Tim Hanley
Encyclopedia
Tim Hanley was a U.S. soccer goalkeeper
who played in the North American Soccer League
and Europe. He is a long time Major League Soccer
goalkeeper coach.
and began playing soccer in 1974. He was fourteen at the time. In his words, “I played one half in the field, hated it and moved into nets until I retired from the
professional ranks ten years later.” Hanley graduated from Los Altos High School
in 1978 and entered Foothill College
, a two year community college in Los Altos Hills. Although a junior college, Foothills at the time boasted one of the best college team in California. In 1980, he trained briefly with Blackburn F.C., playing one reserve game, and with Blackpool F.C.
After the fall 1980 collegiate season, Hanley decided against transferring to an NCAA college in favor of turning professional.
of Major Indoor Soccer League
and the Golden Gate Gales
of the American Soccer League
both drafted him. However, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 1980-1981 North American Soccer League
(NASL) indoor season. In 1981, San Jose Earthquakes
starting goalkeeper Mike Hewitt
broke his thumb. The team quickly moved to sign Hanley as a backup, but he ended up playing several games during the 1981 season. In 1982, he moved to Hibernian F.C.
of the Scottish Football League
. At the time, American players found it nearly impossible to gain contracts with European teams. As a result, Hanley played for Hibernian “on trial”. The team paid for his lodging, meals and provided him with a small cash salary. In 1983, he returned to the Earthquakes were he played the last two seasons of the NASL. Following the collapse of the league in 1984, he moved to Servette F.C. in the Swiss First Division. Once again, he found himself paid on a cash basis without a contract. With a wife to support, he elected to retire from playing professionally and turn to coaching.
and Silicon Valley Ambassadors
. In 1997, Hanley was hired as the goalkeeper coach for the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer
. He remained with the team every year, except 2000, through its name change in 1999 to the Earthquakes and its move in 2006 to Houston where it became the Houston Dynamo
. In July 2006, he left the Houston Dynamo to move to the Los Angeles Galaxy
. He was released from the team in August 2007. In 2002, Stanford University
hired Hanley as the goalkeeper coach for its men’s soccer team. He has also held positions with several northern Californian youth clubs such as: The Stanford Quake and Palo Alto Blue 93. Hanley was re-hired by the Dynamo as the goalkeeper coach at the beginning of the 2009 season where he remains.
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 Europe. He is a long time Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
goalkeeper coach.
Youth
Hanley grew up in Los Altos, CaliforniaLos Altos, California
Los Altos is a city at the southern end of the San Francisco Peninsula, in the San Francisco Bay Area. The city is in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 28,976 according to the 2010 census....
and began playing soccer in 1974. He was fourteen at the time. In his words, “I played one half in the field, hated it and moved into nets until I retired from the
professional ranks ten years later.” Hanley graduated from Los Altos High School
Los Altos High School (Los Altos, California)
Los Altos High School, established in 1954, is a public school located in the affluent Silicon Valley suburb of Los Altos, California. It has generally demonstrated a high level of academic achievement...
in 1978 and entered Foothill College
Foothill College
Foothill College is a community college located in Los Altos Hills, California and is part of the Foothill-De Anza Community College District. It was founded on January 15, 1957 by Founding Superintendent and President Dr. Calvin C. Flint.-History:...
, a two year community college in Los Altos Hills. Although a junior college, Foothills at the time boasted one of the best college team in California. In 1980, he trained briefly with Blackburn F.C., playing one reserve game, and with Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool F.C.
Blackpool Football Club are an English football club founded in 1887 from the Lancashire seaside town of Blackpool. They are competing in the 2011–12 season of the The Championship, the second tier of professional football in England, having been relegated from the Premier League at the end of the...
After the fall 1980 collegiate season, Hanley decided against transferring to an NCAA college in favor of turning professional.
Professional
When Hanley turned professional, he had several options. The San Francisco FogSan Francisco Fog (MISL)
The San Francisco Fog was a Major Indoor Soccer League franchise which existed for only one season, 1980-1981.-History:The Fog, which played their home games at the Cow Palace, finished their single season of existence at 11-29...
of 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...
and the Golden Gate Gales
Golden Gate Gales
The Golden Gate Gales was an American soccer club based in Oakland, California that was a member of the American Soccer League. In their only season, Mal Roche was top scorer in the league with 17 goals....
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...
both drafted him. However, he signed with the Tampa Bay Rowdies for the 1980-1981 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) indoor season. In 1981, 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...
starting goalkeeper Mike Hewitt
Mike Hewitt
Mike Hewitt is a Canadian author of financial articles and founder of DollarDaze.org, a website on the instability of the global fiat monetary system and investment strategies on mining companies....
broke his thumb. The team quickly moved to sign Hanley as a backup, but he ended up playing several games during the 1981 season. In 1982, he moved to Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
of the Scottish Football League
Scottish Football League
The Scottish Football League is a league of football teams in Scotland, comprising theScottish First Division, Scottish Second Division and Scottish Third Division. From the league's foundation in 1890 until the breakaway Scottish Premier League was formed in 1998, the Scottish Football League...
. At the time, American players found it nearly impossible to gain contracts with European teams. As a result, Hanley played for Hibernian “on trial”. The team paid for his lodging, meals and provided him with a small cash salary. In 1983, he returned to the Earthquakes were he played the last two seasons of the NASL. Following the collapse of the league in 1984, he moved to Servette F.C. in the Swiss First Division. Once again, he found himself paid on a cash basis without a contract. With a wife to support, he elected to retire from playing professionally and turn to coaching.
Coach
In 1985, Hanley began his career as a goalkeeper coach. He served in that capacity in the A-League and Premier Development League for teams including the, California JaguarsCalifornia Jaguars
California Jaguars were an American soccer team that played in Salinas, California at the Salinas Sports Complex.They joined the USISL in 1995 as the Monterey Bay Jaguars, but changed the name a year later...
and Silicon Valley Ambassadors
Silicon Valley Ambassadors
The Silicon Valley Ambassadors were an American soccer team based in Los Altos Hills, California that played in the USISL. The club played in the USISL Premier League, Western Conference, Southwest Division in 1998-1999. General manager and club owner was Silvian Centiu. head coach Joe Silveira...
. In 1997, Hanley was hired as the goalkeeper coach for the San Jose Clash of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. He remained with the team every year, except 2000, through its name change in 1999 to the Earthquakes and its move in 2006 to Houston where it became the Houston Dynamo
Houston Dynamo
The Houston Dynamo is an American professional soccer club, based in Houston, Texas, that plays in Major League Soccer, the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Founded in 2005 as Houston 1836, the team name was renamed to Houston Dynamo following protests from Hispanic...
. In July 2006, he left the Houston Dynamo to move to the Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
. He was released from the team in August 2007. In 2002, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
hired Hanley as the goalkeeper coach for its men’s soccer team. He has also held positions with several northern Californian youth clubs such as: The Stanford Quake and Palo Alto Blue 93. Hanley was re-hired by the Dynamo as the goalkeeper coach at the beginning of the 2009 season where he remains.