Santiago Formoso
Encyclopedia
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.
where he played on the men’s soccer team. In 1976, Formoso signed with the Hartford Bicentennials of the North American Soccer League
(NASL). The team moved from Hartford to New Haven, Connecticut
between the 1976 and 1977 seasons, making a name change with the move. At the end of the 1977 season, the Bicentennials traded Formoso to the New York Cosmos
. He spent two seasons in New York before being traded to the Los Angeles Aztecs
. However, he played only eleven games of the 1980 season before moving to the Houston Hurricane
for the last ten games of that season. In 1982, he played for the Carolina Lightnin'
in the American Soccer League
. In 1984, he played for the Charlotte Gold in the United Soccer League
. With the collapse of the USL, Formosa moved north to play for Greek American AA
in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League
.
. However, two losses to Mexico in August 1975 kept the U.S. out of the Olympics.
Formoso earned his first of seven caps with the U.S. national team
on October 3, 1976. That game, a qualifier for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
ended in a scoreless tie with Mexico
. Formoso’s next game with the national team did not end so well when the U.S. lost 3-0 twelve days later to Mexico in Mexico City. Formoso then played in two friendlies with Haiti
before playing in the U.S. loss to Canada on December 12, 1976 which bumped the U.S. from contention for the World Cup finals. Formoso played two games in 1977, his last was a 1-0 victory over China
on October 10, 1977.
marketing department from at least 1988 until his firing in 2001.http://lmtonline.com/sports/archive/120898/pageb2.pdf
Formoso was inducted into the Hudson County, New Jersey
Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.http://www.hciaa.com/hall_of_fame.html
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent spent five 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:...
. He also earned seven caps 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 and 1977.
Club career
Formoso grew up in New Jersey and attended Kearny High School, graduating in 1973. He also played with Newark Beira-Mar. After high school, Formoso attended the University of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
where he played on the men’s soccer team. In 1976, Formoso signed with the Hartford Bicentennials 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). The team moved from Hartford to New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven is the second-largest city in Connecticut and the sixth-largest in New England. According to the 2010 Census, New Haven's population increased by 5.0% between 2000 and 2010, a rate higher than that of the State of Connecticut, and higher than that of the state's five largest cities, and...
between the 1976 and 1977 seasons, making a name change with the move. At the end of the 1977 season, the Bicentennials traded Formoso to the New York Cosmos
New York Cosmos
The New York Cosmos were an American soccer club based in New York City, New York and its suburbs. The team played home games in three stadiums around New York before moving in 1977 to Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, where it remained for the rest of its history...
. He spent two seasons in New York before being traded 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:...
. However, he played only eleven games of the 1980 season before moving to the Houston Hurricane
Houston Hurricane
The Houston Hurricane was a soccer team based out of Houston that played in the NASL. They played from 1978 to 1980. Their home field was the Astrodome. Their colors were orange, white and red....
for the last ten games of that season. In 1982, he played for the Carolina Lightnin'
Carolina Lightnin'
The Carolina Lightnin was an American soccer club based in Charlotte, North Carolina that was a member of the American Soccer League. The Lightnin' played home matches at American Legion Memorial Stadium. Attendance at home games averaged 6,000 spectators...
in 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 1984, he played for the Charlotte Gold in 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...
. With the collapse of the USL, Formosa moved north to play for Greek American AA
Greek American AA
Greek American Atlas Astoria, commonly known as New York Greek American, is a soccer team from New York City that formed in 1941 by Tom Laris and went on to win four U.S. Open Cups. The team plays in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League. Their reserve team is the Greek-American Atlas Reserves FC. The...
in the Cosmopolitan Soccer League
Cosmopolitan Soccer League
The Cosmopolitan Soccer League is an amateur soccer league consisting of clubs based in and around New York City. Established in 1923, it is one of the oldest soccer leagues in the United States and has contributed greatly to the nation's soccer history...
.
National team
In 1975, Formoso was called into the U.S. Olympic soccer team as it ran through the 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...
. However, two losses to Mexico in August 1975 kept the U.S. out of the Olympics.
Formoso earned his first of seven caps 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...
on October 3, 1976. That game, a qualifier for the 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 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...
ended 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...
. Formoso’s next game with the national team did not end so well when the U.S. lost 3-0 twelve days later to Mexico in Mexico City. Formoso then played in two friendlies 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...
before playing in the U.S. loss to Canada on December 12, 1976 which bumped the U.S. from contention for the World Cup finals. Formoso played two games in 1977, his last was a 1-0 victory over China
China national football team
The China PR national football team is the national association football team of the People's Republic of China and is governed by the Chinese Football Association...
on October 10, 1977.
MetroStars
Formoso was also a part of the MetroStarsMetrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
marketing department from at least 1988 until his firing in 2001.http://lmtonline.com/sports/archive/120898/pageb2.pdf
Formoso was inducted into the Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County, New Jersey
Hudson County is the smallest county in New Jersey and one of the most densely populated in United States. It takes its name from the Hudson River, which creates part of its eastern border. Part of the New York metropolitan area, its county seat and largest city is Jersey City.- Municipalities...
Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.http://www.hciaa.com/hall_of_fame.html