Juli Veee
Encyclopedia
Juli Veee is a retired Hungarian American
soccer forward. Known as the "Double-deuce, triple-E, the one-and-only Juli Veee", Veee experienced his greatest success as an indoor player with the San Diego Sockers. He also earned four caps, scoring two goals, with the U.S. national team
.
's life and when Veee turned fifteen he was given a choice, pursue a career in table tennis
or soccer. He chose soccer. Chafing under the restrictions of his totalitarian, communist homeland, Veee defected when he was eighteen years old while on a tour of Western Europe with the Hungarian U-21 national team. He began his professional career in France before moving to the United States.
of the North American Soccer League
. That season, he played in nineteen games, scoring six goals. He was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for the 1976 season.
At the completion of the 1976 NASL season, Veee moved to Belgium where he signed with First Division club Lierse. He spent one season with Lierse before moving to Standard Liège for the 1977-1978 season.[1] Veee returned to the NASL to play for the San Diego Sockers from 1978-1982. Veee was a fan favorite for the Sockers. His technique and skills were very impressive. Although very talented as an outdoor player, he would become better known as an indoor soccer player.
NASL- Indoor
The NASL started an indoor league, in which the Sockers participated in 1980-81, 1981-82, 1983-84. San Diego won the championship in the 1981-82 and 1983-84 seasons. Julie Veee was their star. He went on to play with the Sockers in the MISL. Overall, the Sockers won 10 indoor soccer championship (two in the NASL, and eight more in the MISL). Veee finished his career with the Sockers with 254 goals and 214 assists. He was one of the pioneers of indoor soccer who made a great adjustment from the outdoor game.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). His greatest achievement in soccer probably came as he led the San Diego Sockers to five championships. He was MVP three times. He was the 1982-1983 championship series MVP. At the end of the 1984 season, the Sockers traded Veee to the Las Vegas Americans
for whom he played a single season. In 1985 he returned to the Sockers and finished his career with them in 1988. He finished his career with the Sockers with 254 goals and 214 assists.
after he became a US citizen. His first game with the national team came in an October 15, 1976 loss to Mexico
. He scored his first national team goal five days later in a victory over Canada
. He played one more game in 1976, then did not earn another cap until his last one. That came in the only game the U.S. played in 1982, a 2-1 victory over Trinidad
on March 21, 1982. Veee also scored his second national team goal in that game.
Veee was also a member of the U.S. team which qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
. While Veee scored a goal in the U.S. tie with Surinam which led to the U.S. qualifying for the games, President Carter
cancelled the U.S. participation in those games as punishment for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Because FIFA
does not recognize Olympic and Olympic qualifying matches as full internationals, these games are not included in Veee's national team statistics.
girls team. He decided to become a high school coach due to dissatisfaction with regression his club players experienced during the high school season. Veee concluded that the low quality of high school soccer hurt his club and decided the best way to raise that quality was through his personal attention.http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051206/news_1s6p-preptu.html
Veee signed with the LA Rams(NFL) as a placekicker
but never played a game.
In 1997, the San Diego Breitbard Hall of Fame inducted Veee, the first soccer player so honored.http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/sports/champs.htm
Hungarian American
Hungarian Americans Hungarian are American citizens of Hungarian descent. The constant influx of Hungarian immigrants was marked by several waves of sharp increase.-History:...
soccer forward. Known as the "Double-deuce, triple-E, the one-and-only Juli Veee", Veee experienced his greatest success as an indoor player with the San Diego Sockers. He also earned four caps, scoring two goals, 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...
.
Youth
Veee grew up impoverished in Budapest, Hungary. The communist government controlled nearly every aspect of a HungarianPeople's Republic of Hungary
The People's Republic of Hungary or Hungarian People's Republic was the official state name of Hungary from 1949 to 1989 during its Communist period under the guidance of the Soviet Union. The state remained in existence until 1989 when opposition forces consolidated in forcing the regime to...
's life and when Veee turned fifteen he was given a choice, pursue a career in table tennis
Table tennis
Table tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
or soccer. He chose soccer. Chafing under the restrictions of his totalitarian, communist homeland, Veee defected when he was eighteen years old while on a tour of Western Europe with the Hungarian U-21 national team. He began his professional career in France before moving to the United States.
