In 1967, two pro soccer leagues started in the United States: the FIFA-sanctioned United Soccer Association and the unsanctioned National Professional Soccer League. It has been suggested that the timing of this was related to the huge amount of attention given throughout the English-speaking world given to the victory by England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup and the resulting documentary film, Goal. 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). The NASL lasted until 1984 when it folded. However, four NASL teams (Chicago, Minnesota, New York, and San Diego) joined the Major Indoor Soccer League for its 1984-85 season. The NASL itself operated an indoor soccer league from 1979-82 and in 1983-84. FIFA logo (usage restricted): For the Good of the Game Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the international governing body of the sport of association football (sometimes called simply football, or soccer). ... First International Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst defeat Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 11 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First... 1966 was the year that the Football World Cup went back to the country that first conceived football: England. ... CBSs first color logo, which debuted in the fall of 1965. ... A television network is a distribution network for television content whereby a central operation provides programming for many television stations. ... The Major Soccer League, originally called the Major Indoor Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. ... This article is primarily regarding indoor soccer as played in North America. ...

The biggest club in the league was the New York Cosmos, who drew upwards of 40,000 fans per game at their height. However, the average attendance of the league never reached 15,000, which is less than MLS currently draws. The New York Cosmos (1971-1985) was a franchise in the North American Soccer League. ... Major League Soccer (MLS) is the highest level soccer league in the United States sanctioned by the professional division of the United States Soccer Federation (USSF or U.S. Soccer), a member of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). ...

The NASL faced challenges in regards to selling the sport of soccer to Americans, which was completely foreign to them. The league "Americanized" the rules in attempt to make the game more exciting to the average sports fan. These changes included a clock that counted down to zero, a 35 yard line for offsides, and a shootout to decide matches that ended in a draw. The foreign image of soccer wasn't helped by a league that bought many older, high profile foreign players, and left Americans on the bench.

The overexpansion was a huge factor in the death of the league. Once the league starting growing, new franchises were awarded quickly, and it doubled in size in a few years, peaking at 24 teams. This resulted in the talent level spreading too thin. Additionally, many of the owners were not soccer people, and once the popularity started to decline, they got out as quickly as they got in. They also spent millions on aging stars to try and match the success of the Cosmos, and lost massive amounts of money.

While the NASL may have failed, it introduced soccer to the masses. This has led to soccer becoming the number one participatory sport among kids.

It has also provided valuable lessons for MLS to heed. It made many of the same mistakes in its first few years, but now they seem to be on the right track. MLS is trying to build soccer specific stadiums for each of its teams, rather than renting large NFL venues. Americans are now the backbone of the league, with a foreign player limit enforced. The Americanization of the rules has ended; MLS games are now exactly the same as the rest of the world. No longer do they spend millions on aging stars (Luis Hernandez, Lothar Matthaus). Luis Hernández (born December 22, 1968 in Poza, Mexico) is a Mexican soccer player, the all-time leading goalscorer for the Mexican national team. ... Lothar Matthäus (born March 21, 1961 in Erlangen, Germany) is a former football (soccer) player and now manager. ...

NASL Champions

• 1968 Atlanta Chiefs
• 1969 Kansas City Spurs
• 1970 Rochester Lancers
• 1971 Dallas Tornado
• 1972 New York Cosmos
• 1973 Philadelphia Atoms
• 1974 Los Angeles Aztecs
• 1975 Tampa Bay Rowdies
• 1976 Toronto Metros-Croatia
• 1977 New York Cosmos
• 1978 New York Cosmos
• 1979 Vancouver Whitecaps
• 1980 New York Cosmos
• 1981 Chicago Sting
• 1982 New York Cosmos
• 1983 Tulsa Roughnecks
• 1984 Chicago Sting

NASL Indoor Champions

• 1980 Memphis Rogues
• 1981 Edmonton Drillers
• 1982 San Diego Sockers
• 1983 No NASL indoor league
• 1984 San Diego Sockers

