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Steve Klein (soccer player)
Encyclopedia
Steve Klein is an American soccer player, who last played for the Vancouver Whitecaps of the USL First Division
. He most recently was the head coach of the Lancaster Inferno
in the National Premier Soccer League
.
On January 20, 2010 he was ranked 24th in the USL First Division
Top 25 of the Decade, which announced a list of the best and most influential players of the previous decade.
, and attended Bowling Green State University
in Ohio
, where he started all 4 years and earned First team All-American honors his senior year. He is still BGSU's all-time leading point scorer with 45 assists and 37 goals. His play led BGSU to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA Championships in both his junior and senior years. In 2006, Klein was inducted in the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Klein was drafted by the New England Revolution
in 1997, but saw limited action due to injury. He then played with the Nashville Metros
for a season, the Hershey Wildcats
for two seasons, and then the Charleston Battery
for three seasons.
In 2005, he made the cross-country move to Vancouver, where he started 26 of 27 games and was second on the team in scoring with 18 pts (7 goals, 4 assists). He earned First Team USL for his efforts. In the 2006 campaign, he moved into a more defensive midfield roll, starting all games eligible (27) and leading the team in minutes played during the regular season. While not producing the scoring totals of 2005, he hard work in the trenches earned him Second Team USL honors.
He helped the Caps win their first USL First Division
championship beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos
3-0.
In 2008 Klein was the head coach of the now-defunct National Premier Soccer League
franchise, Lancaster Inferno
.
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He most recently was the head coach of the Lancaster Inferno
Lancaster Inferno
Lancaster Inferno was an American soccer team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid for just one season, until 2008, when the franchise...
in the National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
.
On January 20, 2010 he was ranked 24th in the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Top 25 of the Decade, which announced a list of the best and most influential players of the previous decade.
Playing career
Klein was born in Evansville, IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, and attended Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, where he started all 4 years and earned First team All-American honors his senior year. He is still BGSU's all-time leading point scorer with 45 assists and 37 goals. His play led BGSU to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA Championships in both his junior and senior years. In 2006, Klein was inducted in the BGSU Athletic Hall of Fame.
Klein was drafted by the New England Revolution
New England Revolution
The New England Revolution is an American professional association football club based in Foxborough, Massachusetts which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
in 1997, but saw limited action due to injury. He then played with the Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros
Nashville Metros is an American soccer team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1989, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southeast Division of the Southern Conference...
for a season, the Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats
Hershey Wildcats were a professional soccer team, based in Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA, that played in the USL A-League between 1997 and 2001. The team was owned by Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company...
for two seasons, and then the Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery
Charleston Battery is an American professional soccer team based in Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1993, the team plays in the American Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid....
for three seasons.
In 2005, he made the cross-country move to Vancouver, where he started 26 of 27 games and was second on the team in scoring with 18 pts (7 goals, 4 assists). He earned First Team USL for his efforts. In the 2006 campaign, he moved into a more defensive midfield roll, starting all games eligible (27) and leading the team in minutes played during the regular season. While not producing the scoring totals of 2005, he hard work in the trenches earned him Second Team USL honors.
He helped the Caps win their first USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
championship beating the Rochester Raging Rhinos
Rochester Raging Rhinos
The Rochester Rhinos are an American professional soccer team based in Rochester, New York, United States. Founded in 1996, the team plays in the National Division of the new USL Professional Division, the third tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, having self-relegated from the USSF D2 Pro League...
3-0.
In 2008 Klein was the head coach of the now-defunct National Premier Soccer League
National Premier Soccer League
The National Premier Soccer League is a United States soccer league recognized by the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA as a Division IV league...
franchise, Lancaster Inferno
Lancaster Inferno
Lancaster Inferno was an American soccer team based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 2008, the team played in the National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid for just one season, until 2008, when the franchise...
.
Vancouver Whitecaps
- USL First DivisionUSL First DivisionThe United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
Championship (2): 2006United Soccer Leagues 2006-General:* Miami FC joined the First Division.* The Richmond Kickers departed the First Division for the Second Division.* The Northern Virginia Royals departed the Second Division for the Premier Development League .... - Cascadia CupCascadia CupThe Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
(1): 2005