North American Soccer League
Encyclopedia
North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional soccer league
with teams in the United States
and Canada
that operated from 1968 to 1984.
-sanctioned United Soccer Association
, which consisted of entire European and South American teams brought to the US and given local names, and the unsanctioned National Professional Soccer League
. The National Professional Soccer League had a national television contract in the U.S. with the CBS
television network
, but the ratings for matches were unacceptable even by weekend daytime standards and the arrangement was terminated. The leagues merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). It has been suggested that the timing of the merge was related to the huge amount of attention given throughout the English-speaking world to the victory by England
in the 1966 FIFA World Cup and the resulting documentary film
, Goal. The league lasted until the 1984 NASL season
. On March 28, 1985, the NASL suspended operations for the 1985 season, when only the Minnesota Strikers
and Toronto Blizzard
were interested in playing. At the time, the league planned to relaunch in 1986.
However, four NASL teams (Chicago Sting, Minnesota Strikers, New York Cosmos, and San Diego Sockers) joined the Major Indoor Soccer League
for its 1984–85 season. The NASL itself operated an indoor soccer
league from 1979–80 to 1981–82 and in 1983–84.
The biggest club in the league and the organization's bellwether was the New York Cosmos
, who drew upwards of 40,000 fans per game at their height while aging superstars Pelé
(Brazil
) and Franz Beckenbauer
(Germany
) played for them. Although both well past their prime by the time they joined the NASL the two were considered to have previously been the best attacking (offensive) (Pelé) and defensive (Beckenbauer) players in the world. Giants Stadium
sold out (73,000+) their 1978 championship win. However, the overall average attendance of the entire league never reached 15,000, with some clubs averaging less than 5,000.
The NASL faced obstacles in regard to selling the sport of soccer to North Americans, which was then completely foreign to the majority of them. The league modified the rules in the attempt to make the game more exciting, and comprehensible, to the average sports fan. These changes included a clock that counted time down to zero as was typical of other timed American sports, rather than upwards to 90 minutes as was traditional, a 35 yard line for offsides (a rule designed to stop offside traps, prevalent at the time, and based on an FA experiment in 1925 between what became the offside rule at the time, or a 40-yard offside mark) The Question: Why is the modern offside law a stroke of genius?, The Guardian rather than the usual half way line, and a shootout to decide matches that ended in a draw. The league began a college draft in 1972 in an attempt to increase the number of US- and Canadian-born players in the league. The foreign image of soccer was not helped, however, by a league that brought in many older, high profile foreign players, and frequently left Americans on the bench. This effort was often doubly futile, as while many of the foreign players were perhaps "big names" in their home countries, almost none of them qualified as such in North America
, and they quickly absorbed most of the available payroll, such as it was, which could have otherwise been used to pay North American players better.
Over-expansion was a huge factor in the death of the league. Once the league started growing, new franchises were awarded quickly, and it doubled in size in a few years, peaking at 24 teams. Many have suggested that cash-starved existing owners longed for their share of the expansion fee charged of new owners, even though Forbes Magazine
reported this amount as being only $
100,000. This resulted in the available personnel being spread too thinly, among other problems. Additionally, many of these new owners were not "soccer people", and once the perceived popularity started to decline, they got out as quickly as they got in. They also spent millions on aging stars to try to match the success of the Cosmos, and lost significant amounts of money in doing so.
Also, FIFA's decision to award the hosting of the 1986 FIFA World Cup
to Mexico after Colombia withdrew, rather than the U.S., is considered a factor in the NASL's demise.
While the NASL ultimately failed, it introduced soccer to the North American sports scene on a large scale for the first time and was a major contributing factor in soccer becoming one of the most popular sports among American youth. On July 4, 1988, FIFA did award the World Cup
to the U.S., which would be staged in 1994. It has also provided lessons for its successor Major League Soccer
, which has taken precautions against such problems, particularly a philosophy of financial restraint (mainstream US sport, by the time of MLS' startup in 1996, had adopted financial restraint rules, which MLS adopted). American college and high school soccer still use some NASL-style rules (with shortened halves, although the time does stop for stoppage sessions), and the shootout is now used in international soccer for knockout rounds, instead of replays, as was common at the time.
Baltimore Bays (1972–73) Baltimore Bays (1993–98) Boston Tea Men
DFW Tornados
Detroit Express (1981–83) Edmonton Drillers (1996–2000) Edmonton Drillers (2007) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1988–94) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1994–97) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2011) Jomo Cosmos
- Premier Soccer League
Kaizer Chiefs FC - Premier Soccer League
Las Vegas Quicksilver
New York Cosmos (2010)
Portland Timbers (USL) Portland Timbers (MLS)
- Major League Soccer San Diego Sockers (2001–04) San Diego Sockers (2009) San Jose Earthquakes
- Major League Soccer (Heritage Cup) Seattle Sounders (USL) Seattle Sounders FC
- Major League Soccer (Heritage Cup) Tampa Bay Rowdies (2010) Toronto Blizzard (1986–93) Tulsa Roughnecks (1993–2000) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USL) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) - Major League Soccer Washington Diplomats (1988–90)
Sports league
League is a term commonly used to describe a group of sports teams or individual athletes that compete against each other in a specific sport. At its simplest, it may be a local group of amateur athletes who form teams among themselves and compete on weekends; at its most complex, it can be an...
with teams in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 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...
that operated from 1968 to 1984.
