Ted Eck
Encyclopedia
Ted Eck is a retired American soccer player who played for numerous clubs in the United States and Canada over a thirteen year professional career. He also earned thirteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1989 and 1996.
He coached the Ogden Outlaws
in the USL Premier Development League
. He currently coaches numerous teams for Firebirds FC, a youth soccer club based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
. After graduating, he then attended Western Illinois University
where he played as a forward
on the men's soccer team from 1984 to 1987. He was named the 1987 Mid Continent Conference Player of the Year.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He played with the team through the end of the 1990-1991 season when the team folded. In 1989, Eck also played outdoor soccer during the MISL off season with the Ottawa Intrepid
of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). His twenty-one goals with the Intrepid were best in the CSL and earned Eck a spot on the CSL All-Star team. Eck returned to the CSL, this time with the Toronto Blizzard
in 1991. That year Eck scored ten goals, tied for fourth on the league's goals list. The Blizzard made it to the CSL championship before losing to the Vancouver 86ers.
With the demise of the Comets, Eck moved to the St. Louis Storm
, also of MISL, for the 1991-1992 season. However, the Storm also folded at the end of the season and Eck moved to the Denver Thunder
, an expansion team which lasted only the 1992-1993 season before folding. Eck found some outdoor stability in 1992 when he signed with the Colorado Foxes
of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). He would play each summer with the Foxes until he left to join the Dallas Burn in 1996. While with the Foxes, Eck won the 1993 APSL championship. The title game pitted the Foxes against the Los Angeles Salsa
. Scoreless through most of the game, Philip Gyau
of the Salsa scored in the sixty-seventh minute. The Salsa held that lead until Eck tied it with only three minutes left. The Foxes then put two more into the goal in extra time to win 3-1. Eck's goal gave him eight on the season and a spot on the APSL First XI. Eck again earned a spot on the APSL First XI in 1994 with six goals. However, this year the Foxes fell to the Montreal Impact
in the title game.
While Eck continued to play for the Foxes each summer, he spent the indoor season with the St. Louis Ambush
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in the 1993-1994 season. That season the Ambush made it to the championship series before losing to the Cleveland Crunch
. The next season found Eck with the Wichita Wings
. He stayed with this team until joining the Burn in 1996. Eck had his greatest success indoors in his last season with the Wings when he was named the MVP of the NPSL All-Star Game.
announced it had signed Eck for the upcoming MLS draft. When the draft
was held, the Dallas Burn selected Eck in the first round (third overall). In 1997, he was a member of the Burn team which won the U.S. Open Cup
. At the end of the 2000 MLS season, the Burn loaned Eck to the Dallas Sidekicks
of the World Indoor Soccer League
(WISL). He played only five games with the Sidekicks, scoring a single playoff goal. He returned to the Burn for the 2001 MLS season and was released in August. In 2001 he retired from playing professionally.
. During those seven years, he earned thirteen caps and scored one goal. His first cap came in a scoreless tie with Guatemala
on October 8, 1989, when he came in for Bruce Murray. He again came in for Murray a month later in a victory over Bermuda
. He continued to play sporadically in 1990, earning four caps, three as a substitute. However, his greatest contribution to the national team came when he scored in a 2-1 victory over East Germany
on July 28, 1990. His appearances dropped after that and he earned only one cap as a substitute in 1992. It was another four years before he was called up for a national team game. He earned his last cap on October 16, 1996. The national team had gone on strike in a contract dispute with USSF and the Federation was forced to field an ad hoc team for that date. Eck and his team mates lost 4-1 to Peru
.
Team. Between 1992 and 1999, he earned fourteen caps with the team, scoring ten goals. He was part of the U.S. team which took second place, losing 4-1 to Brazil
, in the 1992 FIFA Futsal World Championship
. He scored three goals in that tournament.
He coached the Ogden Outlaws
Ogden Outlaws
Ogden Outlaws is an American soccer team based in Ogden, Utah, United States. Founded in 2006, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference....
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. He currently coaches numerous teams for Firebirds FC, a youth soccer club based in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Youth and college
Eck was born and raised in Springfield, Illinois, where he attended Sacred Heart-Griffin High SchoolSacred Heart-Griffin High School
Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, often abbreviated SHG, is Springfield, Illinois' largest private high school. The school is Roman Catholic and is located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. On the school's campus is a motherhouse for a Dominican order of religious...
. After graduating, he then attended Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University
Western Illinois University is a public university founded in 1899 as Western Illinois State Normal School. Like many similar institutions of the time, Western Illinois State Normal School focused on teacher training for its relatively small body of students. As the normal school grew, it became...
where he played as a forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
on the men's soccer team from 1984 to 1987. He was named the 1987 Mid Continent Conference Player of the Year.
Early career
In 1988, Eck began an itinerant career when he signed with the Kansas City CometsKansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). He played with the team through the end of the 1990-1991 season when the team folded. In 1989, Eck also played outdoor soccer during the MISL off season with the Ottawa Intrepid
Ottawa Intrepid
Ottawa Pioneers/Intrepid was the name of the Canadian Soccer League entry from the National Capital Region from 1987-1989 Ottawa, Ontario....
of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL). His twenty-one goals with the Intrepid were best in the CSL and earned Eck a spot on the CSL All-Star team. Eck returned to the CSL, this time with the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto 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...
in 1991. That year Eck scored ten goals, tied for fourth on the league's goals list. The Blizzard made it to the CSL championship before losing to the Vancouver 86ers.