Teams of NASL 1968-84

• Atlanta Chiefs 1968-1972
• Atlanta Apollos 1973
• Atlanta Chiefs 1979-1981
• Baltimore Bays 1968-1969
• Baltimore Comets 1974-1975
• Boston Beacons 1968
• Boston Minutemen 1974-1976
• Calgary Boomers 1981
• California Surf 1978-1981
• Chicago Mustangs 1968
• Chicago Sting 1975-1984
• Cleveland Stokers 1968
• Colorado Caribous 1978
• Connecticut Bicentennials 1977
• Dallas Tornado 1968-1981
• Denver Dynamos 1974-1975
• Detroit Cougars 1968
• Detroit Express 1978-1980
• Edmonton Drillers 1979-1982
• Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1977-1983
• Golden Bay Earthquakes 1983-1984
• Hartford Bicentennials 1975-1976
• Houston Stars 1968
• Houston Hurricane 1978-1980
• Jacksonville Tea Men 1981-1982
• Kansas City Spurs 1968-1970
• Las Vegas Quicksilver 1977
• Los Angeles Wolves 1968
• Los Angeles Aztecs 1974-1981
• Miami Gatos 1972
• Miami Toros 1973-1976
• Memphis Rogues 1978-1980
• Minnesota Kicks 1976-1981
• Minnesota Strikers 1984
• Montreal Olympique 1971-1973
• Montreal Manic 1981-1983
• New England Tea Men 1978-1980
• New York Generals 1968
• New York Cosmos 1971-1984
• Oakland Clippers 1968
• Oakland Stompers 1978
• Philadelphia Atoms 1973-1976
• Philadelphia Fury 1978-1980
• Portland Timbers 1975-1982
• Rochester Lancers 1970-1980
• San Antonio Thunder 1975-1976
• San Diego Toros 1968
• San Diego Jaws 1976
• San Diego Sockers 1978-1984
• San Jose Earthquakes 1974-1982
• Seattle Sounders 1974-1983
• St. Louis Stars 1968-1977
• Tampa Bay Rowdies 1975-1984
• Team America 1983
• Team Hawaii 1977
• Toronto Falcons 1968
• Toronto Metros 1971-1974
• Toronto Metros-Croatia 1975-1978
• Toronto Blizzard 1979-1984
• Tulsa Roughnecks 1978-1984
• Vancouver Royals 1968
• Vancouver Whitecaps 1974-1984
• Washington Whips 1968
• Washington Darts 1970-1971
• Washington Diplomats 1974-1981

The Calgary Boomers were a professional soccer team, that competed in the North American Soccer League during the 1981 season, after which they folded. ... The Chicago Sting (1975-1988) were a United States professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... The Fort Lauderdale Strikers were an American soccer team, a descendant of the Washington Darts, Miami Gatos, and Miami Toros, that played in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. ... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Spartan Stadium Coach Dominic Kinnear, 2004- All-Time Leaders* Games Richard Mulrooney, 163 Goals Ronald Cerritos, 55 Assists Richard Mulrooney, 44 Points Ronald Cerritos, 148 Shutouts Joe Cannon, 26 First Game San Jose Clash 1 - 0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April... The Los Angeles Aztecs (1974-1981) were a North American Soccer League team from Los Angeles, California. ... Categories: Stub | United States soccer clubs (defunct) | Memphis, Tennessee sports ... Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. ... The Minnesota Strikers were an American professional soccer franchise located in the Minneapolis/St. ... The New York Cosmos (1971-1985) was a franchise in the North American Soccer League. ... The Portland Timbers are Portland, Oregons entry in the USL First Division, the second tier of professional soccer in the United States. ... The San Diego Sockers is a name that has been used by two different soccer teams Original Team The San Diego Sockers were one of the most succesful indoor soccer teams in the sports short history. ... Year Founded 1995 League Major League Soccer Stadium Spartan Stadium Coach Dominic Kinnear, 2004- All-Time Leaders* Games Richard Mulrooney, 163 Goals Ronald Cerritos, 55 Assists Richard Mulrooney, 44 Points Ronald Cerritos, 148 Shutouts Joe Cannon, 26 First Game San Jose Clash 1 - 0 D.C. United (Spartan Stadium; April... Traditonal Seattle Sounders logo used in both the NASL years and the A-League years. ... The Tulsa Roughnecks (1979-1984) were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. ... The Vancouver Whitecaps (officially Whitecaps F.C.) are a Canadian professional soccer team, which currently plays in the USL First Division (formerly the A-League) of the United Soccer Leagues (USL), the largest system of national soccer leagues in North America. ... The Washington Diplomats (1974-1981) were a North American Soccer League team from Washington, DC. Johan Cruyff played for them in 1980 and 1981. ...