History
In 1967 two professional soccer leagues started in the United States: the FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
-sanctioned United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
, which consisted of entire European and South American teams brought to the US and given local names, and the unsanctioned National Professional Soccer League
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
. The National Professional Soccer League had a national television contract in the U.S. with the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television network
Television network
A television network is a telecommunications network for distribution of television program content, whereby a central operation provides programming to many television stations or pay TV providers. Until the mid-1980s, television programming in most countries of the world was dominated by a small...
, but the ratings for matches were unacceptable even by weekend daytime standards and the arrangement was terminated. The leagues merged in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League (NASL). It has been suggested that the timing of the merge was related to the huge amount of attention given throughout the English-speaking world to the victory by England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the 1966 FIFA World Cup and the resulting documentary film
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
, Goal. The league lasted until the 1984 NASL season
1984 NASL Season
The 1984 NASL season was the 72nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 17th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, as well as the 17th and final season of the North American Soccer League...
. On March 28, 1985, the NASL suspended operations for the 1985 season, when only 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....
and Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (NASL)
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium....
were interested in playing. At the time, the league planned to relaunch in 1986.
However, four NASL teams (Chicago Sting, Minnesota Strikers, New York Cosmos, and San Diego Sockers) joined the 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...
for its 1984–85 season. The NASL itself operated an indoor soccer
Indoor soccer
Indoor soccer or arena soccer, or six-a-side football in the United Kingdom, is a game derived from association football adapted for play in an indoor arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or skating rink. The most important difference in play is that the indoor field is surrounded by a wall...
league from 1979–80 to 1981–82 and in 1983–84.
The biggest club in the league and the organization's bellwether was the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
, who drew upwards of 40,000 fans per game at their height while aging superstars 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...
(Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
) 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...
(Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) played for them. Although both well past their prime by the time they joined the NASL the two were considered to have previously been the best attacking (offensive) (Pelé) and defensive (Beckenbauer) players in the world. Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
sold out (73,000+) their 1978 championship win. However, the overall average attendance of the entire league never reached 15,000, with some clubs averaging less than 5,000.
The NASL faced obstacles in regard to selling the sport of soccer to North Americans, which was then completely foreign to the majority of them. The league modified the rules in the attempt to make the game more exciting, and comprehensible, to the average sports fan. These changes included a clock that counted time down to zero as was typical of other timed American sports, rather than upwards to 90 minutes as was traditional, a 35 yard line for offsides (a rule designed to stop offside traps, prevalent at the time, and based on an FA experiment in 1925 between what became the offside rule at the time, or a 40-yard offside mark) The Question: Why is the modern offside law a stroke of genius?, The Guardian rather than the usual half way line, and a shootout to decide matches that ended in a draw. The league began a college draft in 1972 in an attempt to increase the number of US- and Canadian-born players in the league. The foreign image of soccer was not helped, however, by a league that brought in many older, high profile foreign players, and frequently left Americans on the bench. This effort was often doubly futile, as while many of the foreign players were perhaps "big names" in their home countries, almost none of them qualified as such in North America
North 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...
, and they quickly absorbed most of the available payroll, such as it was, which could have otherwise been used to pay North American players better.
Over-expansion was a huge factor in the death of the league. Once the league started growing, new franchises were awarded quickly, and it doubled in size in a few years, peaking at 24 teams. Many have suggested that cash-starved existing owners longed for their share of the expansion fee charged of new owners, even though Forbes Magazine
Forbes
Forbes is an American publishing and media company. Its flagship publication, the Forbes magazine, is published biweekly. Its primary competitors in the national business magazine category are Fortune, which is also published biweekly, and Business Week...
reported this amount as being only $
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
100,000. This resulted in the available personnel being spread too thinly, among other problems. Additionally, many of these new owners were not "soccer people", and once the perceived popularity started to decline, they got out as quickly as they got in. They also spent millions on aging stars to try to match the success of the Cosmos, and lost significant amounts of money in doing so.
Also, FIFA's decision to award the hosting of 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...
to Mexico after Colombia withdrew, rather than the U.S., is considered a factor in the NASL's demise.
While the NASL ultimately failed, it introduced soccer to the North American sports scene on a large scale for the first time and was a major contributing factor in soccer becoming one of the most popular sports among American youth. On July 4, 1988, FIFA did award the World Cup
1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
to the U.S., which would be staged in 1994. It has also provided lessons for its successor Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
, which has taken precautions against such problems, particularly a philosophy of financial restraint (mainstream US sport, by the time of MLS' startup in 1996, had adopted financial restraint rules, which MLS adopted). American college and high school soccer still use some NASL-style rules (with shortened halves, although the time does stop for stoppage sessions), and the shootout is now used in international soccer for knockout rounds, instead of replays, as was common at the time.
