The Minnesota Strikers was an American professional soccer

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 team located in the Minneapolis/St. Paul

Saint Paul, Minnesota

Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...

 metropolitan area. The team played one season (1984) in the North American Soccer League and 4 seasons (1984–88) in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

The Minnesota Strikers' history begins on November 30, 1983, when the Fort Lauderdale Strikers announced they were relocating to Minnesota (three seasons after the Minnesota Kicks

Minnesota Kicks

Minnesota Kicks were a professional soccer team that played at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota from 1976 to 1981. The team was a member of the now defunct North American Soccer League. The team had relocated to Minnesota after having been based in Denver, Colorado as the Denver Dynamos...

 folded) for the 1984 NASL season

1984 NASL Season

The 1984 NASL season was the 72nd season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 17th with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, as well as the 17th and final season of the North American Soccer League...

. The team played that year in the North American Soccer League at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome

The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University...

, but the league collapsed at the end of the season. The team survived, however, moving indoors and joining 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...

. The team played four seasons in the MISL, folding after the 1987-88 season. The team played at Met Center during the MISL years.

Year-by-year

Year	Division	League	Reg. Season	Playoffs	Open Cup
1984	1	NASL	3rd, Western	Did not qualify	Did not enter
1984/85	N/A	MISL	4th, Eastern	Semifinals	N/A
1985/86	N/A	MISL	2nd, Eastern	Final	N/A
1986/87	N/A	MISL	4th, Eastern	Division Semifinals	N/A
1987/88	N/A	MISL	1st, Eastern	Division Finals	N/A

1984/85 (MISL)

Ricardo Alonso

Ricardo Alonso

Ricardo Alonso was a soccer player who began as a forward before moving to defender later in his career. Alonso spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League, four in Major Indoor Soccer League, at least three in the American Indoor Soccer Association, one in the American Soccer League and...

  , John Bain

John Bain

John Bain is a retired Scottish-U.S. soccer midfielder who currently coaches youth soccer in the U.S. Bain began his professional career in England before moving to the United States in 1978. Over his twenty year playing career, Bain played for numerous leagues and teams, both indoors and out...

  , Ben Collins

Ben Collins (soccer)

Ben Collins is a retired Liberian soccer midfielder who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.-College:...

  , Bill Crook  , Chris Dangerfield

Chris Dangerfield

Christopher George "Chris" Dangerfield is a retired English footballer. He began his career in England before playing ten seasons in the North American Soccer League and at least one in the Western Soccer Alliance....

  , Drago Dumbovic  , Gary Etherington

Gary Etherington

Gary Etherington is a retired English-American soccer player who began his professional career in the North American Soccer League before moving to the Major Indoor Soccer League. He earned seven caps with the U.S. national team...

   , Ken Fogarty

Ken Fogarty

Ken Fogarty is a American soccer coach. Fogarty was Head Coach and Technical Director of the Cayman Islands national team from 1993–1994 and from 1996-1998.-Professional career:...

  , Jan Goossens

Jan Goossens

Jan Goossens is a former star American indoor soccer player. He was the original MISL's sixth all-time leading scorer with 682 points during his 7 years in the league....

  , Ray Hudson

Ray Hudson

Ray Hudson , is a retired professional football player and former coach who currently works as an English-language football commentator on Gol TV.-Career:...

  , Mike Jeffries

Mike Jeffries (soccer)

Michael Jeffries is a retired American soccer player and current soccer coach. He was the 1983 Hermann Trophy winner and played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League...

  , Matt Kennedy

Matt Kennedy

Matt Kennedy is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played in the North American Soccer League, American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer Leaggue....

  , Tino Lettieri

Tino Lettieri

Martino "Tino" Lettieri is a former NASL and MISL professional soccer goalkeeper, who represented Canada twice at the Summer Olympics: 1976 and 1984 and the 1986 FIFA World Cup.-Playing career:...

  , Steve Litt

Steve Litt

Steve Litt is a retired English football defender who played professionally in the Football League, North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and coached in the Western Soccer Alliance.-Player:...

  , Dwight Lodeweges

Dwight Lodeweges

Dwight Lodeweges is Dutch football coach and former professional player now coaching for JEF United Ichihara Chiba in J. League Division 2.- Early life :...

   , John McGrane

John McGrane

John McGrane is a retired Scottish-Canadian soccer defender who played nine North American Soccer League seasons and seventeen times for the Canadian national soccer team. He also played in the Montreal Olympics.-Club career:...

  , Bruce Miller  , Thomas Rongen

Thomas Rongen

Thomas Rongen is a Dutch soccer coach, formerly the head coach of D.C. United, the Sporting Director of Major League Soccer club Chivas USA, and the coach of the American Samoa national association football team...

  , Craig Scarpelli

Craig Scarpelli

Craig Scarpelli is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the North American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Soccer League.Scarpelli attended the University of Tampa where he played on the men's soccer team. in 1980...

  , Gregg Thompson

Gregg Thompson

Gregg Thompson is a retired U.S. soccer defender who was the 1983 North American Soccer League Rookie of the Year. He spent two season in the NASL and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1984 Summer Olympics and earned twelve caps with the U.S...

  , Thompson Usiyan

Thompson Usiyan

Thompson Usiyan is a retired Nigerian football player. He holds the NCAA Division I career scoring record and played in the North American Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and Continental Indoor Soccer League. He was a member of the Nigerian Olympic soccer which...

  , Alan Willey

Alan Willey

Alan Willey was a soccer player originally from England who spent most of his playing career in the United States...

