Timo Liekoski
Encyclopedia
Timo Liekoski is a Finnish soccer coach who managed teams in the North American Soccer League
, Major Indoor Soccer League
, American Indoor Soccer Association and Major League Soccer
. He currently holds a variety of coaching positions with the Football Association of Finland
.
noticed him watching Miller and his team mates practicing. At the time Miller played for the amateur Kingston Kickers and coached at the State University of New York at New Paltz
. Miller invited Liekoski, a goalkeeper, to join the Kingston Kickers. After Liekoski proved his worth, Miller then recruited him into the New Paltz State soccer team. Miller moved to Hartwick College
after Liekoski's freshman season, and took Liekoski with him. Liekoski sat out a season, per NCAA rules, then played his sophomore and junior seasons as the Hawks starting goalkeeper. After breaking his wrist during the preseason to his senior year, Liekoski moved to defender where he was a second team All American. He graduated in 1971 with a bachelors degree in economics and later earned a masters degree in education from Whittier College
.
men's soccer team. He lasted only two seasons and compiled a 30-9-7 record. He took the Hawks to the 1974 NCAA Final Four and was inducted into the Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
of the North American Soccer League
. He brought Liekoski in as an assistant that year. In 1978, he became the head coach of the Houston Hurricane
. That fall, Liekoski became the head coach of the Houston Summit, a team in the newly established Major Indoor Soccer League
. He took the Summit to a league leading 18-6 record and gained MISL Coach of the Year honors. He followed this in 1979 when he coached the Hurricane to an unexpected 22-8 record and was named the 1979 NASL Coach of the Year. The Edmonton Drillers hired Liekoski in 1980. Liekoski took the team, which had finished the 1979 season at 8-22 to 17-15 in 1980. He then took the Drillers to the 1980-1981 NASL indoor championship. However, when Edmonton began the 1981 season at 6-12, the team fired him on June 22, 1981. In September 1981, the expansion New Jersey Rockets
hired Liekoski. In February 1982, the Rockets fired him after the team started with a 4-13 record. In July 1982, the Cleveland Force hired Liekoski. He coached the Force until July 1988 when the team folded. On September 26, 1988, the Canton Invaders
of the American Indoor Soccer Association signed Liekoski to a one year contract, with an option for a second year. He took the Invaders to the 1989 and 1990 championships.
. In October 1994, he was named as head coach of the U.S. Olympic soccer team as it prepared for the 1996 Summer Olympics
. After losing three games without scoring a goal at the 1995 Pan American games
, then finishing ninth at the 1995 World University Games
, Liekoski was fired in September 1995.
of Major League Soccer
hired Liekoski as the team's first coach. On August 3, 1996, Liekoski resigned after the Crew began the season at 6-16. He then returned to Finland where he coached Myllykosken Pallo in 1997.
and has held a variety of national coaching positions. In 1999, he coached the Finland national futsal team
. He also headed the Finland national under-17 football team
.
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:...
, 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...
, American Indoor Soccer Association and 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 currently holds a variety of coaching positions with the Football Association of Finland
Football Association of Finland
The Football Association of Finland is the governing body of football in Finland. It was founded in 1907, and was also the governing body of bandy in Finland until the bandy association, Suomen Jääpalloliitto, was founded in 1972....
.
Player
A native of Finland, Liekoski was drafted into the Finnish army when he was eighteen. After completing his service two years later, he moved to the United States. In 1964, Liekoski was working as a dishwasher when Al MillerAl Miller (soccer)
Al Miller is a former U.S. collegiate and professional soccer coach. After leaving coaching, he then became a general manager for two indoor soccer clubs in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.-Youth:Miller was born in Lebanon, Pennsylvania and grew up in Ono,...
noticed him watching Miller and his team mates practicing. At the time Miller played for the amateur Kingston Kickers and coached at the State University of New York at New Paltz
State University of New York at New Paltz
The State University of New York at New Paltz, known as SUNY New Paltz for short, is a public university in New Paltz, New York. It was founded in 1828 as the School for teaching of classics. In 1885, the New Paltz Normal and Training School was established as a school to prepare teachers for the...
. Miller invited Liekoski, a goalkeeper, to join the Kingston Kickers. After Liekoski proved his worth, Miller then recruited him into the New Paltz State soccer team. Miller moved to Hartwick College
Hartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
after Liekoski's freshman season, and took Liekoski with him. Liekoski sat out a season, per NCAA rules, then played his sophomore and junior seasons as the Hawks starting goalkeeper. After breaking his wrist during the preseason to his senior year, Liekoski moved to defender where he was a second team All American. He graduated in 1971 with a bachelors degree in economics and later earned a masters degree in education from Whittier College
Whittier College
Whittier College is a private liberal arts college in Whittier, California. As of January 2009, the college has approximately 1540 enrolled students.-Overview:...
