Alex Skotarek
Encyclopedia
Alexander “Alex” Skotarek (born April 2, 1949 in Germany
) is a retired German American
soccer defender
. He played in both Europe and the North American Soccer League
during the 1970s and early 1980s. He also earned ten caps with the U.S. national team in 1975 and 1976.
where he played on the men’s soccer team. He is tied for seventh on Michigan State’s season assists list with nine in 1968. That season, Michigan State and Maryland were declared co-champions in the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
after the game remained tied at 2-2 after two overtimes.
club MVV Maastricht
. Prior to the 1973 season, he was transferred from MVV to a Belgian club from Diepenbeek
.
In 1975, he returned to the U.S. and signed with the Chicago Sting
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). He spent three seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Tulsa Roughnecks
. He then played with the Roughnecks from 1978 through 1981. However, in 1981, he saw time in only one game and retired from playing professional soccer.
. He played one more game that year, another loss to Mexico six days later. His next eight games all came in 1976, five of them were first round qualification games for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
. However, the U.S. was eliminated after losing 3-0 to Canada
in a tie breaker game played in Haiti
. Skotarek was also on the Team America roster for the USA Bicentennial Cup
which pitted a mixture of U.S. national team players and NASL stars against the national teams of England, Brazil and Italy.
during part of its inaugural season. In July 1982, he became the team’s general manager
.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
) is a retired German American
German American
German Americans are citizens of the United States of German ancestry and comprise about 51 million people, or 17% of the U.S. population, the country's largest self-reported ancestral group...
soccer defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played in both Europe and the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
during the 1970s and early 1980s. He also earned ten caps with the U.S. national team in 1975 and 1976.
College
Skotarek attended Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
where he played on the men’s soccer team. He is tied for seventh on Michigan State’s season assists list with nine in 1968. That season, Michigan State and Maryland were declared co-champions in the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
after the game remained tied at 2-2 after two overtimes.
Club career
Following college, Skotarek pursued a professional career in Europe. He spent at least the 1971 and 1972 seasons with Dutch First DivisionEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
club MVV Maastricht
MVV Maastricht
MVV Maastricht is a Dutch professional football club from the city of Maastricht, founded on April 2, 1902...
. Prior to the 1973 season, he was transferred from MVV to a Belgian club from Diepenbeek
Diepenbeek
Diepenbeek is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Limburg near Hasselt. On January 1, 2006 Diepenbeek had a total population of 17,706. The total area is 41.19 km² which gives a population density of 430 inhabitants per km²....
.
In 1975, he returned to the U.S. and signed with the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
(NASL). He spent three seasons in Chicago before being traded to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
. He then played with the Roughnecks from 1978 through 1981. However, in 1981, he saw time in only one game and retired from playing professional soccer.
National team
Skotarek played ten times for the U.S. national team in 1975 and 1976. Skotarek’s first game with the national team came on August 19, 1975 in a 3-1 loss to MexicoMexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
. He played one more game that year, another loss to Mexico six days later. His next eight games all came in 1976, five of them were first round qualification games for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
. However, the U.S. was eliminated after losing 3-0 to Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
in a tie breaker game played in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. Skotarek was also on the Team America roster for the USA Bicentennial Cup
1976 U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament
The Bicentennial Cup Tournament was an international association football competition, which took place in May 1976 in the USA. The tournament featured several World Cup stars both past and future....
which pitted a mixture of U.S. national team players and NASL stars against the national teams of England, Brazil and Italy.
Coach and general manager
In 1978, Skotarek was the interim head coach of the Tulsa RoughnecksTulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
during part of its inaugural season. In July 1982, he became the team’s general manager
General manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
.