Momcilo Gavric
Encyclopedia
Momčilo "Gabbo" Gavrić (August 4, 1938 – March 13, 2010) was born in Sinj, Kingdom of Yugoslavia
in 1938. He was born in a large family. Gavric aspired to play professional soccer. In 1959 he left Sinj for Beograd, and immediately, began playing with first division side OFK Beograd
. He was one of the clubs best players, and never missed a game during his nine-year spell at the club. He had callups to the national team, but only ended up playing for the B national team. He left Yugoslavia
in 1967, in order to go to the United States
, and make more money. In 1967, he signed with the Oakland Clippers
of the North American Soccer League
. He spent two seasons with the Clippers. He won the championship with the Oakland Clippers. In 1971, he moved to the Dallas Tornado
, then the San Jose Earthquakes
from 1974 to 1978. He was also the placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers
in 1969. Gavric wanted to stay in America and finish his career because life was better than in Europe. He played for the San Jose Earthquakes
in 1974. He was a player and a coach until 1976, and he continued to coach through 1978.
Gavric died March 13, 2010 of complications from Parkinson's disease.
Kingdom of Yugoslavia
The Kingdom of Yugoslavia was a state stretching from the Western Balkans to Central Europe which existed during the often-tumultuous interwar era of 1918–1941...
in 1938. He was born in a large family. Gavric aspired to play professional soccer. In 1959 he left Sinj for Beograd, and immediately, began playing with first division side OFK Beograd
OFK Beograd
Omladinski fudbalski klub Beograd, commonly referred to as OFK Beograd , is a football club from Belgrade, Serbia, more precisely from the Karaburma urban neighborhood. It currently is the oldest team playing in the Serbian SuperLiga. The name means "Youth Football Club Belgrade" in Serbian...
. He was one of the clubs best players, and never missed a game during his nine-year spell at the club. He had callups to the national team, but only ended up playing for the B national team. He left Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
in 1967, in order to go to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and make more money. In 1967, he signed with the Oakland Clippers
Oakland Clippers
The Oakland Clippers were a soccer team based out of Oakland, California that played in the non-FIFA sanctioned National Professional Soccer League . Their home field was Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum....
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:...
. He spent two seasons with the Clippers. He won the championship with the Oakland Clippers. In 1971, he moved to the Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado
Dallas Tornado were a soccer team based in Dallas that played in the NASL. They played from 1967 to 1981. Their home fields were Cotton Bowl , P.C. Cobb Stadium , Franklin Field , Texas Stadium and Ownby Stadium on the SMU campus...
, then the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes (NASL)
San Jose Earthquakes was a professional soccer club that played from 1974 to 1984. The team began as an expansion franchise in the North American Soccer League. From 1983 to 1984, the team was known as the Golden Bay Earthquakes...
from 1974 to 1978. He was also the placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
in 1969. Gavric wanted to stay in America and finish his career because life was better than in Europe. He played for the San Jose Earthquakes
San Jose Earthquakes
The San Jose Earthquakes professional soccer team is located in the San Jose, California, United States suburb of Santa Clara, and participates in Major League Soccer , the top level soccer league in the United States and Canada....
in 1974. He was a player and a coach until 1976, and he continued to coach through 1978.
Gavric died March 13, 2010 of complications from Parkinson's disease.
Clubs
- NK Junak Sinj 1957-59
- OFK Belgrade 1959-67
- Oakland Clippers 1967-69
- San Francisco 49ers 1969
- Dallas Tornado 1971
- San Jose Earthquakes 1974-78