| North American Soccer League Progression | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Teams | Games Played |
| 1968 | 17 teams | 32 games |
| 1969 | 5 teams | 16 games |
| 1970 | 6 teams | 24 games |
| 1971 | 8 teams | |
| 1972 | 14 games | |
| 1973 | 9 teams | 19 games |
| 1974 | 15 teams | 20 games |
| 1975 | 20 teams | 22 games |
| 1976 | ||
| 1977 | 18 teams | 26 games |
| 1978 | 24 teams | 30 games |
| 1979 | ||
| 1980 | 32 games | |
| 1981 | 21 teams | |
| 1982 | 14 teams | |
| 1983 | 12 teams | 30 games |
| 1984 | 9 teams | 24 games |
NASL indoor
The NASL began playing indoor soccer as well as "outdoor" soccer in the mid-70s with a series of tournaments. The NASL started a full league schedule a 12-game season with 10 teams in 1979–80. For the 1980–81 season, the number of teams playing indoor soccer increased to 19 and the schedule went to 18 games. The schedule remained at 18 games, but the teams participating decreased to 13 for the 1981–82 season. The league canceled the 1982–83 indoor season, but three teams (Chicago, Golden Bay, and San Diego) played in the MISL for that season. The NASL indoor season returned for 1983–84 with only seven teams but a 32-game schedule.By year
| Year | Winner (number of titles) | Runners-up | Top Scorer | Winning Coach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Atlanta Chiefs Atlanta Chiefs The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'... (1) |
San Diego Toros San Diego Toros San Diego Toros were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in San Diego, California. They played their home games at Balboa Stadium, previously the home of the San Diego Chargers.... |
 John KowalikJohn Kowalik John F. Kowalik, Sr. was an American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1931 to 1933. During Kowalik's three seasons as a starter, the Michigan football team compiled a record of 23–1–2, including consecutive national championships for... |
 Phil WoosnamPhil Woosnam Phillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:... |
| 1969 | Kansas City Spurs Kansas City Spurs The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals... (1) |
Atlanta Chiefs Atlanta Chiefs The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'... |
 Kaizer MotaungKaizer Motaung Kaizer Motaung is a former South African soccer player and founder of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, of which he is still chairman and managing director... |
 Janos BedlJanos Bedl Janos Bedl was a Hungarian football manager.In 1967, he managed the Pittsburgh Phantoms of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1968, the NSPL merged with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. Bedl then coached the Kansas City Spurs in 1968 and 1969. He... |
| 1970 | 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... (1) |
Washington Darts Washington Darts Washington Darts was an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that was a member of the American Soccer League and later the North American Soccer League.... |
 Kirk Apostolidis |
 Alex Perolli |
| 1971 | Dallas Tornado Dallas Tornado Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus... (1) |
Atlanta Chiefs Atlanta Chiefs The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'... |
Carlos Metidieri Carlos Metidieri Jose Carlos Metidieri is a retired Brazilian-American soccer forward. He played professionally in Canada and the United States where he was the leading scorer of the North American Soccer League in 1970 and 1971 and named the league's Most Valuable Player - the only player in the league's history... |
 Ron NewmanRon Newman (footballer) Ronald Vernon Newman is a former association football player and coach. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.... |
| 1972 | New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... (1) |
St. Louis Stars |  Randy HortonRandy Horton The Honourable Kenneth Howard Randolph "Randy" Horton, JP, MP is a former soccer and cricket player from Bermuda who is currently a minister in the Bermuda government. He was named North American Soccer League Most Valuable Player in 1972.-Biography:... |
Gordon Bradley Gordon Bradley Gordon Bradley was an English-American football midfielder born and raised on Wearside who played several seasons with lower division English clubs before moving to play in Canada at the age of 30. During the Canadian off-season, he played and coached in the U.S. based German American Soccer... |
| 1973 | Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Atoms The Philadelphia Atoms were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League . They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium and Franklin Field .... (1) |
Dallas Tornado Dallas Tornado Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus... |
Kyle Rote, Jr. Kyle Rote, Jr. Kyle Rote, Jr. is a retired American soccer forward who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned five caps with the United States men's national soccer team between 1973 and 1975. He led the NASL in scoring in 1973. He later coached the Memphis Americans of the Major... |
Al Miller Al Miller (soccer) Al Miller is a former U.S. collegiate and professional soccer coach. After leaving coaching, he then became a general manager for two indoor soccer clubs in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.-Youth:Miller was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania and grew up in Ono,... |
| 1974 | Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles Aztecs The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:... (1) |
Miami Toros Miami Toros The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros... |
Paul Child |
Doug McMillan Doug McMillan Douglas “Doug” McMillan is a former Scottish-American soccer forward. He was both the 1973 American Soccer League Rookie of the Year and the 1974 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year. He earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1974.... |
| 1975 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (1) | Portland Timbers Portland Timbers (NASL) The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January... |
 Steve DavidSteve David Steve David is a former North American Soccer League star and Trinidad and Tobago international.-Club career:David began his professional career with Police in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1974, he signed with the Miami Toros in the North American Soccer League. That season, the Toros had reached the... |
