The North American Soccer League (NASL) was the top-level major professional soccer league in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984. It was the first soccer league to be successful on a national scale in the United States. The league final was called the Soccer Bowl from 1975 to 1983 and the Soccer Bowl Series in its final year, 1984. The league was headed by Commissioner Phil Woosnam from 1969 to 1983. The NASL laid the foundations for soccer in the United States that helped lead to the country hosting the 1994 FIFA World Cup and the set-up of Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996.
The Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in the Minneapolis suburb of Bloomington, Minnesota, from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League (NASL). Initially known as the Denver Dynamos, the team relocated and became the Minnesota Kicks in 1976. The Kicks quickly became one of the league's more popular teams, with an average attendance of 23,120 fans per game in 1976. The Kicks won their division four years in a row from 1976 to 1979. The Kicks drew over 23,000 fans in each season from 1976 to 1979, with attendance peaking at 32,775 in 1977.
Joseph M. Morrone is a former U.S. soccer midfielder who is the son of soccer coach Joe Morrone, Joseph J. Morrone Jr. While playing for the UConn Huskies, he won the 1980 Hermann Trophy as the top collegiate player of the year and the 1981 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year. At the time, Morrone was the most decorated athlete in the University of Connecticut's history.
Gregory Villa is an American former soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned eighteen caps, scoring five goals, with the United States men's national soccer team between 1977 and 1980.
Tony Crescitelli is a retired Italian-American soccer forward who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League and earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1983.
Njego Pesa is a former American soccer forward who played in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned seven caps with the U.S. national team.
Don Droege is a former U.S. soccer defender who played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and three seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned eight caps with the U.S. national team between 1977 and 1979.
Neil Cohen is a former U.S. soccer defender. He played eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1976. In 2008, Neil was elected to the FC Dallas, "Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame" for his contributions to soccer in Texas.
Bruce Rudroff was a U.S. soccer defender. Rudroff played three seasons in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team.
Stephen John Earle is an English former footballer who played professionally in both England and the United States.
Christopher George Dangerfield is an English former footballer who spent most of his career in the United States.
Ninoslav "Nino" Zec is a retired Yugoslav professional footballer who played as midfielder or striker.
Victor "Vic" Moreland is a retired professional footballer from Northern Ireland who began his career in Northern Ireland, spent two seasons in the Football League before moving to the United States. He then played six seasons in the North American Soccer League, seven in the Major Indoor Soccer League as well as several seasons in several lower division indoor and outdoor leagues.
Barry Daniel Wallace was an English football midfielder who played professionally in the Football League, North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. After his retirement from playing, Wallace spent the rest of his life coaching youth soccer teams.
Paul Turin is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and North American Soccer League.
Ken McDonald is a retired American soccer forward who played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and American Soccer League.
Jim Millnder is a retired American soccer player and coach who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and United Soccer League. He coached collegiate soccer for twenty-nine years.
Dave Huson is a retired footballer from Jersey who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.
Paul Coffee is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.
Stojan "Niki" Nikolic is a retired Yugoslav-American soccer defender who played professionally in Yugoslavia and the United States, including the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also coached in the American Indoor Soccer Association and American Professional Soccer League.