.
College
Liekoski began his coaching career in 1972 when he served as the first head coach of the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee soccer team. In 1973, Liekoski replaced Miller as head coach of the Hartwick CollegeHartwick College
Hartwick College is a non-denominational, private, four-year liberal arts and sciences college located in Oneonta, New York, in the United States. The institution was founded as Hartwick Seminary in 1797 through the will of John Christopher Hartwick, and is now known as Hartwick College...
men's soccer team. He lasted only two seasons and compiled a 30-9-7 record. He took the Hawks to the 1974 NCAA Final Four and was inducted into the Hartwick College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1995.
Professional
In 1976, Miller became head coach of 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:...
. He brought Liekoski in as an assistant that year. In 1978, he became the head coach of 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....
. That fall, Liekoski became the head coach of the Houston Summit, a team in the newly established 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...
. He took the Summit to a league leading 18-6 record and gained MISL Coach of the Year honors. He followed this in 1979 when he coached the Hurricane to an unexpected 22-8 record and was named the 1979 NASL Coach of the Year. The Edmonton Drillers hired Liekoski in 1980. Liekoski took the team, which had finished the 1979 season at 8-22 to 17-15 in 1980. He then took the Drillers to the 1980-1981 NASL indoor championship. However, when Edmonton began the 1981 season at 6-12, the team fired him on June 22, 1981. In September 1981, the expansion New Jersey Rockets
New Jersey Rockets
The New Jersey Rockets were an indoor soccer team based out of East Rutherford, New Jersey that played in the Major Soccer League for the 1981 season. Their home arena was the Brendan Byrne Arena, now known as the Izod Center...
hired Liekoski. In February 1982, the Rockets fired him after the team started with a 4-13 record. In July 1982, the Cleveland Force hired Liekoski. He coached the Force until July 1988 when the team folded. On September 26, 1988, the Canton Invaders
Canton Invaders
The Canton Invaders was an indoor soccer club based in Canton, Ohio that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Columbus Invaders.- Canton Invaders :...
of the American Indoor Soccer Association signed Liekoski to a one year contract, with an option for a second year. He took the Invaders to the 1989 and 1990 championships.
U.S. national team
In August 1991, Bora Milutinovic, head coach of the U.S. national team brought in Liekoski as his assistant in preparation for a series of European games. He returned to coach the Invaders as they began the 199-1992 season, but took a leave of absence in January 1992 to rejoin the national team. In June 1992, he became left the Invaders and became a full time assistant to Milutinovic. In 1994, Milutinovic and his staff took the national team to the second round of the 1994 FIFA World Cup1994 FIFA World Cup
The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in nine cities across the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. The United States was chosen as the host by FIFA on July 4, 1988...
. In October 1994, he was named as head coach of the U.S. Olympic soccer team as it prepared for the 1996 Summer Olympics
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
. After losing three games without scoring a goal at the 1995 Pan American games
Football at the 1995 Pan American Games
The twelfth edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Mar del Plata, Argentina from March 10 to March 24, 1995. Twelve teams competed, with title defender USA being eliminated in the first round...
, then finishing ninth at the 1995 World University Games
1995 Summer Universiade
The 1995 Summer Universiade, also known as the XVIII Summer Universiade, took place in Fukuoka, Japan.-Emblem:The symbol mark is a motif of "U", expressing passion and energy in the flickering flames of a burning torch...
, Liekoski was fired in September 1995.
Professional
On December 5, 1995, the Columbus CrewColumbus Crew
The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada...
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...
hired Liekoski as the team's first coach. On August 3, 1996, Liekoski resigned after the Crew began the season at 6-16. He then returned to Finland where he coached Myllykosken Pallo in 1997.
Finish national team
In 1998, he was hired by the Football Association of FinlandFootball Association of Finland
The Football Association of Finland is the governing body of football in Finland. It was founded in 1907, and was also the governing body of bandy in Finland until the bandy association, Suomen Jääpalloliitto, was founded in 1972....
and has held a variety of national coaching positions. In 1999, he coached the Finland national futsal team
Finland national futsal team
Finnish national futsal team represents Finland in the international futsal competitions. Team is run under supervision of the Football Association of Finland...
. He also headed the Finland national under-17 football team
Finland national under-17 football team
The Finland national under-17 football team represents Finland in international football competitions in the FIFA U-17 World Cup and the UEFA European Under-17 Football Championship, as well as any other under-17 international football tournaments...
.