Otto Orf
Encyclopedia
Otto Orf is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the United Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He played one game for the U.S. at the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship
.
of the United Soccer League
. The Storm had released their starting goalkeeper dur to financial difficulties and they signed Orf for $50 per week. In 1986, Orf signed with the Columbus Capitals of the American Indoor Soccer Association. After one season in Columbus, he moved to the Fort Wayne Flames
for three seasons. He finished his Flames’ career with fifty-nine appearances and one goal. In addition to playing for the Flames, Orf backstopped the Toronto Blizzard of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987 and 1988. In April 1989, the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League signed Orf. The AISA season had just ended and the Sockers were looking for a backup to Victor Noriega
after Zoltan Toth
went out injured. In 1989, Orf spent the summer playing for the San Diego Nomads
of the Western Soccer League
. In 1990, he played one last outdoor season, this time with the Orlando Lions
of the American Professional Soccer League
. In the fall of 1989, Orf signed with the Cleveland Crunch
of the MISL. In 1992, the MISL collapsed and the Crunch moved to the National Professional Soccer League. In 2001, that league collapsed and the Crunch moved to the second Major Indoor Soccer League. In 2002, the Crunch became the Cleveland Force when it came under new team ownership. Orf played for Cleveland through all these changes in leagues and name before retiring in 2004.
between 1996 and 2000. He played one game for the U.S. at the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship
.
was suspended for three games.
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
and Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He played one game for the U.S. at the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship
1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship
The 1996 edition of the FIFA Futsal World Championship was held in Spain. It was the third world championship held under the aegis of football's world governing body.- Venues :- Group A :--------- Group B :--------...
.
Player
Orf first played soccer his sophomore year at Iroquois Central High School, trying out for goalkeeper because nobody else was interested in that position. By his senior season, he was the team MVP. Orf attended SUNY Buffalo where he played both baseball and soccer. His baseball career ended with an elbow injury his sophomore season. In 1984, he left SUNY Buffalo before his senior season to turn professional with the Buffalo StormBuffalo Storm
Buffalo Storm were an American professional soccer team. They played for one season in the USL-1984 Roster: Dennis Mepham Randy Pikuzinski Rudy Pikuzinski Carlos Salguero Däniel Johansson...
of the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. The Storm had released their starting goalkeeper dur to financial difficulties and they signed Orf for $50 per week. In 1986, Orf signed with the Columbus Capitals of the American Indoor Soccer Association. After one season in Columbus, he moved to the Fort Wayne Flames
Fort Wayne Flames
The Fort Wayne Flames were an indoor soccer club based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association, playing home games at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum from 1986-1989....
for three seasons. He finished his Flames’ career with fifty-nine appearances and one goal. In addition to playing for the Flames, Orf backstopped the Toronto Blizzard of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987 and 1988. In April 1989, the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League signed Orf. The AISA season had just ended and the Sockers were looking for a backup to Victor Noriega
Víctor Noriega
Víctor Noriega , born 10 May 1972 is a Mexican actor, singer and model.-Biography:Born in Mexico City, he started his career as a model. He then pursued a BA in Communications...
after Zoltan Toth
Zoltán Tóth
Zoltán Tóth is a Hungarian figure skater. He is the five time Hungarian national champion and competed in two Winter Olympic Games. His highest placement at an ISU Championship was 17th at the 2003 European Figure Skating Championships...
went out injured. In 1989, Orf spent the summer playing for the San Diego Nomads
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
of 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...
. In 1990, he played one last outdoor season, this time with the Orlando Lions
Orlando Lions
The Orlando Lions was an American soccer team from Orlando, Florida which existed from 1985 to 1996. Over the years, the Lions competed at both the amateur and professional levels including some seasons as an independent team....
of 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...
. In the fall of 1989, Orf signed with 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...
of the MISL. In 1992, the MISL collapsed and the Crunch moved to the National Professional Soccer League. In 2001, that league collapsed and the Crunch moved to the second Major Indoor Soccer League. In 2002, the Crunch became the Cleveland Force when it came under new team ownership. Orf played for Cleveland through all these changes in leagues and name before retiring in 2004.
Futsal
Orf earned eight caps with the United States national futsal teamUnited States national futsal team
The United States national futsal team is the futsal team that represents that United States at international competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and affiliated with CONCACAF. The U.S. Futsal Federation was founded in 1981 and the first international futsal match...
between 1996 and 2000. He played one game for the U.S. at the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship
1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship
The 1996 edition of the FIFA Futsal World Championship was held in Spain. It was the third world championship held under the aegis of football's world governing body.- Venues :- Group A :--------- Group B :--------...
.
Coach
In November and December 2004, Orf served as an interim coach for the Force when Omid NamaziOmid Namazi
Omid Namazi is a retired Iranian-American soccer defender and the current Assistant Coach to Carlos Queiroz with Iran national football team. Namazi played professionally in the American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, Major League Soccer, USISL and National Professional Soccer...
was suspended for three games.