  

1985/86 (MISL)

Tony Bono  , David Byrne  , Dan Canter  , Stan Cummins  , Chris Dangerfield  , Gary Etherington  , Abraham Reissy  , Ken Fogarty  , Jan Goossens  , Ray Hudson  , Bill Irwin

Bill Irwin (footballer)

William "Bill" Irwin is a Northern Irish former professional footballer, currently working as director of soccer at the University of Portland and head coach of the United States women's under-23 side.-Personal life:...

  , Mike Jeffries  , Matt Kennedy  , Tasso Koutsoukos  , Tino Lettieri  , Dwight Lodeweges   , Bruce Miller  , Kazbek Tambi  , Gregg Thompson  , Thompson Usiyan  , Alan Willey  

1986/87 (MISL)

Tony Bono  , David Byrne  , Dan Canter  , Stan Cummins  , Marcelo da Silveira  , Chris Dangerfield  , Enzo DiPede  , Helmut Dudek  , Gary Etherington  , Ken Fogarty  , Ray Hudson  , Mike Jeffries  , Matt Kennedy  , Steve Kinsey  , Tasso Koutsoukos  , Tino Lettieri  , Dwight Lodeweges

Dwight Lodeweges

Dwight Lodeweges is Dutch football coach and former professional player now coaching for JEF United Ichihara Chiba in J. League Division 2.- Early life :...

   , John O'Hara  , Gregg Thompson  , Thompson Usiyan  , Alan Willey  ; Elizabeth Robbie, President; Chris Wright, General Manager, Tim Robbie, Executive Vice President; Alan Merrick, Head Coach; Bruce Miller, Assistant Coach.

Former Players (NASL 1984)

Ken Fogarty

Ken Fogarty

Ken Fogarty is a American soccer coach. Fogarty was Head Coach and Technical Director of the Cayman Islands national team from 1993–1994 and from 1996-1998.-Professional career:...

  http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#F Ray Hudson

Ray Hudson

Ray Hudson , is a retired professional football player and former coach who currently works as an English-language football commentator on Gol TV.-Career:...

 21 apps 2 goals http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslstar.html Godfrey Ingram

Godfrey Ingram

Godfrey Patrick Ingram is a retired English professional footballer who played as a striker. Active in England, Wales and the United States, Ingram made over 440 career league appearances, and scored over 270 league goals.-Career:...

 Brian Kidd

Brian Kidd

Brian Kidd is an English football coach and former player, who is currently Assistant Manager to Roberto Mancini at Manchester City....

 13 apps 8 goals, Tino Lettieri

Tino Lettieri

Martino "Tino" Lettieri is a former NASL and MISL professional soccer goalkeeper, who represented Canada twice at the Summer Olympics: 1976 and 1984 and the 1986 FIFA World Cup.-Playing career:...

 Barry Wallacehttp://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#W Alan Willey

Alan Willey

Alan Willey was a soccer player originally from England who spent most of his playing career in the United States...

Former Players (MISL)

Stan Cummins

Stan Cummins

Stan Cummins was an English footballer who played as an attacking midfielder or forward....

 (1985–88) Ken Fogarty

Ken Fogarty

Ken Fogarty is a American soccer coach. Fogarty was Head Coach and Technical Director of the Cayman Islands national team from 1993–1994 and from 1996-1998.-Professional career:...

 (1984–88) http://home.att.net/~nasl/players.htm#F Ray Hudson

Ray Hudson

Ray Hudson , is a retired professional football player and former coach who currently works as an English-language football commentator on Gol TV.-Career:...

 (1984–88) http://www.sover.net/~spectrum/nasl/naslstar.html Steve Kinsey (1986–88) John Bain

John Bain

John Bain is a retired Scottish-U.S. soccer midfielder who currently coaches youth soccer in the U.S. Bain began his professional career in England before moving to the United States in 1978. Over his twenty year playing career, Bain played for numerous leagues and teams, both indoors and out...

 (1984–86)   Dwight Lodeweges

Dwight Lodeweges

Dwight Lodeweges is Dutch football coach and former professional player now coaching for JEF United Ichihara Chiba in J. League Division 2.- Early life :...

 (1984–1988)

Strikers NASL Draft

1984

Round	Player	School
1	Greg Kennedy	Indiana
2	Ronil Dufrene	Florida International
3	David McDaniel	Duke

Strikers MISL Drafts

1985

Round	Player	School
1	Paul DiBernardo	Indiana University
2	Peter Sawkins	Yale University
3	Anthony Bono	Drexel University
4	Bruce Bellinger	Southern Illinois-Edwardsville

1986

Round	Player	School
2	Peter Smith	University of Tampa
3	Paul Schojan	Rochester Institute of Technology
4	Andy Pantason	University of Connecticut
4	Tony Scheuerman	Stillwater High School

1987

Round	Player	School
1	Brent Goulet	Warner Pacific University
3	George Geinovatch	University of Virginia
4	Troy Snyder	Penn State University

Yearly Average Attendance

• 1984 (NASL)- 14,262
• 1984-85 (MISL)- 4,809
• 1985-86 (MISL)- 6,503
• 1986-87 (MISL)- 6,977
• 1987-88 (MISL)-

See also

• Washington Darts
  Washington Darts
  Washington Darts was an American soccer club based in Washington, D.C. that was a member of the American Soccer League and later the North American Soccer League....
  
   1970-71
• Miami Gatos 1972
• Miami Toros
  Miami Toros
  The Miami Gatos were a soccer team based out of Miami that played in the North American Soccer League. The club was previously known as the Washington Darts. After the 1972 season, the team was renamed the Miami Toros...
  
   1973-76
• Fort Lauderdale Strikers 1977-83
• 1984 Minnesota Strikers season