 Eddie FirmaniEddie Firmani Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:... |
| 1976 | Toronto Metros-Croatia (1) | Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos... |
Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969... |
 Domagoj KapetanovićDomagoj Kapetanović Domagoj Kapetanović was a Croatian football player and manager best known for winning the 1976 NASL Championship with Toronto Metros-Croatia.Kapetanović started his playing career with Građanski Zagreb... |
| 1977 | New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... (2) |
Seattle Sounders | Steve David Steve David Steve David is a former North American Soccer League star and Trinidad and Tobago international.-Club career:David began his professional career with Police in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1974, he signed with the Miami Toros in the North American Soccer League. That season, the Toros had reached the... |
|
| 1978 | New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... (3) |
Tampa Bay Rowdies | Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969... |
Eddie Firmani Eddie Firmani Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:... |
| 1979 | Vancouver Whitecaps (1) | Tampa Bay Rowdies |  Oscar FabbianiOscar Fabbiani Oscar Fabbiani was an Argentine-Chilean professional footballer who played international football for the Chile national team... |
Tony Waiters Tony Waiters Anthony Keith "Tony" Waiters is a former England international football goalkeeper and Canadian national football team head coach... |
| 1980 | New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... (4) |
Fort Lauderdale Strikers | Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969... |
|
| 1981 | Chicago Sting Chicago Sting The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988... (1) |
New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... |
Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969... |
Willy Roy Willy Roy Willy Roy is a retired U.S. soccer forward and coach. He played for several teams in the National Professional Soccer League and the North American Soccer League in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the United States national team from 1965 to 1973... |
| 1982 | New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... (5) |
Seattle Sounders Seattle Sounders (NASL) The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial... |
Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969...  Karl-Heinz GranitzaKarl-Heinz Granitza Karl-Heinz Granitza was a German football player. In the United States, he is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.... |
 Julio MazzeiJúlio Mazzei Júlio Mazzei was a Brazilian soccer coach. He is perhaps best known for bringing Pele to New York Cosmos.He won the NASL 1982 with the 'Cosmos.He died in 2009, aged 78.-References:... |
| 1983 | Tulsa Roughnecks Tulsa Roughnecks -NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place... (1) |
Toronto Blizzard Toronto Blizzard (NASL) The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium.... |
 Roberto Cabañas |
Terry Hennessey Terry Hennessey William Terrence "Terry" Hennessey is a Welsh former international footballer who gained 39 caps for Wales. He played as a defender and made 400 Football League appearances in the 1960s and 1970s with Birmingham City, Nottingham Forest and Derby County.After his playing career, he managed a number... |
| 1984 | Chicago Sting Chicago Sting The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988... (2) |
Toronto Blizzard Toronto Blizzard (NASL) The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium.... |
Steve Zungul Steve Zungul Slaviša Žungul, known in the United States as Steve Zungul is a retired Yugoslavian-American football striker. Žungul began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Yugoslavia before moving to the United States where he became a dominant indoor soccer striker... |
Willy Roy Willy Roy Willy Roy is a retired U.S. soccer forward and coach. He played for several teams in the National Professional Soccer League and the North American Soccer League in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the United States national team from 1965 to 1973... |
By club
| Club | Winner | Runner-Up | Seasons Won | Seasons Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... |
5 | 1 | 1972, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1982 | 1981 |
| Chicago Sting Chicago Sting The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988... |
2 | 0 | 1981, 1984 | – |
| Atlanta Chiefs Atlanta Chiefs The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'... |
1 | 2 | 1968 | 1969, 1971 |
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | 1 | 2 | 1975 | 1978, 1979 |
| Toronto Metros/Blizzard | 1 | 2 | 1976 | 1983, 1984 |
| Dallas Tornado Dallas Tornado Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus... |
1 | 1 | 1971 | 1973 |
| Kansas City Spurs Kansas City Spurs The Kansas City Spurs were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in Kansas City, Missouri. They played their home games at Kansas City Municipal Stadium, former home of the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals... |
1 | 0 | 1969 | – |
| 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... |
1 | 0 | 1970 | – |
| Philadelphia Atoms Philadelphia Atoms The Philadelphia Atoms were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League . They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium and Franklin Field .... |
1 | 0 | 1973 | – |
| Los Angeles Aztecs Los Angeles Aztecs The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-History:... |
1 | 0 | 1974 | – |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 1 | 0 | 1979 | – |
| Tulsa Roughnecks Tulsa Roughnecks -NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place... |
1 | 0 | 1983 | – |
| Seattle Sounders | 0 | 2 | – | 1977, 1982 |
| San Diego Toros San Diego Toros San Diego Toros were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in San Diego, California. They played their home games at Balboa Stadium, previously the home of the San Diego Chargers.... |
0 | 1 | – | 1968 |
| Washington Darts Washington Darts Washington Darts was an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that was a member of the American Soccer League and later the North American Soccer League.... |