Famous Players of the NASL

• Dick Advocaat (NED)
• Gordon Banks (ENG)
• George Best (NIR)
• Peter Beardsley (ENG)
• Franz Beckenbauer (GER)
• Vladislav Bogicevic (YUG)
• Giorgio Chinaglia (ITA)
• Johan Cruyff (NED)
• Teofilo Cubillas (PER)
• Rick Davis (USA)
• Andranik Eskandarian (IRN)
• Trevor Francis (ENG)
• Eusébio (POR)
• Bruce Grobbelaar (ZIM)
• Ruud Krol (NED)
• Bob Lenarduzzi (CAN)
• Rodney Marsh (ENG)
• Bobby Moore (ENG)
• Gerd Müller (GER)
• Johan Neeskens (NED)
• Pelé (BRZ)
• Bob Rigby (USA)
• Wim Rijsbergen (NED)
• Hugo Sánchez (MEX)
• Jomo Sono (RSA)
• Graeme Souness (SCO)
• Nobby Stiles (ENG)
• Francois van der Elst (BEL)

Dick Advocaat (born September 27, 1947 in Den Haag, Netherlands) was head coach of the Dutch national football team and, in his younger years, a football player. ... Gordon Banks, OBE (born in Sheffield, December 30, 1937) is considered by many to be one of the best football goalkeepers in history. ... George Best (born May 22, 1946) is a former Northern Irish footballer, born in Belfast. ... Peter Andrew Beardsley (born Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, January 18, 1961) was a footballer who graced the English game at both domestic and international level for more than 15 years. ... Franz Beckenbauer (born September 11, 1945) is a famous German football player, coach and manager, nicknamed der Kaiser (the emperor) because of his elegant style, his leadership qualities and his domination on the soccer pitch. ... Johan Cruijff Johan Cruijff (born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football trainer/coach and former star player. ... Teófilo Cubillas Arizaga (born March 8, 1949 near Puente Piedra, Peru) was a Peruvian football player. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Andranik Eskandarian (born December 31, Iranian-American soccer player of Armenian descent, who played defender for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. ... Trevor Francis (born April 19, 1954) was a noted England international football player and is currently a football manager. ... Eusébio da Silva Ferreira (known by the playing name of Eusébio) (born January 25, 1942 in Lourenço Marques (now Maputo), Mozambique) nicknamed The Black Pearl and The Black Panther, is a Portuguese football icon. ... Bruce Grobbelaar (born October 6, 1957 in Durban, South Africa) was a football goalkeeper for Zimbabwe and a number of clubs, most notably Liverpool F.C. Career He joined Liverpool in 1981 from the Vancouver Whitecaps of the North American Soccer League, and played 627 first team games. ... Rudolf Jozef Krol (also known as Ruud or Rudi) born 24 March 1949 in Amsterdam is a retired Dutch footballer who was capped 83 times for his country. ... Bob Lenarduzzi (born 1 May 1955 in Vancouver) is a former North American Soccer League star, Canadian International, and head coach of the Canadian national and olympic soccer teams. ... Robert Frederick Chelsea Bobby Moore OBE (April 12, 1941 - February 24, 1993) was an English footballer whose place in history is secure. ... Gerhard Gerd Müller (born November 3, 1945 in Nördlingen) is a former German football player. ... Johan Neeskens was a Dutch football player. ... Pelé Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940), nicknamed Pelé, is a former Brazilian football player, considered by many to be the finest player of all time. ... Hugo Sánchez Márquez (born July 11, 1958 in Mexico City) is a former football (soccer) striker, considered the best Mexican player ever. ... Matsilela Ephraim Sono (affectionately known as Jomo Sono and sometimes also called the Black Prince of South African Soccer) (17 July 1955 - ) is a South African soccer club owner and coach and was also a star soccer player. ... Graeme Souness (born Edinburgh, Scotland, May 6, 1953) was the captain of the all-conquering Liverpool team of the early 1980s who later returned to the club as manager. ... Norbert Nobby Peter Stiles MBE, (May 18, 1942—), is a former English football player. ...

