Chicago Sockers
Encyclopedia
Professional Team
Chicago Sockers were an American soccer team, founded in 1995. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
, played at a professional level in the USISL Pro League
, USISL Select League
and USISL D-3 Pro League
as the Chicago Stingers until 1999, when they chose to relegate themselves to the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
, and re-named themselves the Sockers. The team was one of the most successful amateur teams in the late 1990, winning three national titles, reaching two divisional playoffs, and getting to both the quarter final and semi final of the US Open Cup prior to 2000, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated, despite them being the reigning champions.
The Sockers play their home games at Olympic Park in the village of Schaumburg, Illinois
, a suburb of Chicago. The team's colors were blue and white.
Youth Programs
The Chicago Sockers is now a prominent youth soccer program, stationed in Palatine, IL. The program is ranked as the 5th best boys youth soccer program by both nationalsoccerranking.com and Soccer America. The Sockers play in the Northern Illinois Soccer League (NISL) and Midwest Regional League. The program has won multiple national championships and has sent multiple players to the US Men's National Team and Professional Teams. These players include Jonathan Spector
, Michael Bradley
, Jay DeMerit
, and Bryan Namoff
.
Chicago Sockers were an American soccer team, founded in 1995. The team was a member of the United Soccer Leagues
United Soccer Leagues
The United Soccer Leagues is the organizer of several soccer leagues with teams in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean. It includes men's and women's leagues, both professional and amateur. Leagues currently organized are the USL Pro, the USL Premier Development League, the W-League, and...
, played at a professional level in the USISL Pro League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
, USISL Select League
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
and USISL D-3 Pro League
USL Second Division
The United Soccer Leagues Second Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, part of the United Soccer Leagues league pyramid...
as the Chicago Stingers until 1999, when they chose to relegate themselves to the Premier Development League (PDL), the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid
American Soccer Pyramid
The United States soccer pyramid is a term used in soccer to describe the structure of the league system in the United States. The country's governing body for the sport, the United States Soccer Federation , oversees the system but does not operate any of its component leagues—with one temporary...
, and re-named themselves the Sockers. The team was one of the most successful amateur teams in the late 1990, winning three national titles, reaching two divisional playoffs, and getting to both the quarter final and semi final of the US Open Cup prior to 2000, after which the team left the league and the franchise was terminated, despite them being the reigning champions.
The Sockers play their home games at Olympic Park in the village of Schaumburg, Illinois
Schaumburg, Illinois
Schaumburg is a city located in Cook County in northeastern Illinois. A common misspelling of the city name is Schaumberg, a spelling which persists on some modern maps. Schaumburg is located just under northwest of downtown Chicago and approximately northwest of O'Hare International Airport. As...
, a suburb of Chicago. The team's colors were blue and white.
Youth Programs
The Chicago Sockers is now a prominent youth soccer program, stationed in Palatine, IL. The program is ranked as the 5th best boys youth soccer program by both nationalsoccerranking.com and Soccer America. The Sockers play in the Northern Illinois Soccer League (NISL) and Midwest Regional League. The program has won multiple national championships and has sent multiple players to the US Men's National Team and Professional Teams. These players include Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Spector
Jonathan Michael Paul Spector is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He started his professional career in England when he was signed by Manchester United as a teenager, but rarely appeared for the club...
, Michael Bradley
Michael Bradley (soccer)
Michael Bradley is an American soccer player who currently plays as a central midfielder for Chievo Verona in Serie A and the United States national team, which was formerly coached by his father Bob Bradley.-Early life:...
, Jay DeMerit
Jay DeMerit
Jay Michael DeMerit is an American soccer player who plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer, and for the United States national team...
, and Bryan Namoff
Bryan Namoff
Bryan Namoff is a retired American soccer player who last played for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Reg. Season | Playoffs | Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 3 | USISL Pro League | 2nd, Midwest East | Divisional Semifinals | Semifinals |
| 1996 | 3 | USISL Select League | 5th, Central | Did not qualify | Did not qualify |
| 1997 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 1st, North Central | Division Finals | Quarterfinals |
| 1998 | 3 | USISL D-3 Pro League | 2nd, North Central | Champion | 3rd Round |
| 1999 | "4" | USL PDL | 2nd, Great Lakes | Champion | Did not qualify |
| 2000 | "4" | USL PDL | 1st, Heartland | Champion | 3rd Round |
Notable former players
- Michael BradleyMichael Bradley (soccer)Michael Bradley is an American soccer player who currently plays as a central midfielder for Chievo Verona in Serie A and the United States national team, which was formerly coached by his father Bob Bradley.-Early life:...
- Craig CapanoCraig CapanoCraig Capano is an American soccer player, who last played for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.Capano was selected 17th overall in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft by the Fire, having elected to forgo college to focus on his professional career...
- Jay DeMeritJay DeMeritJay Michael DeMerit is an American soccer player who plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer, and for the United States national team...
- Gavin GlintonGavin GlintonGavin Glinton is a Turks and Caicos Islands soccer player who currently plays for Nam Dinh FC in the V-League.-College and amateur:...
- Neil HlavatyNeil HlavatyNeil Hlavaty is an American soccer player currently playing for NSC Minnesota Stars in the North American Soccer League.-College and Amateur:...
- Will Johnson
- Rauwshan McKenzieRauwshan McKenzieRauwshan McKenzie is an American soccer player who currently plays for Real Salt Lake in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
- Ryan Miller
- Bryan NamoffBryan NamoffBryan Namoff is a retired American soccer player who last played for D.C. United in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
- Brian PlotkinBrian PlotkinBrian Plotkin is an retired American soccer player.-College and Amateur:Brian Plotkin graduated from Naperville North High School. Plotkin played club soccer for the Chicago Sockers from the U12 to U19 levels, and played college soccer for Indiana University from 2002 to 2005, featuring in 90...
- Jonathan SpectorJonathan SpectorJonathan Michael Paul Spector is an American soccer player who plays as a defender for Birmingham City. He started his professional career in England when he was signed by Manchester United as a teenager, but rarely appeared for the club...
- Brian VisserBrian VisserBrian Visser is an American soccer player who currently plays for Dayton Dutch Lions in the USL Professional Division.-College:...
- Mike MageeMike Magee (soccer)Mike Magee is an American soccer player who currently plays for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Professional:...