Lesh Shkreli
Encyclopedia
Lesh Shkreli was a Yugoslavian-American soccer forward
who played in Yugoslavia, Greece and the United States. He led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring in 1984-1985, earning MVP honors.
youth system. At some point in his career he played in the Greek First Division. In 1980, Shkreli signed with the Detroit Express
in the North American Soccer League
(NASL). The Express was sold at the end of the 1980-1981 indoor season and moved to Washington D.C. where it became the Washington Diplomats
. Shkreli did not make the move. In 1982, Shkreli played for the Oklahoma City Slickers
in the American Soccer League
. In the summer of 1984, he played for the Houston Dynamos
in the United Soccer League
. In 1984, he signed with the Columbus Capitals
of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). He led the league in scoring with fifty-nine goals in forty games, earning first team All Star and league MVP recognition. The Capitals folded at the end of the 1985-1986 season and the Toledo Pride
picked up Shkreli in the dispersal draft. He played only seventeen games with the Pride before his contract was purchased by the Canton Invaders
on January 15, 1987. Shkreli moved to the Dayton Dynamo
for the 1988-1989 season. On September 19, 1989, the Dynamo traded him to the Chicago Power
in exchange for Victor Quni. Shkreli declined to sign with the Power and retired.
for three games. In 1998, he became the assistant coach at Ohio Dominican University
. In 2003, Shkreli became the first head coach of the Columbus Shooting Stars
of the fourth division Premier Development League. Blast FC, a premier soccer club, was started in 1986 by Lesh Shkreli. It has been in existence for over 20 years and is presently the longest running soccer club in central Ohio. Lesh Shkreli is the full time Director of Coaching at Blast F.C. He has lead teams to the National League as well as the Us Youth Soccer National Championships. Numerous teams of his compete at the Midwest Regional League (MRL) level.
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...
who played in Yugoslavia, Greece and the United States. He led the American Indoor Soccer Association in scoring in 1984-1985, earning MVP honors.
Player
Shkreli began his career in the Red Star BelgradeRed Star Belgrade
Red Star Belgrade is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia. The club is a part of the Red Star Sports Society.Red Star Belgrade is the most successful Serbian club, with a record of 25 national championships and 23 national cups in both Serbian and ex-Yugoslav competitions...
youth system. At some point in his career he played in the Greek First Division. In 1980, Shkreli signed with the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
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:...
(NASL). The Express was sold at the end of the 1980-1981 indoor season and moved to Washington D.C. where it became the Washington Diplomats
Washington Diplomats
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C.. Throughout their existence, the club played their home games at Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium...
. Shkreli did not make the move. In 1982, Shkreli 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...
. In the summer of 1984, he played for the Houston Dynamos
Houston Dynamos
Houston Dynamos was a U.S. soccer team which existed in various forms from 1983 to 1991. In 1991, the team’s owners changed the name to Houston International, but the team lasted only through the 1992 season before folding.-1984: United Soccer League:...
in the United Soccer League
United Soccer League
The United Soccer League was a professional soccer league in the United States in the mid-1980s.After the demise of the second incarnation of the American Soccer League in 1983, four ASL teams founded the USL...
. In 1984, he signed with the Columbus Capitals
Columbus Capitals (indoor soccer)
The Columbus Capitals were an indoor soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association. The club played its home games at Battelle Hall from 1984 - 1986....
of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). He led the league in scoring with fifty-nine goals in forty games, earning first team All Star and league MVP recognition. The Capitals folded at the end of the 1985-1986 season and the Toledo Pride
Toledo Pride
The Toledo Pride were an American indoor soccer team. They played only one season in the American Indoor Soccer Association.-Ownership: Edward Cochran Robert Ransom John Glase Frank DeJulius Joshua Gotlieb...
picked up Shkreli in the dispersal draft. He played only seventeen games with the Pride before his contract was purchased by the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
on January 15, 1987. Shkreli moved to the Dayton Dynamo
Dayton Dynamo
The Dayton Dynamo was a professional indoor soccer team from Dayton, Ohio. The team played in the American Indoor Soccer Association ....
for the 1988-1989 season. On September 19, 1989, the Dynamo traded him to the Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
in exchange for Victor Quni. Shkreli declined to sign with the Power and retired.
Coach
Shkreli was actively involved in coaching even as a player. In 1986, he served as an interim head coach for the Columbus CapitalsColumbus Capitals (indoor soccer)
The Columbus Capitals were an indoor soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association. The club played its home games at Battelle Hall from 1984 - 1986....
for three games. In 1998, he became the assistant coach at Ohio Dominican University
Ohio Dominican University
Ohio Dominican University is a private four-year liberal arts institution, founded in 1911 in the Catholic and Dominican traditions. The main campus spans over in the North Central neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio, United States. The university has just over 3,100 students and offers undergraduate...
. In 2003, Shkreli became the first head coach of the Columbus Shooting Stars
Columbus Shooting Stars
Columbus Shooting Stars were an American soccer team, founded in 2003, and was a member of the United Soccer Leagues Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, for just one season...
of the fourth division Premier Development League. Blast FC, a premier soccer club, was started in 1986 by Lesh Shkreli. It has been in existence for over 20 years and is presently the longest running soccer club in central Ohio. Lesh Shkreli is the full time Director of Coaching at Blast F.C. He has lead teams to the National League as well as the Us Youth Soccer National Championships. Numerous teams of his compete at the Midwest Regional League (MRL) level.