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John Best (soccer)
Encyclopedia
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 cap with the U.S. national team
in 1973.
of the National Professional Soccer League
(NPSL). In 1968, the NPSL merged with the United Soccer Association
to form the North American Soccer League
. When the Spartans folded, Best and several of his team mates, transferred to the Cleveland Stokers
for the 1969 NASL season. When the Stokers folded at the end of the season, he moved to the Dallas Tornado
(NASL). From 1969 to 1973, he played in ninety-three games and five time first team All Star. In 1971, the Tornado won the NASL championship. Best retired at the end of the 1973 season.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslstar.html
in a March 17, 1963 game with Bermuda
. Best began the game, a 4-0 loss, and came off for Johnny Moore
.
began assembling its staff and roster. The owners hired Cliff McCrath
, the head coach of the local Seattle Pacific University
to fill in the team’s roster spots. He hired Best as the team’s first head coach.http://www.seattlesounders.net/pressrelease.php?ID=68 Over his three years as coach, Best compiled a 43-26 record.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dulyjs/strikers/nasl/sea1.html
of the Vancouver Whitecaps
. One of his most successful personnel moves was hiring Tony Waiters
as head coach. This move and several others led to the Whitecaps winning the 1979 NASL championship. In 1982, the Sounders opened their season 2-7. The team ownership turned to Best who became the Sounders’ general manager on June 14, 1982.http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/1982%20updates/1982ScrapbookSeattleSounders.htm The Sounders turned their season around and went to the championship game, only to lose to the New York Cosmos
. Despite this success, the team was losing money after its sale to new ownership in January 1983, Best left the team.
(MISL). He was later inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/highschoolsports/2002247932_prepnotes21.html
In 1990, Best was diagnosed with kidney disease and in 2002 received a kidney transplant from his wife, Claudia.http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/2004/Anniversary/seattle_sounders_times_1974.htm
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He spent six seasons 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:...
where he was a five time first team All Star. He later coached the NASL 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...
and served as the general manager of the Sounders and the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
. He also earned one cap 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 1973.
Playing
Best began his career in England. Although this portion of his life is vague,he played for Liverpool FC in 1959 under the new manager, Bill Shankly, after which he played seven games with Tranmere Rovers in 1960. In 1967, he moved to the United States where he signed with the Philadelphia SpartansPhiladelphia Spartans
The Philadelphia Spartans were a soccer team based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League . They played their only season of existence at Temple Stadium in North Philadelphia. The team was owned by Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art...
of the National Professional Soccer League
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...
(NPSL). In 1968, 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...
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:...
. When the Spartans folded, Best and several of his team mates, transferred 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 1969 NASL season. When the Stokers folded at the end of the season, he moved 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...
(NASL). From 1969 to 1973, he played in ninety-three games and five time first team All Star. In 1971, the Tornado won the NASL championship. Best retired at the end of the 1973 season.http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslstar.html
National team
Best earned his one cap 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...
in a March 17, 1963 game with Bermuda
Bermuda national football team
The Bermuda national football team is the national team of Bermuda and is controlled by the Bermuda Football Association. A member of CONCACAF, it is not among its strongest teams....
. Best began the game, a 4-0 loss, and came off for Johnny Moore
Johnny Moore
Johnny Moore may refer to:*Johnny Moore , basketball player*Johnny Moore , American baseball player*Johnny Moore , American soul singer and songwriter, played with The Drifters...
.
Coaching
In 1974, the NASL expansion team Seattle SoundersSeattle 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...
began assembling its staff and roster. The owners hired Cliff McCrath
Cliff McCrath
Cliff McCrath is a retired American soccer player and coach. His greatest fame came as coach of Seattle Pacific University where he led the team to five NCAA Division II championships...
, the head coach of the local Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions, located on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1891 by the Oregon and Washington Conference of the Free Methodist Church as the Seattle Seminary...
to fill in the team’s roster spots. He hired Best as the team’s first head coach.http://www.seattlesounders.net/pressrelease.php?ID=68 Over his three years as coach, Best compiled a 43-26 record.http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dulyjs/strikers/nasl/sea1.html
General manager
After leaving the Sounders, Best moved north to become the general managerGeneral manager
General manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
of the Vancouver Whitecaps
Vancouver Whitecaps (NASL)
The original Vancouver Whitecaps were founded on December 11, 1973 and during the 1970s and 1980s played in the North American Soccer League . The Whitecaps achieved success, winning the 1979 Soccer Bowl. The Whitecaps of that era included international players such as Alan Ball, but also "home...
. One of his most successful personnel moves was hiring Tony Waiters
Tony Waiters
Anthony Keith "Tony" Waiters is a former England international football goalkeeper and Canadian national football team head coach...
as head coach. This move and several others led to the Whitecaps winning the 1979 NASL championship. In 1982, the Sounders opened their season 2-7. The team ownership turned to Best who became the Sounders’ general manager on June 14, 1982.http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/1982%20updates/1982ScrapbookSeattleSounders.htm The Sounders turned their season around and went to the championship game, only to lose to 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...
. Despite this success, the team was losing money after its sale to new ownership in January 1983, Best left the team.
Later years
Best remained in the Seattle area, founding Tacoma Indoor Soccer, Inc, which became the ownership group for the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer LeagueMajor 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). He was later inducted into the Tacoma-Pierce County Sports Hall of Fame. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/highschoolsports/2002247932_prepnotes21.html
In 1990, Best was diagnosed with kidney disease and in 2002 received a kidney transplant from his wife, Claudia.http://www.soundercentral.com/museum/2004/Anniversary/seattle_sounders_times_1974.htm