0 | 1 | – | 1970 |
| St. Louis Stars St. Louis Stars (soccer) The St. Louis Stars were a soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri that played in the original NASL from 1967 to 1977.-History:The St. Louis Stars, founded in 1967 as a team in the NPSL were the first ever professional soccer team in St. Louis. The team was headed by Bob Hermann who later went on... |
0 | 1 | – | 1972 |
| Miami Toros Miami Toros The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros... |
0 | 1 | – | 1974 |
| Portland Timbers | 0 | 1 | – | 1975 |
| Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Kicks Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos... |
0 | 1 | – | 1976 |
| Fort Lauderdale Strikers | 0 | 1 | – | 1980 |
By year
| Year | Winner (number of titles) | Runners-up | Top Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | San Jose Earthquakes (1) | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Paul Child |
| 1976 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (1) | 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... |
|
| 1979–80 | Tampa Bay Rowdies (2) | Memphis Rogues Memphis Rogues The Memphis Rogues were a professional soccer team in the former North American Soccer League. They operated in the 1978, 1979, and 1980 seasons and played their home games in Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.-History:... |
David Byrne |
| 1980–81 | Edmonton Drillers (1) | Chicago Sting Chicago Sting The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988... |
Karl-Heinz Granitza Karl-Heinz Granitza Karl-Heinz Granitza was a German football player. In the United States, he is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.... |
| 1981–82 | San Diego Sockers (1) | Tampa Bay Rowdies | Juli Veee Juli Veee Juli Veee is a retired Hungarian American soccer forward. Known as the "Double-deuce, triple-E, the one-and-only Juli Veee", Veee experienced his greatest success as an indoor player with the San Diego Sockers. He also earned four caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S... |
| 1983–84 | San Diego Sockers (2) | New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... |
Steve Zungul Steve Zungul Slaviša Žungul, known in the United States as Steve Zungul is a retired Yugoslavian-American football striker. Žungul began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Yugoslavia before moving to the United States where he became a dominant indoor soccer striker... |
By club
| Club | Winner | Runner-Up | Seasons Won | Seasons Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tampa Bay Rowdies | 2 | 2 | 1976, 1980 1979–80 NASL Indoor season -Eastern Division:-Western Division:-Semi-Finals: * Tampa Bay defeated Atlanta 7-3, 6-5* Memphis defeated Minnesota 3-6, 4-3 , 1-0 -Championship:* Tampa Bay defeated Memphis 4-5, 10-4, 1-0... |
1975, 1982 1981–82 NASL Indoor season 1981-82 North American Soccer League's third indoor soccer season. -East Division:-Central Division:-West Division:-Northwest Division:-First Round:*Tulsa defeated Chicago 5-4, 6-7, 3-1... |
| San Diego Sockers | 2 | 0 | 1982 1981–82 NASL Indoor season 1981-82 North American Soccer League's third indoor soccer season. -East Division:-Central Division:-West Division:-Northwest Division:-First Round:*Tulsa defeated Chicago 5-4, 6-7, 3-1... , 1984 1983–84 NASL Indoor season 1983-84 North American Soccer League's fourth and final indoor soccer season... |
– |
| San Jose Earthquakes | 1 | 0 | 1975 | – |
| Edmonton Drillers | 1 | 0 | 1981 1980–81 NASL Indoor season -Eastern Division:-Central Division:-Southern Division:-Northern Division:-Western Division:-1st Round:*Atlanta defeated Minnesota 10-8, 5-4*Chicago defeated Portland 6-2, 8-7*Edmonton defeated Los Angeles 8-3, 10-6... |
– |
| 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... |
0 | 1 | – | 1976 |
| Memphis Rogues Memphis Rogues The Memphis Rogues were a professional soccer team in the former North American Soccer League. They operated in the 1978, 1979, and 1980 seasons and played their home games in Memphis' Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium.-History:... |
0 | 1 | – | 1980 1979–80 NASL Indoor season -Eastern Division:-Western Division:-Semi-Finals: * Tampa Bay defeated Atlanta 7-3, 6-5* Memphis defeated Minnesota 3-6, 4-3 , 1-0 -Championship:* Tampa Bay defeated Memphis 4-5, 10-4, 1-0... |
| Chicago Sting Chicago Sting The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988... |
0 | 1 | – | 1981 1980–81 NASL Indoor season -Eastern Division:-Central Division:-Southern Division:-Northern Division:-Western Division:-1st Round:*Atlanta defeated Minnesota 10-8, 5-4*Chicago defeated Portland 6-2, 8-7*Edmonton defeated Los Angeles 8-3, 10-6... |
| New York Cosmos New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... |
0 | 1 | – | 1984 1983–84 NASL Indoor season 1983-84 North American Soccer League's fourth and final indoor soccer season... |
Teams of NASL 1968–84
|
New York Generals For the collegiate baseball team, see New York Generals The New York Generals were a soccer team based out of New York that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League. Their home field was Yankee Stadium... (1968) (New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... ) New York Cosmos The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history... (1971–84, as Cosmos in 1977–78) (New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... ) Oakland Clippers The Oakland Clippers were a soccer team based out of Oakland, California that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League . Their home field was Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.... (1968) (California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... ) Philadelphia Atoms The Philadelphia Atoms were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia that played in the North American Soccer League . They played from 1973 to 1976, at Veterans Stadium and Franklin Field .... (1973–76) (Pennsylvania Pennsylvania The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to... ) Portland Timbers (NASL) The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January... (1975–82) (Oregon Oregon Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern... ) 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... (1970–80) (New York New York New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east... ) San