Memphis Americans
Encyclopedia
The Memphis Americans were a soccer team based out of Memphis, Tennessee
that played in the old Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1981 to 1984. Their home arena was the Mid-South Coliseum
.
In May 1981, the Christian group Athletes in Action
purchased the financially troubled MISL team then known as the Hartford Hellions
and moved the team to Memphis. The team, renamed the Americans, played in Memphis through the end of the 1983-1984 season. They then moved to Las Vegas
. The team had a German coach, Horst Bertl, who was an experienced player and coach from the Bundesliga
, but new to indoor soccer. The team was primarily stocked with talented foreign players such as Tony Carbonagni, Helmut Dudek, Stan Stamenkovich and Richard But. Some Hartford players came with the franchise to Memphis, including Tom Nevers, Hank Liotart and Bruce Rudrof. The Memphis franchise added young Americans like number one draft choice Mike Garrett and Steve Allison along with more experienced pros to round out the first year roster. The team was very competitive and finished at just under .500 for year one.
The team had decent attendance at the Mid-South Coliseum - averaging around 7,000 per game - but expectations were higher and even as they entered year two there was some expectation that the ownership needed to do better. A new group of owners got involved shortly after that and included local owners that would provide more attention to franchise operations. In year two the team continued to compete at around .500 and play attractive soccer. After the end of the their third season, the team was moved to Las Vegas - where they only lasted one additional year
Memphis players that continued to play professionally after the Memphis team were Carbonagni (to Vegas and back to Memphis with NPSL), Stamenkovic and Kunovac (Baltimore Blast
), Mike Garrett (NPSL player coach with Toledo and Kalamazoo)and Dudek (Las Vegas). The team was very entertaining and talented - Stamenkovich was amazingly skilled and the best-known of the players on the team. Dudek was a strong defender but was most noticed because he had such a powerful shot. Garrett was a young American with great skills and Carbonagni was very good at passing and controlling the ball. Richard But was the primary goalkeeper and had some great games. The Memphis Americans were another team that had a brief, but entertaining history in US Professional Soccer that had a collection of great European and South American players with a few talented Americans mixed in.
(1981-82) 43 Apps 34 Goals Jorge Espinoza
(1981-84) Mike Garrett
Fred Grgurev
(1983-84) 50 Apps 42 Goals Bernd Holzenbein
(1983-84) Hank Liotart
(1981-82) Bill Mishalow
(1981-84) Thomas Nevers
Yilmaz Orhan
(1983-84) 47 Apps 49 Goals Bruce Rudrof Derek Smethurst
(1981-82) 33 Apps 35 Goals
Stan Stamenkovic
(1981-83) 77 Apps 101 Goals
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
that played in the old Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1981 to 1984. Their home arena was the Mid-South Coliseum
Mid-South Coliseum
The Mid-South Coliseum, also known as "The Entertainment Capital of the Mid-South", was a multi-purpose arena, that seated 10,085 people, in Memphis, Tennessee...
.
In May 1981, the Christian group Athletes in Action
Athletes in Action
Athletes in Action is an evangelical Christian sports ministry in the tradition of Muscular Christianity. Athletes in Action, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ, works with athletes and coaches to use the unique platform of sport to help people around the world with questions of faith...
purchased the financially troubled MISL team then known as the Hartford Hellions
Hartford Hellions
The Hartford Hellions were a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1979 to 1981. The Hellions played their first season in the New Haven Coliseum before moving to the remodelled Hartford Civic Center.In May 1981, Athletes in...
and moved the team to Memphis. The team, renamed the Americans, played in Memphis through the end of the 1983-1984 season. They then moved to Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. The team had a German coach, Horst Bertl, who was an experienced player and coach from the Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, but new to indoor soccer. The team was primarily stocked with talented foreign players such as Tony Carbonagni, Helmut Dudek, Stan Stamenkovich and Richard But. Some Hartford players came with the franchise to Memphis, including Tom Nevers, Hank Liotart and Bruce Rudrof. The Memphis franchise added young Americans like number one draft choice Mike Garrett and Steve Allison along with more experienced pros to round out the first year roster. The team was very competitive and finished at just under .500 for year one.
