Jeff Durgan
Encyclopedia
Jeffrey "Jeff" Durgan is a retired U.S. soccer defender
who played professionally for the New York Cosmos
and seven times for the U.S. national team
.
. After graduating, Durgan turned professional with the New York Cosmos
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL), debuting in April 1980. In his first year in the league he started 28 of the Cosmos' 32 regular games. Showing what sportswriter George Vecsey
called "a controlled aggressiveness characteristic of a player far beyond his years", he was named the league's Rookie of the Year, beating fellow Tacoma youth team mate Mark Peterson
of the Seattle Sounders
.
In 1982, he was selected as a second team NASL All Star. Durgan won the Soccer Bowl
, the NASL championship, with the Cosmos in 1980 and 1982, but they lost in 1981 to the Chicago Sting
after a penalty shootout.
In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation attempted to create a more successful U.S. national team
by entering the team into the NASL as a franchise, known as Team America
. USSF then invited players from throughout the NASL, Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL) and American Soccer League
to leave their teams to play for Team America. Although he expressed doubts about the new team, Durgan left the Cosmos and signed with Team America, who he captained. Many top players stayed with their previous clubs, something Durgan criticised, saying "let them come and help. You have to get off the fence." Team America ended the season at the bottom of the league and when USSF pulled the national team from the NASL at the end of the 1983 season, Durgan rejoined the Cosmos. In May 1984, the Cosmos asked Durgan and two other players to take a 20% pay cut, and another to take a 45% pay cut. When they refused to accept the cuts the team waived
them, and then re-signed Durgan and two other players for less pay after the other eight teams in the NASL declined to sign them under the terms of their original contracts.
When the league folded after the 1984 season, the Cosmos moved to the MISL, but did not make it through the end of the 1984-1985 season before folding.
in the MISL on May 20, 1985, and he captained the team. Seattle coach Bruce Rioch
released Durgan from the team on July 29, 1985, after an incident involving a tackle with Canadian player John Catliff
.
between 1983 and 1985. He scored one goal. He was also part of the U.S. Olympic team
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
in Los Angeles. Due to a leg injury he only played in the third match, against Egypt, and had to retire in the first half. The game was a 1-1 draw and ended the U.S.'s progression in the tournament.
Durgan was named 46th of the top 50 athletes of the 20th century from Washington State by Sports Illustrated.
. Durgan currently lives in Michigan with his wife and three children.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who played professionally for the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
and seven times for 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...
.
NASL
Durgan was born and raised in Tacoma, Washington where he attended Stadium High SchoolStadium High School
Stadium High School is a 100-year-old high school in Tacoma, Washington and a historic landmark. It is part of Tacoma Public Schools, or Tacoma School District No. 10 and is located in the Stadium District, near downtown Tacoma. The original building burned to a shell while it was still a partially...
. After graduating, Durgan turned professional with the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
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), debuting in April 1980. In his first year in the league he started 28 of the Cosmos' 32 regular games. Showing what sportswriter George Vecsey
George Vecsey
George Vecsey is an American non-fiction author and sports columnist for The New York Times. Vecsey is best known for his work in sports, but has co-written several autobiographies with non-sports figures.-Career:...
called "a controlled aggressiveness characteristic of a player far beyond his years", he was named the league's Rookie of the Year, beating fellow Tacoma youth team mate Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson
Mark Peterson was an American soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Western Soccer Alliance. He also earned six caps, scoring one goal, with the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth:Peterson was born and raised in...
of the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders (NASL)
The Seattle Sounders were a U.S. professional soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. Founded in 1974, the team belonged to the North American Soccer League where it played both indoor and outdoor soccer. The team folded after the 1983 NASL outdoor season.-Stadium:The Sounders played at Memorial...
.
In 1982, he was selected as a second team NASL All Star. Durgan won the Soccer Bowl
Soccer Bowl
The Soccer Bowl was the championship game of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1983. The event was created by NASL Commissioner Phil Woosnam who was trying to build a neutral-site championship event in the mold of the NFL's Super Bowl....
, the NASL championship, with the Cosmos in 1980 and 1982, but they lost in 1981 to 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...
after a penalty shootout.
In 1983, the U.S. Soccer Federation attempted to create a more successful 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...
by entering the team into the NASL as a franchise, known as Team America
Team America (soccer)
Team America was a professional version of the United States men's national soccer team which played as a franchise in the defunct North American Soccer League during the 1983 season...
. USSF then invited players from throughout the NASL, 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) and 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...
to leave their teams to play for Team America. Although he expressed doubts about the new team, Durgan left the Cosmos and signed with Team America, who he captained. Many top players stayed with their previous clubs, something Durgan criticised, saying "let them come and help. You have to get off the fence." Team America ended the season at the bottom of the league and when USSF pulled the national team from the NASL at the end of the 1983 season, Durgan rejoined the Cosmos. In May 1984, the Cosmos asked Durgan and two other players to take a 20% pay cut, and another to take a 45% pay cut. When they refused to accept the cuts the team waived
Waivers
Waiver or Waivers may refer to:*Waiver, a voluntary relinquishment or surrender of some known right or privilegeSports*Waivers , an NFL procedure by which a team makes a player contract or NFL rights available to all other teams...
them, and then re-signed Durgan and two other players for less pay after the other eight teams in the NASL declined to sign them under the terms of their original contracts.
When the league folded after the 1984 season, the Cosmos moved to the MISL, but did not make it through the end of the 1984-1985 season before folding.
F.C. Seattle
When the Cosmos collapsed, Durgan moved back to the Seattle area to sign with the semi-professional F.C. SeattleSeattle Storm (soccer)
Football Club Seattle Storm, also known as the F.C. Seattle Storm, was an American soccer team based in Seattle, Washington. F.C. Seattle was a "super club" created to provide Seattle players an opportunity to play at a higher level than the local recreational and semi-pro leagues. In addition to...
in the MISL on May 20, 1985, and he captained the team. Seattle coach Bruce Rioch
Bruce Rioch
Bruce David Rioch is an English-born football manager and former player. He was manager of Aalborg BK in the Danish Superliga, until his sacking on 23 October 2008....
released Durgan from the team on July 29, 1985, after an incident involving a tackle with Canadian player John Catliff
John Catliff
John Catliff is a former Canadian professional soccer player. He has the second most goals scored for the Canadian national team with 18 goals between 1984 and 1994.-Club career:...
.
National team
Durgan earned seven 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...
between 1983 and 1985. He scored one goal. He was also part of the U.S. Olympic team
United States at the 1984 Summer Olympics
The United States was the host nation of the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, California. It was the nineteenth time that Team USA participated, having boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympics...
at the 1984 Summer Olympics
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in Los Angeles. Due to a leg injury he only played in the third match, against Egypt, and had to retire in the first half. The game was a 1-1 draw and ended the U.S.'s progression in the tournament.
Durgan was named 46th of the top 50 athletes of the 20th century from Washington State by Sports Illustrated.
Personal life
After retiring from soccer, Durgan earned a bachelors degree from the University of WashingtonUniversity of Washington
University of Washington is a public research university, founded in 1861 in Seattle, Washington, United States. The UW is the largest university in the Northwest and the oldest public university on the West Coast. The university has three campuses, with its largest campus in the University...
. Durgan currently lives in Michigan with his wife and three children.