Diego Toros San Diego Toros were a soccer team who played in the North American Soccer League, based in San Diego, California. They played their home games at Balboa Stadium, previously the home of the San Diego Chargers.... (1968) (California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... ) Baltimore Comets The Baltimore Comets were a soccer team based out of Baltimore, Maryland that played in the North American Soccer League. They played from 1974 to 1975. Their home field was Memorial Stadium... in 1974–75, as San Diego Jaws San Diego Jaws The San Diego Jaws were a soccer team based out of San Diego, California that played in the North American Soccer League. They only lasted one year, 1976. Their home field was the Aztec Bowl, San Diego State University's home. Previous to San Diego, the team played as the Baltimore Comets... in 1976, as Las Vegas Quicksilvers in 1977) (Maryland Maryland Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east... →California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... →Nevada Nevada Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its... →California California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area... ) Florida Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it... ) Toronto Falcons The Toronto Falcons were a soccer team based in Toronto, Canada. They played only two years, 1967 in the National Professional Soccer League and 1968 in the North American Soccer League . Their home field was Varsity Stadium.... (1968) (Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... ) Toronto Blizzard (NASL) The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.-History:The Toronto Metros joined the NASL in 1971. Their home field was Varsity Stadium.... (1971–84, as Toronto Metros in 1971–74, as Toronto Metros-Croatia in 1975–1978) (Ontario Ontario Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa.... ) Tulsa Roughnecks -NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place... (1978–84, as San Antonio Thunder San Antonio Thunder The San Antonio Thunder were an American soccer team founded in 1975 as a member of the North American Soccer League. The team existed only two seasons in San Antonio, Texas before moving to Hawaii.-History:... in 1975–76, as Team Hawaii Team Hawaii Team Hawaii was a soccer team based out of Honolulu that played in the NASL. The team only lasted one year, 1977. Their home field was Aloha Stadium. Previous to Hawai'i, the team played as the San Antonio Thunder. After leaving Hawai'i, the franchise became known as the Tulsa Roughnecks.-1977... in 1977) (Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in... →Hawaii Hawaii Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of... →Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state... ) Vancouver Royals Vancouver Royal Canadians were an association football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Vancouver club was actually Sunderland A.F.C... (1968) (British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... ) 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... (1974–84) (British Columbia British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858... ) Washington Whips The Washington Whips were a soccer team based in Washington, D.C. that played in the United Soccer Association. The league was made up of teams imported from foreign leagues. The Washington club was actually Aberdeen F.C... (1968) (Washington D.C.) Washington Diplomats The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium... (1974–80) (Washington D.C.) Washington Diplomats The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium... (1981, as Detroit Express Detroit Express The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing... in 1978–80) (Michigan Michigan Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake".... →Washington D.C.) |
Teams in NASL indoor 1979–84
|
|
Commissioners
- 1967 Dick Walsh (USA)
- 1967 Ken Macker (NPSL)
- 1968 Walsh and Macker co-commissioners
- 1969–83 Phil WoosnamPhil WoosnamPhillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:...
- 1983–84 Howard J. SamuelsHoward J. SamuelsHoward Joseph Samuels was an American statesman, industrialist, civil rights activist and philanthropist who served as U.S...
- 1984–85 Clive ToyeClive ToyeClive Toye was inducted to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in the United States in 2003.Toye was born in Plymouth, United Kingdom. He was a sports writer for the Express and Echo newspaper in Exeter, and later Chief Sports Writer for the Daily Express....
(acting)
MVP, Rookie and Coach of the Year
| Year | MVP | Rookie | Coach |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | John Kowalik John Kowalik John F. Kowalik, Sr. was an American football player. He played college football for the University of Michigan from 1931 to 1933. During Kowalik's three seasons as a starter, the Michigan football team compiled a record of 23–1–2, including consecutive national championships for... |
Kaizer Motaung Kaizer Motaung Kaizer Motaung is a former South African soccer player and founder of the Kaizer Chiefs Football Club, of which he is still chairman and managing director... |
Phil Woosnam Phil Woosnam Phillip Abraham Woosnam is a Welsh former Association football inside-right and manager. He went on to become commissioner of the North American Soccer League.-Playing career:... |
| 1969 |  Cirilio Fernandez |
Cirilio Fernandez |
 Janos BedlJanos Bedl Janos Bedl was a Hungarian football manager.In 1967, he managed the Pittsburgh Phantoms of the National Professional Soccer League. In 1968, the NSPL merged with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. Bedl then coached the Kansas City Spurs in 1968 and 1969. He... |
| 1970 | Carlos Metidieri Carlos Metidieri Jose Carlos Metidieri is a retired Brazilian-American soccer forward. He played professionally in Canada and the United States where he was the leading scorer of the North American Soccer League in 1970 and 1971 and named the league's Most Valuable Player - the only player in the league's history... |
Jim Leeker Jim Leeker Jim Leeker is a former U.S. soccer player. He was the 1970 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year and went on to play a total of three seasons in the league.... |
Sal de Rosa |
