Related Research Articles
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.
In Canada, soccer is the most popular sport in terms of participation rate. According to FIFA's Big Count, almost 2.7 million people played in Canada in 2006. Professional soccer in Canada is played in the Canadian Premier League and Major League Soccer. Canada also has many semi-professional and amateur soccer leagues. Canada's men's and women's national soccer teams are ranked 33rd and 6th respectively in the FIFA World Rankings, as of February 10, 2022.
Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper. He represented the United States national team at the 1990, 1994, and 2002 World Cups. From 1996 to 2006, he played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors. Meola is currently a radio host on SiriusXM FC.
Varsity Stadium is an outdoor collegiate football stadium located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is home to the Toronto Varsity Blues, the athletic teams of the University of Toronto. Athletic events have been hosted on the site since 1898; the current stadium was built in 2007 to replace the original permanent stadium built in 1911. Varsity Stadium is also a former home of the Toronto Argonauts, and has previously hosted the Grey Cup, the Vanier Cup, several matches of the 1976 Summer Olympics soccer tournament, and the final game of the North American Soccer League's 1984 Soccer Bowl series. It is located next to Varsity Arena.
Robert Italo Lenarduzzi, OBC is a former North American Soccer League player, Canadian international, and coach of the Canadian national and Olympic soccer teams. He is currently club liaison for Vancouver Whitecaps FC. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
The Toronto Blizzard were a professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that played in the North American Soccer League.
Team America was a professional version of the United States men's national soccer team which played as a franchise in the North American Soccer League (NASL) during the 1983 season. The team was based in Washington, D.C., played its home games at RFK Stadium, and was intended by the NASL and the United States Soccer Federation to build fan support for the league and create a cohesive and internationally competitive national team. However, the team finished in last place and drew only 13,000 fans per game.
Michael Sweeney is a Canadian former soccer player. In 2012, as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.
Randolph "Randy" Lee Ragan is a former Canadian elite professional soccer player, who was considered one of the top midfield players in Canada in the 1980s.
Gerard "Gerry" Gray is a former soccer player. Born in Scotland, he represented and coached the Canadian national soccer team.
Anthony "Tony" Lecce is an Italian-born Canadian former soccer defender who earned nine caps with the Canadian national soccer team and played four seasons in the North American Soccer League.
Igor Vrablic is a Canadian former soccer player who played at both professional and international levels, as a striker.
Shaun Lowther is a former professional soccer player who played as a defender spending five seasons in the North American Soccer League. Born in England, he made 14 appearances for the Canada national team. He is an executive of a youth soccer club in Airdrie, Alberta.
Charlie Falzon is a Canadian retired soccer player who spent time in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned nine caps with the Canadian national soccer team between 1983 and 1989. Charlie is currently an advanced care paramedic working for Toronto EMS.
The second iteration of the Toronto Blizzard was a Canadian professional soccer team in Toronto, Ontario that competed in the Canadian Soccer League, National Soccer League, and the American Professional Soccer League. The club was formed shortly after the folding of the original team that coincided with the folding of the North American Soccer League. This edition of the club folded in 1993 after poor financial prospects and lack of attendance.
Cosimo Commisso is a Canadian former soccer player who earned five caps for the national team in 1988.
Pat Cubellis is a Canadian former soccer player who earned four caps for the national team in 1986.
Peter Gilfillan is a former professional Canadian soccer defender.
The 1978 Vancouver Whitecaps season was the fifth season of the Whitecaps, and their fifth year in the North American Soccer League and the top flight of Canadian soccer.
Pat Sullivan is a Canadian former soccer player who played in the Canadian Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, and the Canadian Professional Soccer League.
References
- ↑ Tony Pignatiello at National-Football-Teams.com
- ↑ "Tony Pignatiello". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ↑ "Rosters". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ↑ "Rosters". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- 1 2 "Tony Pignatiello". canadasoccer.com. Retrieved 2020-05-13.
- ↑ Tony Pignatiello – FIFA competition record (archived)