Neil Cohen
Encyclopedia
Neil Cohen is a former U.S. soccer defender
. He played eight seasons in the North American Soccer League
and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
in 1976. In 2008, Neil was elected to the FC Dallas, "Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame" for his contributions to soccer in Texas. http://www.fcdallas.com/texans-credit-union-walk-of-fame
, graduating from Bryan Adams High School
in 1973. He was the first high school All American soccer player from Texas in 1973.
of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). He played five seasons with the Tornado before moving to the Tulsa Roughnecks
in 1979. He played only three games before moving to the San Jose Earthquakes. He sat out the 1980 season with injuries, but returned to the Tornado for the 1981 season. The Tornado folded at the end of the season. When the Tornado folded in 1981, Cohen was already established in the Major Indoor Soccer League
. In 1979, he signed with the Houston Summit. The team moved to Baltimore following the 1979-1980 season, changing its name to the Baltimore Blast. Cohen played one season in Baltimore before moving to the Denver Avalanche
for the 1981-1982 season. When the Avalanche folded, Cohen moved to the St. Louis Steamers
for two seasons before signing with the Dallas Sidekicks
as a free agent on July 19, 1984. He injured his knee on December 30, 1984 which put him out for the rest of the season. He retired on September 24, 1985. In 1983, Cohen also played for the Dallas Americans
of the American Soccer League
in 1983 and the United Soccer League
in 1984 and 1985.
. He went on to play for the U.S. at the 1975 Pan American Games
. The U.S. went 0-2 in group play and did not qualify for the second round.
On October 3, 1976, Cohen earned his lone cap with the U.S. national team
in a scoreless tie with Mexico
in a World Cup qualification game. He started, then came off for Santiago Formoso
in the 80th minute.
Cohen was the first player to represent his country at all three levels: Youth, Olympic and National Team. Also at the time in 1973, he was the youngest American player ever signed into the North American Soccer league at the age of 18.
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He played eight seasons 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:...
and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in 1976. In 2008, Neil was elected to the FC Dallas, "Texans Credit Union Walk of Fame" for his contributions to soccer in Texas. http://www.fcdallas.com/texans-credit-union-walk-of-fame
Youth
Cohen grew up in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, graduating from Bryan Adams High School
Bryan Adams High School
For schools with similar names, see Adams High School.Bryan Adams High School is a public secondary school located at 2101 Millmar Drive in the Casa View neighborhood of East Dallas, Texas ....
in 1973. He was the first high school All American soccer player from Texas in 1973.
Professional
In 1974, he signed with the Dallas TornadoDallas 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...
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:...
(NASL). He played five seasons with the Tornado before moving to the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
in 1979. He played only three games before moving to the San Jose Earthquakes. He sat out the 1980 season with injuries, but returned to the Tornado for the 1981 season. The Tornado folded at the end of the season. When the Tornado folded in 1981, Cohen was already established in 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...
. In 1979, he signed with the Houston Summit. The team moved to Baltimore following the 1979-1980 season, changing its name to the Baltimore Blast. Cohen played one season in Baltimore before moving to the Denver Avalanche
Denver Avalanche
The Denver Avalanche was an American soccer team based out of Denver, Colorado that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1982. Their home arena was McNichols Sports Arena...
for the 1981-1982 season. When the Avalanche folded, Cohen moved to the St. Louis Steamers
St. Louis Steamers (1979–1988)
The original St. Louis Steamers played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979 through 1988. Their home fixtures were held at the St. Louis Arena.-Ownership:* Ben Kerner & Partnership * Thomas M...
for two seasons before signing with the Dallas Sidekicks
Dallas Sidekicks
The Dallas Sidekicks were one of the longest operating professional soccer teams, either indoor or outdoor, in the United States, based in Dallas, Texas, and operating from 1984 until suspending operations following the 2004 season. The team was founded as a member of the original Major Indoor...
as a free agent on July 19, 1984. He injured his knee on December 30, 1984 which put him out for the rest of the season. He retired on September 24, 1985. In 1983, Cohen also played for the Dallas Americans
Dallas Americans
Dallas Americans was an American soccer club based in Dallas, Texas that was a member of the American Soccer League. It is also the name of a Indoor American Football team.After the ASL folded, the club joined the newly formed United Soccer League....
of 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 1983 and 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 and 1985.
National team
Cohen began playing with the U.S. junior teams in 1974, taking part in the failed qualification campaign for the 1976 Summer Olympics1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
. He went on to play for the U.S. at the 1975 Pan American Games
Football at the 1975 Pan American Games
The seventh edition of the football tournament at the Pan American Games was held in four cities in Mexico: Mexico City , Guadalajara, Toluca, and Puebla, from October 13 to October 25, 1975. Thirteen teams competed in a round-robin competition, with Argentina defending the title...
. The U.S. went 0-2 in group play and did not qualify for the second round.
On October 3, 1976, Cohen earned his lone cap with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
in a scoreless tie with Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
in a World Cup qualification game. He started, then came off for Santiago Formoso
Santiago Formoso
Santiago Formoso is a Spanish-American soccer defender who spent spent five seasons in the North American Soccer League. He also earned seven caps with the U.S. national team in 1976 and 1977.-Club career:...
in the 80th minute.
Coach
Cohen coached youth soccer in the Dallas area with FC Lynx and Solar. He recently retired in 2006 from youth soccer.Cohen was the first player to represent his country at all three levels: Youth, Olympic and National Team. Also at the time in 1973, he was the youngest American player ever signed into the North American Soccer league at the age of 18.