| 1971 | Carlos Metidieri Carlos Metidieri Jose Carlos Metidieri is a retired Brazilian-American soccer forward. He played professionally in Canada and the United States where he was the leading scorer of the North American Soccer League in 1970 and 1971 and named the league's Most Valuable Player - the only player in the league's history... |
Randy Horton Randy Horton The Honourable Kenneth Howard Randolph "Randy" Horton, JP, MP is a former soccer and cricket player from Bermuda who is currently a minister in the Bermuda government. He was named North American Soccer League Most Valuable Player in 1972.-Biography:... |
Ron Newman Ron Newman (footballer) Ronald Vernon Newman is a former association football player and coach. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.... |
| 1972 | Randy Horton Randy Horton The Honourable Kenneth Howard Randolph "Randy" Horton, JP, MP is a former soccer and cricket player from Bermuda who is currently a minister in the Bermuda government. He was named North American Soccer League Most Valuable Player in 1972.-Biography:... |
Mike Winter Mike Winter Mike Winter is a retired Austrian-American soccer goalkeeper who spent four seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States national team.-NASL:... |
Casey Frankiewicz |
| 1973 | Warren Archibald Warren Archibald Warren “Laga” Archibald was a Trinidad soccer forward who spent one season in the United Soccer Association and nine in the North American Soccer League, earning 1973 MVP honors... |
Kyle Rote, Jr. Kyle Rote, Jr. Kyle Rote, Jr. is a retired American soccer forward who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned five caps with the United States men's national soccer team between 1973 and 1975. He led the NASL in scoring in 1973. He later coached the Memphis Americans of the Major... |
Al Miller Al Miller (soccer) Al Miller is a former U.S. collegiate and professional soccer coach. After leaving coaching, he then became a general manager for two indoor soccer clubs in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.-Youth:Miller was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania and grew up in Ono,... |
| 1974 | Peter Silvester Peter Silvester (footballer) Peter Dennis Silvester is a retired English Association football forwardSilvester, a striker, began his professional career with Reading FC, with whom he played from 1965–70, scoring 26 goals. He then joined Norwich City, with whom he won the second division championship in 1972 and scored 37... |
Doug McMillan Doug McMillan Douglas “Doug” McMillan is a former Scottish-American soccer forward. He was both the 1973 American Soccer League Rookie of the Year and the 1974 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year. He earned two caps with the U.S. national team in 1974.... |
 John Young |
| 1975 | Steve David Steve David Steve David is a former North American Soccer League star and Trinidad and Tobago international.-Club career:David began his professional career with Police in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1974, he signed with the Miami Toros in the North American Soccer League. That season, the Toros had reached the... |
Chris Bahr Chris Bahr Chris Bahr is a former professional American football and soccer player. He was a placekicker in the National Football League and played midfielder in the North American Soccer League.-Soccer:... |
John Sewell John Sewell (footballer) John David Sewell was a professional footballer who had a long career in the English Football League, before continuing as player and coach in the North American Soccer League during the 1970s... |
| 1976 | 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... |
Steve Pecher Steve Pecher Steve Pecher is a retired U.S. soccer defender who is currently the Director of the St. Louis/Busch Soccer Club.-Youth and college:... |
Eddie Firmani Eddie Firmani Edwin Ronald "Eddie" Firmani is a retired football player and manager. He was born in South Africa but represented Italy internationally.-Playing career:... |
| 1977 | 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... |
Jim McAlister Jimmy McAlister (soccer) Jimmy McAlister is a retired U.S. soccer defender. He was the 1977 NASL Rookie of the Year and earned six caps with the U.S. national team.-Professional:... |
Ron Newman Ron Newman (footballer) Ronald Vernon Newman is a former association football player and coach. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.... |
| 1978 | Mike Flanagan Mike Flanagan (footballer) Michael "Mike" Flanagan is an English former professional footballer and manager. He most recently worked as assistant manager of Margate, a post he left in July 2007.... |
Gary Etherington Gary Etherington Gary Etherington is a retired English-American soccer player who began his professional career in the North American Soccer League before moving to the Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned seven caps with the U.S. national team... |
Tony Waiters Tony Waiters Anthony Keith "Tony" Waiters is a former England international football goalkeeper and Canadian national football team head coach... |
| 1979 |  Johan CruyffJohan Cruyff Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with... |
Larry Hulcer Larry Hulcer Larry Hulcer is a former U.S. soccer forward and midfielder. He spent three seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least three in Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned eight caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team in 1979 and 1980.-College:Hulcer attended St. Louis... |
 Timo LiekoskiTimo Liekoski Timo Liekoski is a Finnish soccer coach who managed teams in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major League Soccer... |
| 1980 | Roger Davies Roger Davies (footballer) Roger Davies is a retired English football forward who played professionally in England, Belgium and the United States. He currently provides radio commentary for Derby County games.-History:... |
Jeff Durgan Jeff Durgan Jeffrey "Jeff" Durgan is a retired U.S. soccer defender who played professionally for the New York Cosmos and seven times for the U.S. national team.-NASL:... |
Alan Hinton Alan Hinton Alan Thomas Hinton is an English former footballer who most notably played for Derby County and Nottingham Forest in the 1960s... |