NASL
In 1975, he moved to the U.S. where he signed with the Los Angeles AztecsLos Angeles Aztecs
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League from 1974-81. The team was based in Los Angeles, California and part-owned by Elton John.-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:...
. That season, he played in nineteen games, scoring six goals. He was traded to the San Jose Earthquakes for the 1976 season.
At the completion of the 1976 NASL season, Veee moved to Belgium where he signed with First Division club Lierse. He spent one season with Lierse before moving to Standard Liège for the 1977-1978 season.[1] Veee returned to the NASL to play for the San Diego Sockers from 1978-1982. Veee was a fan favorite for the Sockers. His technique and skills were very impressive. Although very talented as an outdoor player, he would become better known as an indoor soccer player.
NASL- Indoor
The NASL started an indoor league, in which the Sockers participated in 1980-81, 1981-82, 1983-84. San Diego won the championship in the 1981-82 and 1983-84 seasons. Julie Veee was their star. He went on to play with the Sockers in the MISL. Overall, the Sockers won 10 indoor soccer championship (two in the NASL, and eight more in the MISL). Veee finished his career with the Sockers with 254 goals and 214 assists. He was one of the pioneers of indoor soccer who made a great adjustment from the outdoor game.
MISL
He began his indoor career with the New York ArrowsNew York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
of 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). His greatest achievement in soccer probably came as he led the San Diego Sockers to five championships. He was MVP three times. He was the 1982-1983 championship series MVP. At the end of the 1984 season, the Sockers traded Veee to the Las Vegas Americans
Las Vegas Americans
The Las Vegas Americans were a soccer team based out of Las Vegas that played in the Major Soccer League. They played only one season, 1984 and lost in the first round of the championship that year. The Americans finished their only season in the league with a 30-18 record earning them second place...
for whom he played a single season. In 1985 he returned to the Sockers and finished his career with them in 1988. He finished his career with the Sockers with 254 goals and 214 assists.
National team
Veee earned four caps with the US 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...
after he became a US citizen. His first game with the national team came in an October 15, 1976 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...
. He scored his first national team goal five days later in a victory over Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
. He played one more game in 1976, then did not earn another cap until his last one. That came in the only game the U.S. played in 1982, a 2-1 victory over Trinidad
Trinidad and Tobago national football team
The Trinidad and Tobago national football team, nicknamed The Soca Warriors, is the national team of Trinidad and Tobago and is run by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. It reached the first round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup Finals...
on March 21, 1982. Veee also scored his second national team goal in that game.
Veee was also a member of the U.S. team which qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics
1980 Summer Olympics
The 1980 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Moscow in the Soviet Union. In addition, the yachting events were held in Tallinn, and some of the preliminary matches and the quarter-finals of the football tournament...
. While Veee scored a goal in the U.S. tie with Surinam which led to the U.S. qualifying for the games, President Carter
Jimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
cancelled the U.S. participation in those games as punishment for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Because FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
does not recognize Olympic and Olympic qualifying matches as full internationals, these games are not included in Veee's national team statistics.
Post playing career
After retiring in 1988, Veee found himself out of work and penniless. While he had become an artist and book collector these did not provide enough income at the time for him to make a living. A local youth coach who knew Veee asked him to help out with the coach's team. Veee needed income, so he agreed. He quickly discovered that he loved coaching and it has become his second career.http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041229/news_m1sc29veee.html His coaching jobs include three years with the San Dieguito Surf and two years as coach of the Pegasus. He has been with the youth club Encinitas Express for the last eighteen years and is currently the club's Director of Coaching. In 2005, became the head coach of the La Costa Canyon High SchoolLa Costa Canyon High School
La Costa Canyon High School is one of the high schools in the San Dieguito Union High School District. Located on 88 acres in south Carlsbad in northwest San Diego County, La Costa Canyon opened in September, 1996. The students attending La Costa Canyon live in Encinitas and south Carlsbad...
girls team. He decided to become a high school coach due to dissatisfaction with regression his club players experienced during the high school season. Veee concluded that the low quality of high school soccer hurt his club and decided the best way to raise that quality was through his personal attention.http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051206/news_1s6p-preptu.html
Veee signed with the LA Rams(NFL) as a placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
but never played a game.
In 1997, the San Diego Breitbard Hall of Fame inducted Veee, the first soccer player so honored.http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/sports/champs.htm