Hank Liotart
Encyclopedia
Hank Liotart is a Dutch-American former soccer player. Liotart played one season in the National Professional Soccer League
, eight in the North American Soccer League
and at least one in Major Indoor Soccer League
. He also played eight years in the Netherlands. Finally, Liotart earned four caps with the U.S. national team
in 1975.
where he attended Ramona High School in Riverside
. After high school, he played briefly in the Los Angeles semi-pro leagues before returning to the Netherlands to begin his professional career.
(NPSL). The Phantoms folded at the end of the season and the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
in 1968 to form the North American Soccer League
(NASL). Liotart moved to the Cleveland Stokers
for the 1968 NASL season. The Stokers folded at the end of the season and Liotart moved again, this time to the Dallas Tornado
for the 1969 season. In 1970, he moved back to the Netherlands to sign with PEC Zwolle
. In 1972, Zwolle transferred Liotart to N.E.C.. Liotart left Nijmegen and returned to the U.S. in 1974. That year, the Seattle Sounders were an expansion team in the NASL. The team's coach John Best
had played with Liotart in both Cleveland and Dallas and recruited him into the team. Liotart was a second team NASL All Star in 1974. He remained with the Sounders until 1976 when the team traded him to the Portland Timbers
ten games into the season. That year, Liotart was invited to play for the U.S., actually an NASL all star team, in the Bicentennial Cup. In 1977, he played with Portland, then left the league for a season. In 1979, he signed with the San Diego Sockers for the 1979 and 1980 seasons. Liotart then played at least one season with the Memphis Americans
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). In 1982, he played for the Oklahoma City Slickers
in the American Soccer League
.
. His first game came in a 4-0 loss to Poland
on June 24, 1975. He started, then came off for Dave D'Errico
in the 67th minute. In August, the U.S. was invited to the Mexico City Tournament. Liotart played all three games in the tournament. His last cap came in the third game, a 2-0 loss to Mexico
on August 24, 1975. He again started the game, but came off for Poli Garcia
in the 71st minute.
of MISL at some time in his career to a 3-9 record.
National Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
, eight 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 at least one in 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...
. He also played eight years in the Netherlands. Finally, Liotart earned four caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1975.
Youth
Liotart was born in the Netherlands but moved to the United States with his family when he was a teenager. The family settled in the greater Los Angeles AreaGreater Los Angeles Area
The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, is a term used for the Combined Statistical Area sprawled over five counties in the southern part of California, namely Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County and Ventura County...
where he attended Ramona High School in Riverside
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
. After high school, he played briefly in the Los Angeles semi-pro leagues before returning to the Netherlands to begin his professional career.
Professional
In 1964, Liotart signed with Blauw-Wit Amsterdam and spent three seasons in the Netherlands before returning to the U.S. When Liotart arrived in the U.S., he signed with the Pittsburgh Phantoms of the National Professional Soccer LeagueNational Professional Soccer League (1967)
The National Professional Soccer League was a North American professional soccer league that existed for only the 1967 season before merging with the United Soccer Association to form the North American Soccer League. It had ten charter members, nine from the United States and one from Canada...
(NPSL). The Phantoms folded at the end of the season and the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
United Soccer Association
The United Soccer Association is a former professional soccer league featuring teams from the United States and Canada. The league survived only one season before merging with the National Professional Soccer League to form the North American Soccer League. All the teams in the league were imported...
in 1968 to form 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). Liotart moved to the Cleveland Stokers
Cleveland Stokers
The Cleveland Stokers were a soccer team based out of Cleveland, Ohio that played in the United Soccer Association during 1967 and the North American Soccer League in 1968. Their home field was Cleveland Stadium....
for the 1968 NASL season. The Stokers folded at the end of the season and Liotart moved again, this time to the Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
for the 1969 season. In 1970, he moved back to the Netherlands to sign with PEC Zwolle
FC Zwolle
FC Zwolle is a Dutch football club based in Zwolle, currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the country's second level of professional club football. The club was founded in 1990 after the bankruptcy of PEC. They have played in the Eredivisie, the highest tier of Dutch football, for a total of...
. In 1972, Zwolle transferred Liotart to N.E.C.. Liotart left Nijmegen and returned to the U.S. in 1974. That year, the Seattle Sounders were an expansion team in the NASL. The team's coach John Best
John Best (soccer)
John Best is a former U.S.-English soccer defender. He spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League where he was a five time first team All Star. He later coached the NASL Seattle Sounders and served as the general manager of the Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps. He also earned one...
had played with Liotart in both Cleveland and Dallas and recruited him into the team. Liotart was a second team NASL All Star in 1974. He remained with the Sounders until 1976 when the team traded him to the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (NASL)
The Portland Timbers were a team in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1982. The name has been used by two other soccer franchises: the Timbers of the WSA/APSL, Portland Timbers of the USL and the current team which began play as part of Major League Soccer in 2011.-History:In January...
ten games into the season. That year, Liotart was invited to play for the U.S., actually an NASL all star team, in the Bicentennial Cup. In 1977, he played with Portland, then left the league for a season. In 1979, he signed with the San Diego Sockers for the 1979 and 1980 seasons. Liotart then played at least one season with the Memphis Americans
Memphis Americans
The Memphis Americans were a soccer team based out of Memphis, Tennessee that played in the old Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1981 to 1984. Their home arena was the Mid-South Coliseum....
of the 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...
(MISL). In 1982, he played for the Oklahoma City Slickers
Oklahoma City Slickers
The Oklahoma City Slickers was an American soccer club based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma that played in three lower division U.S. leagues, the American Soccer League, United Soccer League and USISL.-American Soccer League:...
in the American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
.
National team
Liotart earned four caps with the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. His first game came in a 4-0 loss to Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
on June 24, 1975. He started, then came off for Dave D'Errico
Dave D'Errico
Dave D'Errico is a retired American soccer player. He spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League , five in Major Indoor Soccer League and one in the United Soccer League...
in the 67th minute. In August, the U.S. was invited to the Mexico City Tournament. Liotart played all three games in the tournament. His last cap came in the third game, a 2-0 loss to Mexico
Mexico 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...
on August 24, 1975. He again started the game, but came off for Poli Garcia
Poli Garcia
Jose “Poli” Garcia is a former U.S. soccer player. He spent at least four seasons in the American Soccer League, three in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
in the 71st minute.
Coaching
In 1980, Liotart coached the San Diego Sockers in the NASL. He then coached the Hartford HellionsHartford 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 MISL at some time in his career to a 3-9 record.