Slobo Ilijevski
Encyclopedia
Slobodan "Slobo" Ilijevski (Macedonian Cyrillic: Слободан Илијевски Слобо) (October 24, 1949 in Skopje
, Yugoslavia
- July 14, 2008 in Bellingham, Washington
) was a Yugoslavian-American football (soccer)
goalkeeper
who played in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1977, Ilijevski moved to the United States and settled with extended family in Detroit, Michigan
. In 1978, he signed with the Detroit Express
of the North American Soccer League
. After two seasons with the Express, Ilijevski moved to the Atlanta Chiefs
for one season before moving to the indoor game with the St. Louis Steamers
of the Major Indoor Soccer League in the fall of 1980. He would spend the rest of his professional career playing indoor soccer. He played seven seasons with the Steamers and was named the 1982 and 1984 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. The Steamers folded after the 1987-1988 season and Ilijevski moved to the Baltimore Blast for one season before returning to St. Louis to sign with the St. Louis Storm
in August 1989. In 1992, he moved to the St. Louis Ambush
of the National Professional Soccer League. After his retirement from professional soccer, Ilijevski continued to play amateur soccer with St. Louis Kutis S.C.
In December 1990, Ilijevski became an American citizen. On July 13, 2008, Ilijevski ruptured his aorta while playing goalkeeper for St. Louis Kutis in a game in Seattle, Washington
. He died after thirteen hours of surgery.
Skopje
Skopje is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Macedonia with about a third of the total population. It is the country's political, cultural, economic, and academic centre...
, Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia refers to three political entities that existed successively on the western part of the Balkans during most of the 20th century....
- July 14, 2008 in Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham, Washington
Bellingham is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Whatcom County in the U.S. state of Washington. It is the twelfth-largest city in the state. Situated on Bellingham Bay, Bellingham is protected by Lummi Island, Portage Island, and the Lummi Peninsula, and opens onto the Strait of Georgia...
) was a Yugoslavian-American football (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...
goalkeeper
Goalkeeper (football)
In association football, the goalkeeper occupies a position that represents the last line of defence between the opponent's offence and his own team's goal. The primary role of the goalkeeper is to defend his team's goal and prevent the opposition from scoring a goal...
who played 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 Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1977, Ilijevski moved to the United States and settled with extended family in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. In 1978, he signed with the Detroit Express
Detroit Express
The Detroit Express was a soccer team based in suburban Detroit that played in the now defunct North American Soccer League from 1978 to 1980. Its home field was the Pontiac Silverdome. The Express were co-owned and directed by famous English soccer pundit Jimmy Hill who was also the managing...
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:...
. After two seasons with the Express, Ilijevski moved to the Atlanta Chiefs
Atlanta Chiefs
The Atlanta Chiefs were a soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia that played in the NPSL and NASL from 1967 to 1972. Their home fields were Atlanta Stadium and Tara Stadium . The club was the brainchild of Dick Cecil, then Vice President of the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise who were the Chiefs'...
for one season before moving to the indoor game with 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...
of the Major Indoor Soccer League in the fall of 1980. He would spend the rest of his professional career playing indoor soccer. He played seven seasons with the Steamers and was named the 1982 and 1984 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. The Steamers folded after the 1987-1988 season and Ilijevski moved to the Baltimore Blast for one season before returning to St. Louis to sign with the St. Louis Storm
St. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
in August 1989. In 1992, he moved to the St. Louis Ambush
St. Louis Ambush
The St. Louis Ambush was a professional indoor soccer team based in St. Louis, Missouri. Originally located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the team played one season at the Tulsas Pavilion Expo Square. Vernon Riggs was the General Manager. Keith Dial was the Managing General Partner. Former Tulsa Roughneck...
of the National Professional Soccer League. After his retirement from professional soccer, Ilijevski continued to play amateur soccer with St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis S.C.
St. Louis Kutis Soccer Club, better known as St. Louis Kutis, is an amateur American soccer club in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1947 as the St. Louis Raiders, the club was known as Paul Schulte during the 1948-49 season and McMahon's during the 1949-50 season. In 1953, the team was renamed...
In December 1990, Ilijevski became an American citizen. On July 13, 2008, Ilijevski ruptured his aorta while playing goalkeeper for St. Louis Kutis in a game in Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. He died after thirteen hours of surgery.