Jorge Acosta
Encyclopedia
Jorge Acosta is a retired Colombian American soccer forward
. He spent most of his career in the lower U.S. divisions, as well as four in the Colombian first division. He also earned twelve caps with the U.S. national team
in 1991 and 1992.
in Paterson, New Jersey
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. In two seasons, he scored sixty-three goals. After graduating from high school in 1982, Acosta attended Long Island University
.
of the American Soccer League
(ASL). The Eagles played their home games in historic Hinchliffe Stadium. That season he led the ASL in scoring with fourteen goals, garning All Star honors. Acosta spent two more seasons with the Eagles, his scoring declining each year. The Eagles folded at the end of the 1990 season and Acosta moved to the Albany Capitals
. However, he managed only a single goal in ten games with the Capitals. The team folded at the end of the season and Acosta moved to Colombia to pursue a career there. While with the Eagles, the St. Louis Steamers
of the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL) drafted Acosta in the second round of the 1988 Player Draft. However, the Steamers folded before the season began and the league held a dispersal draft. The Dallas Sidekicks
then selected Acosta. Acosta spent one season with the Sidekicks, scoring only five goals in thirty-seven games. The Sidekicks released Acosta at the end of the season and he returned to the Eagles for the 1989 ASL season. In 1991, he played for the Albany Capitals
. In 1991, Acosta moved to Colombia where he joined Deportivo Cali
. He played for Deportivo until 1995, when he returned to the United States and signed with the New York Fever of USISL. He played fifteen games and scored three goals that year. The MetroStars
of Major League Soccer
(MLS) selected Acosta in the 15th round (149th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
. However, the MetroStars waived Acosta on April 15, 1996 and he rejoined the Fever. He scored his first of five goals in the 1996 season nine days after he was released from the MetroStars.
. His first cap came in a September 14, 1991 win over Jamaica
. He became a regular with the team through the rest of 1991 and into 1992. However, he was unable to score and by the end of 1992, he was dropped from the national team.
Soccer Enterprises and the Program Director for Rec clinics at Old Greenwich Riverside Civic Center in Connecticut.
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...
. He spent most of his career in the lower U.S. divisions, as well as four in the Colombian first division. He also earned twelve 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 1991 and 1992.
Youth
Acosta was born in Colombia, but attended Kennedy High SchoolJohn F. Kennedy High School (Paterson, New Jersey)
John F. Kennedy High School is a four-year public high school in Paterson, New Jersey, United States, that serves the western section of Paterson. Kennedy High School, which serves grades 9 through 12, is a part of the Paterson Public Schools...
in Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
where he played on the boy’s soccer team. In two seasons, he scored sixty-three goals. After graduating from high school in 1982, Acosta attended Long Island University
Long Island University
Long Island University is a private, coeducational, nonsectarian institution of higher education in the U.S. state of New York.-History:...
.
Professional
In 1988, he signed with the New Jersey EaglesNew Jersey Eagles
The New Jersey Eagles were an American soccer team founded in 1987 as the Cosmopolitan Eagles. In 1988, they entered the third American Soccer League as the New Jersey Eagles. They folded following the 1990 American Professional Soccer League season....
of 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...
(ASL). The Eagles played their home games in historic Hinchliffe Stadium. That season he led the ASL in scoring with fourteen goals, garning All Star honors. Acosta spent two more seasons with the Eagles, his scoring declining each year. The Eagles folded at the end of the 1990 season and Acosta moved to the Albany Capitals
Albany Capitals
The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1989. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
. However, he managed only a single goal in ten games with the Capitals. The team folded at the end of the season and Acosta moved to Colombia to pursue a career there. While with the Eagles, the St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
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) drafted Acosta in the second round of the 1988 Player Draft. However, the Steamers folded before the season began and the league held a dispersal draft. The Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
then selected Acosta. Acosta spent one season with the Sidekicks, scoring only five goals in thirty-seven games. The Sidekicks released Acosta at the end of the season and he returned to the Eagles for the 1989 ASL season. In 1991, he played for the Albany Capitals
Albany Capitals
The Albany Capitals joined the third incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1989. The team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League...
. In 1991, Acosta moved to Colombia where he joined Deportivo Cali
Deportivo Cali
Asociación Deportivo Cali is a Colombian sports club based in Cali, Colombia. Mostly known for its football team, it also sponsors basketball, volleyball and swimming...
. He played for Deportivo until 1995, when he returned to the United States and signed with the New York Fever of USISL. He played fifteen games and scored three goals that year. The MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) selected Acosta in the 15th round (149th overall) of the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. However, the MetroStars waived Acosta on April 15, 1996 and he rejoined the Fever. He scored his first of five goals in the 1996 season nine days after he was released from the MetroStars.
National team
Acosta earned twelve 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 cap came in a September 14, 1991 win over Jamaica
Jamaica national football team
The Jamaica national football team is the national team of Jamaica and is controlled by the Jamaica Football Federation. After decades in CONCACAF obscurity, they gained many fans throughout the world after they qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup...
. He became a regular with the team through the rest of 1991 and into 1992. However, he was unable to score and by the end of 1992, he was dropped from the national team.
Coaching
Since retiring from playing professionally, Acosta has held various youth athletic and soccer positions including Assistant Camp Director of the Mickey KydesMickey Kydes
Mickey Kydes is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, USISL and Major League Soccer. He also spent three seasons in Greece and several in the semi-professional Cosmopolitan Soccer League.-Youth:Kydes played soccer at Norwalk High School...
Soccer Enterprises and the Program Director for Rec clinics at Old Greenwich Riverside Civic Center in Connecticut.