Mike Stankovic (born November 11, 1956) is a retired Serbian-American soccer defender who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League.
|
Stankovic circa 1984 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | November 11, 1956 | ||
| Place of birth | Kaludra, Yugoslavia | ||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980 | Memphis Rogues | 28 | (5) |
| 1980–1981 | Dallas Tornado (indoor) | 16 | (24) |
| 1981 | Dallas Tornado | 15 | (0) |
| 1981–1987 | Baltimore Blast (indoor) | 212 | (120) |
| 1987–1989 | Wichita Wings (indoor) | 96 | (42) |
| 1989–1991 | Baltimore Blast (indoor) | 74 | (34) |
| 1992–1998 | Baltimore Blast (indoor) | 108 | (67) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1991–1992 | Baltimore Blast (assistant) | ||
| 1992–1996 | Baltimore Blast (assistant) | ||
| 1996–1998 | Baltimore Blast | ||
| 2010 | Ghana (assistant) | ||
| 2011 | Qatar (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Biography
editIn 1980, he moved to the United States where he signed with the Memphis Rogues of the North American Soccer League., where he was voted Most Valuable Player but missed their run at the 1979–80 NASL Indoor season finals through suspension after receiving a red card in the Division Finals against the Minnesota Kicks.[1]
He moved to the Dallas Tornado in the fall of 1980 and played for the Tornado during the 1980-1981 NASL indoor season.[2] He played the 1981 outdoor season with the Tornado, then moved indoors permanently when he signed with the Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League. In August 1987, he signed as a free agent with the Wichita Wings.[3] During his six seasons with the Blast, Stankovic was a five time All Star. On January 20, 1989, the Wings traded Stankovic and Peter Ward to the Blast in exchange for Keder and David Byrne.[4]
After retiring from pro soccer he founded the "Mike Stankovic Pro Soccer Academy". In 2010, Stankovic served as an assistant to Milovan Rajevac on the Ghana national football team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. After the cup, Rajevac and Stankovic moved to manage the Qatar national football team.[5]
In March 2013, Stankovic was one of six men named to the 2013 class of the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame. The other inductees are Gordon Jago, Preki, Kai Haaskivi, Zoltán Tóth, and Brian Quinn.[6]
In 2023, the Baltimore Blast retired jersey #5 to honor Stankovic and Denison Cabral.[7]
Awards and honors
edit- MISL All-Star Team: 1985
- MISL 10th Year Anniversary All Decade Team
- Voted Memphis Rogues Most Valuable Player: 1980[1]
- 1983–84 Major Indoor Soccer League Champion
References
edit- ^ a b Scheiber, Dave (29 February 1980). "Rogues lose star for title go with Rowdies". St. Petersburg Times. p. 30 – via Google News.
- ^ "The Year in American Soccer - 1981". Archived from the original on 2015-01-07. Retrieved 2009-11-27.
- ^ Strikers' future remains uncertain Evening Tribune (San Diego, CA) - Tuesday, August 25, 1987
- ^ Stankovic Bolsters Baltimore Defense St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Sunday, January 28, 1990
- ^ Coaches Rajevac and Stankovic to Train Cardiff FC Coaches
- ^ Carrick, Buzz (March 5, 2013). "Former Dallas Sidekicks Coach Gordon Jago Named 2013 Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee". The Dallas Morning News. Dallas, TX. Archived from the original on June 17, 2013. Retrieved March 8, 2013.
- ^ "Saturday, February 11th the Baltimore Blast will be retiring #5 Mike Stankovic and #5 Denison Cabral". Twitter.com. Baltimore Blast. Retrieved 18 January 2023.