The team had decent attendance at the Mid-South Coliseum - averaging around 7,000 per game - but expectations were higher and even as they entered year two there was some expectation that the ownership needed to do better. A new group of owners got involved shortly after that and included local owners that would provide more attention to franchise operations. In year two the team continued to compete at around .500 and play attractive soccer. After the end of the their third season, the team was moved to Las Vegas - where they only lasted one additional year
Memphis players that continued to play professionally after the Memphis team were Carbonagni (to Vegas and back to Memphis with NPSL), Stamenkovic and Kunovac (Baltimore Blast
Baltimore Blast
The name Baltimore Blast has been used by two different indoor soccer teams:*Baltimore Blast , the original team that played in the first Major Indoor Soccer League...
), Mike Garrett (NPSL player coach with Toledo and Kalamazoo)and Dudek (Las Vegas). The team was very entertaining and talented - Stamenkovich was amazingly skilled and the best-known of the players on the team. Dudek was a strong defender but was most noticed because he had such a powerful shot. Garrett was a young American with great skills and Carbonagni was very good at passing and controlling the ball. Richard But was the primary goalkeeper and had some great games. The Memphis Americans were another team that had a brief, but entertaining history in US Professional Soccer that had a collection of great European and South American players with a few talented Americans mixed in.
Players
Steve Allison Richard Bute Toni Carbonagni (1981-82) 43 Apps 39 Goals Helmut DudekHelmut Dudek
Helmut Dudek is deceased Polish-German football defender who won the 1978–79 UEFA Cup with Borussia Mönchengladbach...
(1981-82) 43 Apps 34 Goals Jorge Espinoza
Jorge Espinoza
Jorge Espinoza is a retired professional soccer player from Chile who played in the Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He also coached at the high school, collegiate and professional levels including two games with the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer in...
(1981-84) Mike Garrett
Mike Garrett (soccer)
Mike Garrett is a retired American soccer player and current businessman.In 1979, Garrett graduated in from McLean High School. He then attended George Mason University where he played soccer for two and a half seasons...
Fred GrgurevFred Grgurev
Ferdo "Fred" Grgurev is a retired Yugoslavian-American football forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League...
(1983-84) 50 Apps 42 Goals Bernd Holzenbein
Bernd Hölzenbein
Bernd Hölzenbein is a former German football player . He is best known for being fouled in the final against Netherlands, which led to the Germans' equalising penalty....
(1983-84) Hank Liotart
Hank Liotart
Hank Liotart is a Dutch-American former soccer player. Liotart played one season in the National Professional Soccer League, eight in the North American Soccer League and at least one in Major Indoor Soccer League. He also played eight years in the Netherlands. Finally, Liotart earned four caps...
(1981-82) Bill Mishalow
Bill Mishalow
Wadim "Bill" Mishalow is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played in the North American Soccer League and the Major Indoor Soccer League....
(1981-84) Thomas Nevers
Thomas Nevers
Thomas Nevers is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.-Youth:...
Yilmaz Orhan
Yilmaz Orhan
Yilmaz Orhan is a former football forward who played professionally in the United States and England.Spotted by Terry Matthews while playing for Aveley, Orhan made his First Division debut for West Ham United in January 1976...
(1983-84) 47 Apps 49 Goals Bruce Rudrof Derek Smethurst
Derek Smethurst
Derek Smethurst is a retired South African soccer forward who played professionally in South Africa, England and the United States.-Bio:...
(1981-82) 33 Apps 35 Goals
Stan StamenkovicStan Stamenkovic
Srboljub Stamenković known professionally in the United States as Stan Stamenkovic was a Yugoslav football player...
(1981-83) 77 Apps 101 Goals