Miro Rys
Encyclopedia
Miro Rys was a Czech American
soccer forward
who played professionally in the North American Soccer League
. Rys earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team. He died in Germany soon after signing with Hertha Berlin
.
where he played high school soccer at Morton East High School
. Following his graduation in 1976, Rys elected to forego college and instead signed with the Chicago Sting
of the North American Soccer League
. Rys played seventeen games and scored four goals for Chicago Sting
that season. Rys then transferred to the Los Angeles Aztecs
during the 1977 season. He played in two games, scoring two goals for the Aztecs before signing with German club Hertha Berlin
. Rys died in a car accident in Germany, however, before he played for Hertha.
against Canada
on October 20, 1976. Rys scored in that game, a 2-0 victory, making him one of a handful of U.S. players who have scored in their debut match. Rys then played in two scoreless ties with Haiti
. He remains the youngest U.S. player to appear in a World Cup qualifying game.
The Illinois High School Soccer Association (IHSSCA) awards an annual Miro Rys Sportsmanship Award.
Czech American
Czech Americans are citizens of the United States who were born in, or who descended from, the territory of the historic Czech lands, , or succession states, now known as the Czech Republic...
soccer forward
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 professionally 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:...
. Rys earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team. He died in Germany soon after signing with Hertha Berlin
Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha Berliner Sport-Club von 1892, commonly known as Hertha BSC or Hertha Berlin, is a German association football club based in Berlin. A founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900, the club has a long history as Berlin's best-supported side...
.
Club career
Although born in Czechoslovakia, Rys grew up in Cicero, IllinoisCicero, Illinois
Cicero is an incorporated town in Cook County, Illinois, United States. The population was 83,891 at the 2010 census. Cicero is named for the town of Cicero, New York, which in turn was named for Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman statesman and orator....
where he played high school soccer at Morton East High School
J. Sterling Morton High School East
J. Sterling Morton High School East is a public secondary school located in Cicero, Illinois. Morton East is one of three schools in J. Sterling Morton High School District 201. Morton East is a sophomore through senior building, with future students attending the J. Sterling Morton Freshman...
. Following his graduation in 1976, Rys elected to forego college and instead signed with the Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
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:...
. Rys played seventeen games and scored four goals for Chicago Sting
Chicago Sting
The Chicago Sting was an American professional soccer team based in Chicago, Illinois. The Sting played in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1984 and in the Major Indoor Soccer League from in the 1982-83 season and again from 1984 to 1988...
that season. Rys then transferred to the Los Angeles Aztecs
Los 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:...
during the 1977 season. He played in two games, scoring two goals for the Aztecs before signing with German club Hertha Berlin
Hertha BSC Berlin
Hertha Berliner Sport-Club von 1892, commonly known as Hertha BSC or Hertha Berlin, is a German association football club based in Berlin. A founding member of the German Football Association in Leipzig in 1900, the club has a long history as Berlin's best-supported side...
. Rys died in a car accident in Germany, however, before he played for Hertha.
International career
Rys earned three caps with the U.S. national team in 1976. His first game came in a World Cup qualifier1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
against 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...
on October 20, 1976. Rys scored in that game, a 2-0 victory, making him one of a handful of U.S. players who have scored in their debut match. Rys then played in two scoreless ties with Haiti
Haiti national football team
The Haiti national football team represents Haiti in association football and is controlled by the Fédération Haïtienne de Football, the governing body for football in Haiti. Haiti's home ground is Stade Sylvio Cator in Port-au-Prince and their head coach is Edson Tavares...
. He remains the youngest U.S. player to appear in a World Cup qualifying game.
The Illinois High School Soccer Association (IHSSCA) awards an annual Miro Rys Sportsmanship Award.