international game was an August 1993 World Cup qualification match against Australia.
International goals
- Scores and results list Canada's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 13 April 1985 Victoria Victoria, British ColumbiaVictoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, CanadaCanadaCanada 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...
2-0 2-0 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification 1986 FIFA World Cup qualificationA total of 121 teams entered the 1986 FIFA World Cup qualification rounds, competing for a total of 24 spots in the final tournament. Mexico, as the hosts, and Italy, as the defending champions, qualified automatically, leaving 22 spots open for competition...
External links
- Player profile - Canada Soccer
- Career stats - National Football Teams
- NASL/MISL stats