North American Soccer League - Definition and Overview

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 1984-1985 season. The NASL itself operated an indoor soccer league from 1979-82 and from 1983-84.

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

Famous Players of the NASL

• Dick Advocaat (NED)
• Gordon Banks (ENG)
• George Best (NIR)
• Peter Beardsley (ENG)
• Franz Beckenbauer (GER)
• Giorgio Chinaglia (ITA)
• Johan Cruyff (NED)
• Teofilo Cubillas (PER)
• Ricky Davis (USA)
• Andranik Eskandarian (IRN)
• Eusébio (POR)
• Bruce Grobbelaar (ZIM)
• Rudi Kroll (NED)
• Rodney Marsh (ENG)
• Bobby Moore (ENG)
• Johan Neeskens (NED)
• Pelé (BRZ)
• Bob Rigby (USA)
• Hugo Sánchez (MEX)
• Jomo Sono (RSA)
• Graeme Souness (SCO)
• Nobby Stiles (ENG)
• Francois van der Elst (BEL)

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
• Brian McBride, son of Pat McBride
• 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

United Soccer Association (USA) 1967

• Boston Rovers
• Chicago Mustangs
• Cleveland Stokers
• Dallas Tornado
• Detroit Cougars
• Houston Stars
• Los Angeles Wolves (champions)
• New York Skyliners
• San Francisco Gales
• Toronto City
• Vancouver Royal Canadians
• Washington Whips

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

External Links

• NASL All-time Player Register (http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm)
• American Soccer History Archives (http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/)