 | |
| Founded | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2001 |
| Country | United States Mexico |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Last champions | Dallas Sidekicks |
The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was a United States-based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.
| | |
| Founded | 1998 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2001 |
| Country | United States Mexico |
| Number of teams | 9 |
| Last champions | Dallas Sidekicks |
The World Indoor Soccer League (WISL) was a United States-based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.
After the demise of the Continental Indoor Soccer League, four of its teams decided to create a new indoor league to be called the Premier Soccer Alliance.[ when? ] The teams complemented their schedules with games against international teams. In 1999, two more former CISL teams (the Houston Hotshots and Monterrey La Raza) joined the league, which then changed its name to World Indoor Soccer League.
The name change came about as a result of the "merger" of the US-based Premier Soccer Alliance and an 'English Indoor Football League'. Originally, there was to be a European Division and a North American Division, with 'London United', 'Manchester Magic', 'Newcastle Geordies' and 'Sheffield Strikers' playing in a European division, but that idea was dropped due to rules conflicts between the existing leagues and lack of permission from The Football Association.
At one point in 2000, the World Indoor Soccer League attempted to be the first U.S. pro sports league to sell the naming rights of the league. It was looking to be something like "The Pepsi World Indoor Soccer League." Ultimately, this did not happen. [1]
The WISL folded in December 2001 when Dallas, St. Louis, and San Diego agreed to join the MISL while the remaining teams, the Utah Freezz, the Sacramento Knights and the Houston Hotshots folded.
| Season | Champion | Score / series | Runner-Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Dallas Sidekicks | 6 to 2 | Sacramento Knights |
| 1999 | Sacramento Knights | 7 to 6 | Dallas Sidekicks |
| 2000 | Monterrey La Raza | 6 to 5 (SO 3-1) | Dallas Sidekicks |
| 2001 | Dallas Sidekicks | 2-1 | San Diego Sockers |
| Team | Championships | Runner Up | Champions | Runner Up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Sidekicks | 2 | 2 | 1998, 2001 | 1999, 2000 |
| Sacramento Knights | 1 | 1 | 1999 | 1998 |
| Monterrey La Raza | 1 | 0 | 2000 | |
| San Diego Sockers | 0 | 1 | 2001 | |
Gordon Jago 1998–2001
The Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the United States that played matches from fall 1978 to spring 1992.
The Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) was a professional indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.
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 2003–04 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor Soccer League. Over the years, the team played in four other leagues. The team's most famous player was Tatu, who was known for throwing his shirt into the stands after every goal. The team hosted the 1989 MISL All-Star Game. The team was one of the most successful franchises in indoor soccer history, making the playoffs in 16 of their 19 seasons of play. In the playoffs, the team made it to the championship game/series eight times, winning four titles.
Antonio Carlos Pecorari, commonly known as Tatu, is a Brazilian football coach and former player, and one of the most accomplished indoor football players of all time. He is currently the head coach of the Mesquite Outlaws in the Major Arena Soccer League. His nickname means "armadillo" in Portuguese.
Sacramento Knights were an indoor soccer team that played from 1993 to 2001 in ARCO Arena and were owned by the NBA's Sacramento Kings. The team played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League from 1993 to 1997. The team then moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1998 after the CISL folded. The team itself folded when the WISL merged with the Major Indoor Soccer League in 2001.
The Houston Hotshots are a professional indoor soccer team in Houston, Texas. They play in the Premier Arena Soccer League (PASL) From 1994 to 1997 and 2000–2001, the Houston Hotshots were a full professional indoor soccer team in Houston, Texas. They played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) from 1994 to 1997, and moved to the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999 after the CISL folded. The Hotshots folded in early 2001 after failing to attract new investors. On June 28, 2015, William Alsobrook filed the necessary paperwork to revive the club and announced his intention to field a team in the upcoming Premier Arena Soccer League season.
The Utah Freezz were a professional American indoor soccer team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Freezz were a 1999 expansion team of the now-defunct World Indoor Soccer League. The team played in the E Center in West Valley City, Utah. Tim Mouser served as team president during its first two seasons and Chris Connolly was team president for the final season.
Iain Fraser is a former Canadian professional soccer player.
Robert "Rob" Baarts is a retired Canadian soccer forward who is currently the head coach of the New Mexico State University women's soccer team.
Paul Dougherty is an English former professional soccer player and soccer coach who began his career with Wolverhampton Wanderers in England. He then moved to the United States where he became a journeyman player, bouncing through sixteen teams in multiple indoor and outdoor leagues.
The original Monterrey La Raza was a professional indoor soccer team based in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. The team was founded on December 29, 1992 as a member of the Continental Indoor Soccer League. After the CISL folded, the La Raza took one season off and attempted to join the National Professional Soccer League before joining the World Indoor Soccer League in 1999. The team folded after it was expelled from the WISL before the 2001 season due to the lack of progress on building Arena Monterrey.
Jeff Betts is an American former soccer forward and coach who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. He was a three time All Star and the 2000 World Indoor Soccer League Coach of the Year.
Juan de la O is a Mexican indoor soccer goalkeeper who played in several U.S. indoor leagues. He was the 1997 Continental Indoor Soccer League Goalkeeper of the Year.
Anthony Farace is a retired U.S. soccer player who spent his career with Southern California based teams in the Major Indoor Soccer League and USL A-League.
Nicholas Stavrou is an English football midfielder and coach, who played thirteen years of professional indoor soccer with the Dallas Sidekicks. He currently serves as head coach of Fort Worth Vaqueros FC in the National Premier Soccer League and as the assistant coach for the Mesquite Outlaws of the Major Arena Soccer League.
Chris McDonald is a retired American soccer player who spent most of his career in indoor leagues.
Mike Britton is a retired American soccer player who spent most of his career in indoor leagues. He is an assistant to his wife Tracey Britton who coaches the Monroe Community College women's soccer team.
Rusty Troy is a retired American soccer player. He played for the University of North Texas. He was drafted and played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, National Professional Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League and USISL. He was the 1989 MISL Rookie of the Year and the 1998 PSA Defender of the Year.
The 2012–13 Dallas Sidekicks season was the first season of the new Dallas Sidekicks professional indoor soccer club. The Sidekicks, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The team was led by general manager and head coach Tatu with assistant coaches Mike Powers and Caesar Cervin.
The 2013–14 Dallas Sidekicks season was the second season of the relaunched Dallas Sidekicks professional indoor soccer club. The Sidekicks, a Central Division team in the Professional Arena Soccer League, played their home games in the Allen Event Center in Allen, Texas. The team was led by general manager and head coach Tatu with assistant coaches Mike Powers and Caesar Cervin.