| 1981 | Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia Giorgio Chinaglia is a former football striker from Italy. He grew up and played his early football in Cardiff, Wales and began his career with Swansea Town in 1964. A year later at age 19, Chinaglia returned to Italy to play for Massese, and then Internapoli, before joining S.S. Lazio in 1969... |
Joe Morrone, Jr. Joe Morrone, Jr. Joseph "Joe" Morrone, Jr. is a former U.S. soccer midfielder. He was the 1980 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate player of the year and the 1981 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year.... |
Willy Roy Willy Roy Willy Roy is a retired U.S. soccer forward and coach. He played for several teams in the National Professional Soccer League and the North American Soccer League in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the United States national team from 1965 to 1973... |
| 1982 | Peter Ward |
Pedro DeBrito Pedro DeBrito Pedro Gomez DeBrito is a retired U.S.-Cape Verdean soccer midfielder. His career took him through multiple U.S. leagues including the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and the National Professional Soccer League. He earned one cap with the U.S... |
 Johnny GilesJohnny Giles Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s... |
| 1983 | Roberto Cabanas |
Gregg Thompson Gregg Thompson Gregg Thompson is a retired U.S. soccer defender who was the 1983 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year. He spent two season in the NASL and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1984 Summer Olympics and earned twelve caps with the U.S... |
Don Popovic Don Popovic Dragan "Don" Popovic is a retired professional soccer midfielder and current coach in the United States. He played professionally in Yugoslavia, Canada and the North American Soccer League... |
| 1984 | Steve Zungul Steve Zungul Slaviša Žungul, known in the United States as Steve Zungul is a retired Yugoslavian-American football striker. Žungul began his career with Hajduk Split in his native Yugoslavia before moving to the United States where he became a dominant indoor soccer striker... |
Roy Wegerle Roy Wegerle Roy Wegerle is a South African-American former soccer player, who played for the United States in the 1994 and 1998 World Cups. He is one of two players who played in both the NASL and MLS; the other is Hugo Sánchez.... |
Ron Newman Ron Newman (footballer) Ronald Vernon Newman is a former association football player and coach. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.... |
Average attendance
- 1968: 4,747
- 1969: 4,699
- 1970: 2,930
- 1971: 3,163
- 1972: 4,159
- 1973: 4,780
- 1974: 5,954
- 1975: 7,770
- 1976: 7,642
- 1977: 10,295
- 1978: 13,558
- 1979: 13,084
- 1980: 14,201
- 1981: 14,084
- 1982: 13,155
- 1983: 13,258
- 19841984 NASL SeasonThe 1984 NASL season was the 72nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 17th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, as well as the 17th and final season of the North American Soccer League...
: 10,759
Teams named after NASL teams
The current Heritage Cup in MLS was developed as a way to remember the NASL's heritage by having teams named after NASL teams to participate in a special trophy. Today, two MLS teams, San Jose and Seattle, play for this trophy, although Portland and Vancouver are both eligible for the trophy if they decide to participate in this derby.Baltimore Bays (1972–73) Baltimore Bays (1993–98) Boston Tea Men
Boston Tea Men
Boston Tea Men was an American soccer team based in North Andover, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 2009, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northeast Atlantic Division.The team played...
DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados
DFW Tornados was an American soccer team based in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1986, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Mid South Division of the Southern Conference...
Detroit Express (1981–83) Edmonton Drillers (1996–2000) Edmonton Drillers (2007) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1988–94) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1994–97) Fort Lauderdale Strikers (2011) Jomo Cosmos
Jomo Cosmos
Jomo Cosmos is a South African football club based in Johannesburg that plays in the Premier Soccer League. The club is owned and coached by South African soccer legend Jomo "Black Prince" Sono....
- Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
Kaizer Chiefs FC - Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League
Premier Soccer League is the trading name of the National Soccer League of South Africa. The top league is the ABSA Premiership, sponsored by ABSA...
Las Vegas Quicksilver
Las Vegas Quicksilver
The first Las Vegas Quicksilvers were a soccer team based in Las Vegas, Nevada that played in the NASL. They played only one season, 1977. Their home field was Sam Boyd Stadium. In 1977 they averaged an attendance of 7,092....
New York Cosmos (2010)
New York Cosmos (2010)
The New York Cosmos are an American soccer club based in New York City. The team was formed in August 2010 by a consortium led by English businessman Paul Kemsley, and aspires to become a franchise of Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States of America and Canada...
Portland Timbers (USL) Portland Timbers (MLS)
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
- Major League Soccer San Diego Sockers (2001–04) San Diego Sockers (2009) San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
- Major League Soccer (Heritage Cup) Seattle Sounders (USL) Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
- Major League Soccer (Heritage Cup) Tampa Bay Rowdies (2010) Toronto Blizzard (1986–93) Tulsa Roughnecks (1993–2000) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (USL) Vancouver Whitecaps FC (MLS) - Major League Soccer Washington Diplomats (1988–90)
See also
- NASL Most Valuable Player AwardNASL Most Valuable Player AwardThis North American Soccer League gave out an MVP Award each year from 1968 to 1984.*1968 – John Kowalik*1969 – Cirilio Fernandez*1970 – Carlos Metidieri*1971 – Carlos Metidieri*1972 – Randy Horton*1973 – Warren Archibald*1974 – Peter Silvester...
- Soccer BowlSoccer BowlThe Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. The event was created by NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam who was trying to build a neutral-site championship event in the mold of the NFL's Super Bowl....
- :Category:North American Soccer League players
- Top Attendance in America Soccer