With the demise of the Comets, Eck moved to the St. Louis Storm
St. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
, also of MISL, for the 1991-1992 season. However, the Storm also folded at the end of the season and Eck moved to the Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder
Denver Thunder were an indoor soccer club based in Denver, Colorado that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.The team was previously known as the Illinois Thunder.-Year-by-year:...
, an expansion team which lasted only the 1992-1993 season before folding. Eck found some outdoor stability in 1992 when he signed with the Colorado Foxes
Colorado Foxes
The Colorado Foxes were a professional soccer team, based in Commerce City, Colorado, that played in the APSL between 1990 and 1997. The Foxes won two APSL titles, in 1992 and 1993. When Major League Soccer started and the Colorado Rapids became the region's premier team, the Foxes tried to stay...
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...
(APSL). He would play each summer with the Foxes until he left to join the Dallas Burn in 1996. While with the Foxes, Eck won the 1993 APSL championship. The title game pitted the Foxes against the Los Angeles Salsa
Los Angeles Salsa
The Los Angeles Salsa was an American Professional Soccer League franchise. The club played on the campus of California State University, Fullerton at Titan Stadium in a suburb of Orange County, California...
. Scoreless through most of the game, Philip Gyau
Philip Gyau
Phillinoisip “Philip” Gyau is a former U.S. soccer forward. He spent his outdoor career in the American Soccer League and the American Professional Soccer League, his indoor career with the Washington Warthogs and Baltimore Blast, and spent nine years with the U.S. National Beach Soccer team. He...
of the Salsa scored in the sixty-seventh minute. The Salsa held that lead until Eck tied it with only three minutes left. The Foxes then put two more into the goal in extra time to win 3-1. Eck's goal gave him eight on the season and a spot on the APSL First XI. Eck again earned a spot on the APSL First XI in 1994 with six goals. However, this year the Foxes fell to the Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact
Montreal Impact was a Canadian professional soccer club based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1992, the team played in the North American Soccer League , the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid until the 2011 season. The owner Joey Saputo now operates the MLS team Montreal ImpactThe...
in the title game.
While Eck continued to play for the Foxes each summer, he spent the indoor season with the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) in the 1993-1994 season. That season the Ambush made it to the championship series before losing to 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...
. The next season found Eck with the Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
. He stayed with this team until joining the Burn in 1996. Eck had his greatest success indoors in his last season with the Wings when he was named the MVP of the NPSL All-Star Game.
MLS
On December 13, 1995, Major League SoccerMajor 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...
announced it had signed Eck for the upcoming MLS draft. When the draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
was held, the Dallas Burn selected Eck in the first round (third overall). In 1997, he was a member of the Burn team which won the U.S. Open Cup
Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is a knockout tournament in American soccer. The tournament is the oldest ongoing American soccer competition and is presently open to all United States Soccer Federation affiliated teams, from amateur adult club teams to the professional clubs of Major League...
. At the end of the 2000 MLS season, the Burn loaned Eck to the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
of the World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
(WISL). He played only five games with the Sidekicks, scoring a single playoff goal. He returned to the Burn for the 2001 MLS season and was released in August. In 2001 he retired from playing professionally.
National team
Between 1989 and 1996, Eck was a fringe player on the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. During those seven years, he earned thirteen caps and scored one goal. His first cap came in a scoreless tie with Guatemala
Guatemala national football team
The Guatemala national football team is the association football team representing the country of Guatemala and is controlled by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala. Founded in 1919, it affiliated to FIFA in 1946, and it is a member of CONCACAF....
on October 8, 1989, when he came in for Bruce Murray. He again came in for Murray a month later in a victory over Bermuda
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
. He continued to play sporadically in 1990, earning four caps, three as a substitute. However, his greatest contribution to the national team came when he scored in a 2-1 victory over East Germany
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
on July 28, 1990. His appearances dropped after that and he earned only one cap as a substitute in 1992. It was another four years before he was called up for a national team game. He earned his last cap on October 16, 1996. The national team had gone on strike in a contract dispute with USSF and the Federation was forced to field an ad hoc team for that date. Eck and his team mates lost 4-1 to Peru
Peru national football team
The Peru national football team, known as 'el equipo inca', represents Peru in international football competition and is managed by the Peruvian Football Federation . The team competes against the other nine members of FIFA's CONMEBOL conference, which encompasses the countries of South America...
.
Futsal
Eck used his extensive indoor soccer experience to carve out a significant role in the U.S. FutsalFutsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
Team. Between 1992 and 1999, he earned fourteen caps with the team, scoring ten goals. He was part of the U.S. team which took second place, losing 4-1 to Brazil
Brazil national futsal team
The Brazil national futsal team represents Brazil during international futsal competitions. It is under the direction of the Brazilian Futsal Confederation or Confederação Brasileira de Futebol de Salão. The team is considered to be the strongest in the world earning a record three straight...
, in the 1992 FIFA Futsal World Championship
FIFA Futsal World Championship
The FIFA Futsal World Cup is the international championship for futsal, an indoor version of association football.The world championship tournament is held every four years, on the even year between two FIFA World Cups. The first event was held in 1989, the year FIFA became the world governing body...
. He scored three goals in that tournament.