Erich Geyer
Encyclopedia
Erich Geyer is a retired German football (soccer)
defender
who spent most of his career in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League. Following his retirement from playing, he coached for over twenty years.
in the Fußball-Regionalliga, he moved to SpVgg Fürth in 1977. In 1980, he moved to the United States and joined the Hartford Hellions
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. A forward
in Germany, Geyer moved to defense in the U.S. After one season, he left the Hellions and signed with the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League
. He played four outdoor and one indoor NASL seasons with the Sockers. During the winter of 1982-1983, the team competed in the MISL where it won the league championship. The Sockers then took the 1983-1984 NASL indoor title before moving permanently to the MISL in the fall of 1984. However, the Sockers released Geyer during the preseason and he signed as a free agent with the Chicago Sting
in November 1984. On February 21, 1985, the Sting sold Geyer's contract back to the Sockers. The team released him again in June 1985.
. In 1989, he became an assistant coach with the San Diego Sockers, a position he held until the spring of 1992. In 1992, he became the head coach of the Monterrey La Raza of the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. He was the 1995 CISL Coach of the Year. In 1993, he also became the head coach of the Mexican Futsal team. He left he La Raza in 1997, then returned in 1999 as they played in the World Indoor Soccer League
. In August 2002, the Harrisburg Heat
announced they had hired Geyer to replace Richard Chinapoo
. In March 2004, he became the head coach of the Monterrey Fury
of the second Major Indoor Soccer League
. When that team collapsed before the 2004-2005 season, the Monterrey La Tigres replaced it in the standings. Geyer became the head coach of the Tigres, but the league terminated the franchise after only a few games.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent most of his career in 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:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League. Following his retirement from playing, he coached for over twenty years.
Player
Geyer graduated from the Hochschulinstitut fuer Leibesuebungen in Erlangen, Germany. He then became a teacher and did not begin playing professional soccer until his early twenties when he signed with TSV Höchstadt. He played for Höchstadt from 1973 to 1975. After one season with 1. FC Bamberg1. FC Bamberg
The 1. FC Bamberg was a German association football club from the town of Bamberg, Bavaria.In 2006, the club merged with TSV Eintracht Bamberg to form 1. FC Eintracht Bamberg. 1. FC Eintracht went bankrupt in 2010 and a new club was formed, FC Eintracht Bamberg 2010.1...
in the Fußball-Regionalliga, he moved to SpVgg Fürth in 1977. In 1980, he moved to the United States and joined the Hartford Hellions
Hartford Hellions
The Hartford Hellions were a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1979 to 1981. The Hellions played their first season in the New Haven Coliseum before moving to the remodelled Hartford Civic Center.In May 1981, Athletes in...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League. A forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
in Germany, Geyer moved to defense in the U.S. After one season, he left the Hellions and signed with the San Diego Sockers 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:...
. He played four outdoor and one indoor NASL seasons with the Sockers. During the winter of 1982-1983, the team competed in the MISL where it won the league championship. The Sockers then took the 1983-1984 NASL indoor title before moving permanently to the MISL in the fall of 1984. However, the Sockers released Geyer during the preseason and he signed as a free agent 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...
in November 1984. On February 21, 1985, the Sting sold Geyer's contract back to the Sockers. The team released him again in June 1985.
Coach
During the Sockers 1984 outdoor season, Geyer played only two games, spending most of the season as an assistant coach. In December 1986, the Sting named Geyer head coach. On February 22, 1988, the Sting fired Geyer and replaced him with Gary HindleyGary Hindley
Gary Hindley is an American soccer coach. He has coached youth soccer, high school, college and professional teams. He won Coach of the Year honors in 1984 in the United Soccer League, 1991 American Professional Soccer League and 1998...
. In 1989, he became an assistant coach with the San Diego Sockers, a position he held until the spring of 1992. In 1992, he became the head coach of the Monterrey La Raza of 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...
. He was the 1995 CISL Coach of the Year. In 1993, he also became the head coach of the Mexican Futsal team. He left he La Raza in 1997, then returned in 1999 as they played in the World Indoor Soccer League
World Indoor Soccer League
The World Indoor Soccer League was a United States based indoor soccer league that existed from 1998 to 2001 and consisted of nine teams.-History:...
. In August 2002, the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
announced they had hired Geyer to replace Richard Chinapoo
Richard Chinapoo
Richard Chinapoo was a Trinidad soccer defender who had an extensive career, primarily in the United States. Chinapoo spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League, eight in the National Professional Soccer League and at least eight in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
. In March 2004, he became the head coach of the Monterrey Fury
Monterrey Fury
The Monterrey Fury were a Mexican team playing in a United States based soccer league. The team was awarded a Major Indoor Soccer League expansion franchise for the 2003-2004 season...
of the second Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
. When that team collapsed before the 2004-2005 season, the Monterrey La Tigres replaced it in the standings. Geyer became the head coach of the Tigres, but the league terminated the franchise after only a few games.