Current Professionals with parents in the NASL

• Jordan Cila, son of Renato Cila
• Jordi Cruyff, son of Johan Cruyff
• Alecko Eskandarian, son of Andranik Eskandarian
• Julie Fleeting, daughter of Jim Fleeting
• Daniel Nardiello, son of Donato Nardiello
• John Barry Nusum, son of John Nusum
• Taylor Twellman, son of Tim Twellman
• Chris Wingert, son of Norm Wingert

Jordan Cila (born April 11, 1982 in Jericho, New York) is an American soccer midfielder, who currently plays for the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. ... Jordi Cruyff (born February 9, 1974 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football player, the son of the great Johan Cruyff. ... Johan Cruijff Johan Cruijff (born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football trainer/coach and former star player. ... Alecko Eskandarian (born July 9, 1982 in Montvale, New Jersey) is a professional soccer player in Major League Soccer, playing for D.C. United. ... Andranik Eskandarian (born December 31, Iranian-American soccer player of Armenian descent, who played defender for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. ... Daniel Nardiello (born October 22, 1982 in Coventry) is an English football player. ... John Barry Nusum (born March 18, 1981 in Devonshire, Bermuda) is a Bermudian soccer player, who currently plays striker for the Toronto Lynx of the USL First Division and the Philadelphia Kixx of the MISL. Nusum played college soccer at Furman University, where he was thrice named an NSCAA All... Taylor Twellman (born February 29, 1980 in St. ... Chris Wingert (b. ...

United Soccer Association (USA) 1967

Western Division

• Chicago Mustangs (Cagliari, Italy)
• Dallas Tornado (Dundee United, Scotland)
• Houston Stars (Bangu, Brazil)
• Los Angeles Wolves (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England) champions
• San Francisco Gales (ADO Den Haag, Netherlands)
• Vancouver Royal Canadians (Sunderland, England)

Categories: Football (soccer) stubs | Italian football clubs ... Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish football (soccer) club from the city of Dundee. ... Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. is a Wolverhampton-based football club playing at the Molineux. ... ADO Den Haag (formerly known as FC Den Haag or ADO) is the main football club in the city of The Hague. ... Sunderland Association Football Club is a football club based in Sunderland, on Wearside in the North-East of England. ...

Eastern Division

• Boston Rovers (Shamrock Rovers, Ireland)
• Cleveland Stokers (Stoke City, England)
• Detroit Cougars (Glentoran), Northern Ireland)
• New York Skyliners (Cerro, Uruguay)
• Toronto City (Hibernian, Scotland)
• Washington Whips (Aberdeen, Scotland)

Shamrock Rovers F.C. is a Irish football club playing in the Football League of Ireland. ... Stoke City F.C. (known as Stoke F.C. until 1925) is a football club from Stoke-on-Trent in England. ... Glentoran FC is a Northern Irish football club, playing in Belfast. ... Hibernian Football Club is one of two main Edinburgh football clubs (the other being Heart of Midlothian). ... Aberdeen Football Club is a football team from Scotland, who compete in the Scottish Premier League. ...

National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) 1967

• Atlanta Chiefs
• Baltimore Bays
• Chicago Spurs
• Los Angeles Toros
• New York Generals
• Philadelphia Spartans
• Pittsburgh Phantoms
• Oakland Clippers (champions)
• St. Louis Stars
• Toronto Falcons

See Also

• NASL Most Valuable Player Award
• Soccer Bowl
• Category:NASL players

This North American Soccer League gave out an MVP Award each year from 1968 to 1984. ... The Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. ...

External Links

• A site dedicated to the history of the NASL (http://home.att.net/~nasl/nasl.htm)
• NASL All-time Player Register (http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm)
• American Soccer History Archives (http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/)
• NASL Attendance Figures (http://www.kenn.com/sports/soccer/nasl/index.html)