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MISL Announces Legends Team

March 3, 2003 - Major Indoor Soccer League 2 (MISL 2) News Release


(Milwaukee, WI – March 3, 2003) Major Indoor Soccer League Commissioner, Steve Ryan, announced the roster of the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Legends Team that will play the Milwaukee Wave Legends on Sunday, March 9, 2003 at 11:00 AM in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the Bradley Center The Major Indoor Soccer League Legends vs. the Milwaukee Wave Legends Game will be played before the MISL All-Star Game between the MISL Eastern Conference All-Stars and the MISL Western Conference All-Stars scheduled at 1:30 PM CST at the Bradley Center.

One of indoor and outdoor soccerÂ’s most successful coaches, Don Popovic, will coach the MISL Legends Team. Popovic coached the New York Arrows for 4 1/2 seasons in the MISL. In those 4 1/2 seasons, Popovic led the Arrows to 4 league championships and won Coach of the Year honors in the 1980-81 season. In 1982 Popovic was the MISL Coach of the Year and amassed the highest winning percentage (.815), this was more than any other coach in any other professional sports league..

Among the Legends players is the popular coach of the Milwaukee Wave, Keith Tozer. Tozer played in 100 games in the MISL and, as a coach, has more victories in North American indoor soccer history. Tozer has coached the Milwaukee Wave for 11 seasons and has won 3 league championships. Tozer also coaches the U.S. National Futsal Team, finishing third in the 1998 Mundialito de Futsal in Brazil and the 2000 CONCACAF Championships in Costa Rica. one of the best finishes achieved by a U.S. team in the international indoor game

Joining Tozer will be some of soccerÂ’s biggest stars, including Shep Messing, Fernando Clavijo, Desmond Armstrong, David DÂ’Errico and Doc Lawson.

MISL LEGENDS TEAM

Don Popovic, New York Arrows – One of soccer’s world- class coaches, Popovic is famous for both indoor and outdoor achievements. Popovic coached on the international stage when in 1976-77 he coached a World All-Star Indoor team that toured Europe and Brazil, then a World All-Star Team that played in Barcelona, Spain in front of 110,000 fans to benefit UNICEF. Popovic coached the Rochester Lancers,of the NASL, who lost to the Pele led New York Cosmos at Giants Stadium in the NASL semi-final game in front of 60,000 soccer fans. Popovic coached the New York Arrows of the MISL for four and a half seasons. During his tenure with the Arrows, Popovic won four league championships and won Coach of the Year honors for the 1980-81 season. Popovic also guided the MISL All-Star Team three times.

Billy Ronson, Baltimore Blast – Ronson began his professional soccer career when he was 15 years old, playing for the Blackpool Football Club in his home country, England. Ronson came to the United States in 1978 and joined the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers of the North American Soccer League. In 1986 Ronson joined the Baltimore Blast of the MISL. Ronson now resides in Baltimore, Maryland.

Daryl Doran, St. Louis Steamers – One of the MISL’s all-time best defenders, Doran played in 253 MISL games and scored 609 points. Doran played in 60 playoff games and scored 149 playoff points. During his playing career, Doran played in 12 MISL All-Star Games. In 1997 Doran won the Defender of the Year and was named to the All League Team six times. As a coach with the St.Louis Steamers, Doran’s record was 166 wins and 98 losses. He won five divisional titles and four conference championships

Dave D’Errico, New York Arrows – D’Errico played with Hartwick College where he named to the All-America team in 1973. At Hartwick, he led the Hawks to the NCAA quarterfinal round. D’Errico spent the next several seasons with the United States National team. After turning professional, D’Errico played for the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League. During his career in indoor soccer D’Errico was an All-Star in the MISL

Zoran Savic, Buffalo Stallions – Savic began his indoor career in 1980 with the Buffalo Stallions. After playing in several MISL cities, Savic played for the United States National Futsal team. With the MISL, Savic was one of the league’s top scorers and in the l990-91 season he was named the MVP of that year’s All-Star game. Savic coaches at Kansas City of the MISL and was named league Coach of the Year twice. Savic’s 1995-96 Kansas City team hold the league’s most consecutive wins record at 18.

Keith Tozer, Pittsburgh Spirit – Before coaching the Milwaukee Wave, Tozer played in 100 MISL games for several teams. Tozer also holds the distinction of being the first player to be drafted into the MISL. In 1992 Tozer was named coach of the Milwaukee Wave after coaching in several other indoor venues. Tozer is also currently coach of the United States National Futsal Team. In the MISL, Tozer has been named MISL Coach of the Year five times . . Jamie Swanner, Canton Invaders – Swanner was the NPSL Rookie of the Year in 1985 – 86, when he helped the Canton Invaders win the championship. He went on to be selected to the NPSL All-Star Game 11 times. He was voted to the All-NPSL Team eight times; won the NPSL Goalkeeper of the Year Award six times; and twice was voted the NPSL Most Valuable Player. His team won 10 division titles and five NPSL Championships. Swanner was an All-American at Clemson University, Swanner played for the United States in the 1984 Olympics and was a member of the U.S. National Team.During his indoor career, Swanner played in 472 games and had 296 wins with a 3.54 goals against average.

Fernando Clavijo, New York Arrow –Played on the 1994 U.S. World Cup Team, Clavijo made 61 appearances in international competition with the United States National Team. In the MISL Clavijo played for the San Diego Sockers. The Sockers won three MISL Championships while Clavijo was on the roster. Clavijo was voted to the MISL’s All-Star team 12 times and was one of the top defenders of the decade. He is most remembered playing for the MISL’s New York Arrows, which won back-to-back titles in 1981 and 1982. Clavijo coached the Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution and is currently on the Board of Directors for the United States Soccer Federation.

