Branko Segota
Encyclopedia
Branimir "Branko" Šegota (born June 8, 1961) is a former Canadian
professional soccer forward, starring in the original Major Indoor Soccer League
, the North American Soccer League
, the Continental Indoor Soccer League
, the National Professional Soccer League, and the Canadian Soccer League.
Born in Rijeka
, then part of SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia, Branko Šegota moved with his family to Canada at the age of 7. Raised in Toronto
, Šegota began his pro soccer career at age 17, signing with the New York Arrows
of MISL. He was named NASL player of the year in 1984 with the Golden Bay Earthquakes. During his 18 year pro career he also played outdoors in the NASL in 1979 and 1980 with Rochester Lancers
and from 1981 to '83 with Fort Lauderdale Strikers and several summers after that in the Canadian Soccer League with the Toronto Blizzard
. Šegota played winters in the MISL with the Arrows, San Diego Sockers from 1984-85 through 1990-91, Baltimore Blast, and Las Vegas Americans
. He played indoors (in at least 1994) for the Las Vegas Dustdevils
of the CISL and as recently as 1997 for the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League.
Šegota scored 73 goals in 147 regular season NASL games to rank 13th in the history of the league. He also scored 12 goals in 13 play-off games, including 11 in the 1981 play-offs. In the history of the original MISL
he ranked second in career goal and points scoring with 463 goals and 841 points. His 378 assists ranks him third. His being nine MISL championship teams, three with the Arrows and 6 with the Sockers is also a record. He was a five-time MISL all-star.
Šegota earned 19 caps for Canada men's national soccer team
including appearances as a substitute in all 3 of the country's 1986 World Cup games. He played for Canada at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
, scoring twice in 3 matches. He earned his first senior cap against Mexico in 1980 and scored twice in his 19 appearances. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
in 2002.
Šegota served as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Internationals
of the Premier Development League in 2004 after coaching their youth program for 6 years. He has three children, Ashley,Toni, and Emma, with his wife Ena Šegota.
Šegota is of Croatia
n descent.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
professional soccer forward, starring in the original Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
, 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:...
, the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
, the National Professional Soccer League, and the Canadian Soccer League.
Born in Rijeka
Rijeka
Rijeka is the principal seaport and the third largest city in Croatia . It is located on Kvarner Bay, an inlet of the Adriatic Sea and has a population of 128,735 inhabitants...
, then part of SR Croatia, SFR Yugoslavia, Branko Šegota moved with his family to Canada at the age of 7. Raised in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Šegota began his pro soccer career at age 17, signing with the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
of MISL. He was named NASL player of the year in 1984 with the Golden Bay Earthquakes. During his 18 year pro career he also played outdoors in the NASL in 1979 and 1980 with Rochester Lancers
Rochester Lancers
The Rochester Lancers were a soccer team based in Rochester, New York that played in the American Soccer League from 1967 until 1969 and the North American Soccer League from 1970 to 1980 at Aquinas Stadium...
and from 1981 to '83 with Fort Lauderdale Strikers and several summers after that in the Canadian Soccer League with the Toronto Blizzard
Toronto Blizzard (1986-1993)
-National Soccer League:In 1985, less than one year after the Toronto Blizzard ceased operations due to the failure of the North American Soccer League , Blizzard owners York-Hanover purchased Dynamo Latino of the semi-professional Ontario-based National Soccer League with the intention of...
. Šegota played winters in the MISL with the Arrows, San Diego Sockers from 1984-85 through 1990-91, Baltimore Blast, and Las Vegas Americans
Las Vegas Americans
The Las Vegas Americans were a soccer team based out of Las Vegas that played in the Major Soccer League. They played only one season, 1984 and lost in the first round of the championship that year. The Americans finished their only season in the league with a 30-18 record earning them second place...
. He played indoors (in at least 1994) for the Las Vegas Dustdevils
Las Vegas Dustdevils
The Las Vegas Dustdevils were an indoor soccer team based out of Las Vegas, Nevada that played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League . The team won the league championship in 1994, but folded after their second season.-History:...
of the CISL and as recently as 1997 for the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League.
Šegota scored 73 goals in 147 regular season NASL games to rank 13th in the history of the league. He also scored 12 goals in 13 play-off games, including 11 in the 1981 play-offs. In the history of the original MISL
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
he ranked second in career goal and points scoring with 463 goals and 841 points. His 378 assists ranks him third. His being nine MISL championship teams, three with the Arrows and 6 with the Sockers is also a record. He was a five-time MISL all-star.
Šegota earned 19 caps for Canada men's national soccer team
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...
including appearances as a substitute in all 3 of the country's 1986 World Cup games. He played for Canada at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
1979 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship, the second staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship, was held in Japan from August 26 to September 7, 1979. The tournament took place in four venues — Kobe, Omiya, Tokyo and Yokohama — where a total of 32 matches were played, four more than in the...
, scoring twice in 3 matches. He earned his first senior cap against Mexico in 1980 and scored twice in his 19 appearances. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in Vaughan, Ontario, was founded in 1997. It was incorporated by the Ontario Soccer Association. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of top Canadian Footballers and Builders who have played and developed the game in Canada...
in 2002.
Šegota served as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Internationals
Cleveland Internationals
Cleveland Internationals was an American soccer team based in Cleveland, Ohio, United States. Founded in 2004, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Great Lakes Division of the Central Conference...
of the Premier Development League in 2004 after coaching their youth program for 6 years. He has three children, Ashley,Toni, and Emma, with his wife Ena Šegota.
Šegota is of Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
n descent.