Mike Stankovic, Baltimore Blast – A six time MISL All-Star, he had 203 goals and 194 assists in 396 career games and was named to the league’s All-Decade team. A member of the 1983 – 84 MISL Champion Baltimore Blast, Stankovic is the MISL’s all-time penalty minutes leader. In 1992 Stankovic became an assistant coach for the Baltimore Spirit and served as the head coach of the Spirit from 1995-98. (The Spirit was re-named the Blast in 1998.)

Tony Glavin, St. Louis Steamers – Tony Glavin’s career started in the Scottish 1st Division with the Hamilton FC and the 2nd Division with the Queens Park FC. With the St. Louis Steamers of the MISL, Glavin made the MISL All-Star team three times and was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1982 game. Glavin also coached the Dayton Dynamo’s of the NPSL. Glavin also played for the Philadelphia Fury of the North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980.

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Shep Messing, New York Arrows -, Messing played in seven games for the U.S. National Team, he then went on to play for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League. With the Cosmos, Messing played with soccer greats like Pele, Beckenbauer, Chinaglia, and Carlos Alberto. Following his seasons with the NASL Champion Cosmos, Messing went on to become one of indoor soccerÂ’s super-stars while playing for the New York Arrows of the MISL, where he captured virtually every goalkeeping title. Messing led the Arrows to the MISL Championship in each of the leagueÂ’s first four seasons. In 2000 Messing was inducted into the New York Sports Hall of Fame. Also in 2000 the New York/New Jersey MetroStars of Major League Soccer named Messing to their broadcast team. Messing also worked for ESPN during their World Cup broadcast last summer. Messing is also on the Madison Square Garden broadcast staff.

. Desmond Armstrong, Cleveland Force- Armstrong played eight years for the United States National team. Armstrong played for the United States team in the 1988 Olympic Games. Armstrong played his college soccer at the University of Maryland. He began his indoor career after being the 1st round draft selection of the Cleveland Force of the MISL. Armstrong played three seasons in the MISL, two with Cleveland and one with Baltimore. Armstrong is now the head coach at Montreat College.

Doc Lawson, Dallas Sidekicks - Doc Lawson is one of only three players to have his jersey retired by the Dallas Sidekicks. Lawson was the first ever All-American player from Southern Connecticut State University. Lawson played for Team USA in 1979 and 1980. Lawson also played for the United States Olympic soccer team in 1980. Lawson, from Liberia, West Africa played for the both indoor and outdoor soccer including the New York Cosmos in the NASL and the San Diego Sockers also of the NASL. Doc Lawson retired from pro soccer after the 1990-91 season. He is now currently a businessman in Dallas, Texas.

Kai Haaskivi, Cleveland Force - Kai, came to the United States in 1978 from Finland. Kai began his professional career in the United States playing for the Dallas Tornado of the North American Soccer League (NASL). From there, Kai moved onto the Houston Hurricane of the NASL (1979-80). Haaskivi began his career in the Major Indoor Soccer League in 1979 with the Houston Summit. After playing 10 seasons in the MISL, Haaskivi became the head coach of the Cleveland Crunch. One of many items that Haaskivi is noted for is that, as a member of the Finish National Team he was only one of a few players who scored a goal on the Italian National Team. In 1993 Haaskivi retired from soccer.

Batata, LA Lazers -. Batata played for several seasons in his native Brazil with the Brazilian National Team and Santos FC; he also played with Club America in Mexico. With the MISL, Batata played with the Los Angeles Lazers and the Chicago Sting. In the NPSL, Batata played for the Chicago Power. Batata has lived in the Chicago area for 18 years and has coached young players at many levels. Batata today is overseeing all business activities for the Socker Football Club in Chicago.

Zoran Karic, Cleveland Crunch – In the MISL, Karic was selected to the All-Star Team seven seasons in a row. As an All-Star, Karic was voted MVP in 1993 and co-MVP in 1995. Karic also was named to the All-NPSL team four seasons in a row. Also was named the NPSL MVP in the 1993-94 season. In the 1990-91 season, Karic led the MSL in goals and set an all time MISL record with ten assists in ten playoff games. During his MISL career, Karic was league Player of the Week ten times and Player of the Month four times.

Drago Dumbovic, Detroit Rockers –Dumbovic played in 114 games in the MISL and amassed 406 points while playing for the Detroit Rockers. Dumbovic is only the 12th player in indoor soccer to register more than 800 points He was one of the most popular NPSL players to play indoor soccer in Detroit. Dumbovic coached the Detroit Rockers in the 1999-2000 season and the 2000-2001 season.

Luis Alberto – New York Arrows –Alberto played in the MISL for the New York Arrows under coach Don Popovic. In the four seasons Alberto played in New York the Arrows won four league championships. In the 1980-81 season, Alberto scored 60 points in 37 games and in the playoffs he had 6 points in 5 games. Alberto was traded to the Cleveland Crunch in the 1981-82 season and played in Cleveland and Pittsburgh until he went on to play in the North American Soccer League for New York. Alberto lives on Long Island and is a United States Olympic development program coach in the New York region.

Kia Zolgharnain, Kansas City Cosmos - , Kia played for the Canton Invaders and the Cleveland Crunch of the MISL. Zolgharain became the seventh player in indoor soccer history to score a career 500 regular season goals. Zolgharain is now a United States Soccer Federation “A” licensed coach. He is now the head coach of a United Soccer League team in the Super Y-league.

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