Zoltán Tóth (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Zoltán Tóth is a former soccer goalkeeper
and current coach. He played for Ujpest
in Budapest
from 1975 to 1979 and once played for the Hungarian national team in 1979.
, who played fifteen times with the Hungarian national football team between 1938 and 1949. Tóth's talent was apparent early and he eventually also saw time with the Hungarian national football team himself. On a tour with the team in Cadiz, Spain in 1979, Tóth defected and moved to the U.S.http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060103/news_1s3p-preptu.html He also played on the Hungarian Olympic team.
club Újpest FC
. As one of the top Hungarian clubs, Újpest regularly played in the UEFA Cup
and European Cup
. They twice won the Hungarian national championship during Tóth's time, 1977–78 and 1978-79. In 1979, Tóth signed with the New York Arrows
of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL) for the 1980-1981 season and got his start when Arrows' goalkeeper Shep Messing
was injured. He was the 1982-1983 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. Won 14 lost 2 in 1980-81 and won 15 lost 2 in 1981-82 season. Best winning percentage of all time. In 1984, he transferred to the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League
. He kept 7 clean sheets out of 10 games. The Sockers then moved to the MISL. Toth remained with the Sockers through the 1989-1990 season. He was selected as the MISL Goalkeeper of the Decade for the 1980s. He holds the league record for wins and goals against average
. He then played for the St. Louis Storm
from 1990 to 1992.
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...
and current coach. He played for Ujpest
Újpest FC
Újpest Football Club , earlier known as Újpesti TE and Újpesti Dózsa, is a Hungarian football club, based in Újpest, Budapest. The club's colours are purple and white...
in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
from 1975 to 1979 and once played for the Hungarian national team in 1979.
Life in Hungary
Tóth was born in Hungary to György TóthGyörgy Tóth
György Tóth was a formerHungarian footballer who played for Salgótarjáni SE, Szeged FC, Gamma FC, Újpest FC and MTK as a goalkeeper.He coached the Mali national football team.-References:...
, who played fifteen times with the Hungarian national football team between 1938 and 1949. Tóth's talent was apparent early and he eventually also saw time with the Hungarian national football team himself. On a tour with the team in Cadiz, Spain in 1979, Tóth defected and moved to the U.S.http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20060103/news_1s3p-preptu.html He also played on the Hungarian Olympic team.
Professional
In addition to his national team time, Tóth spent four seasons with Hungarian First DivisionHungarian League
The Nemzeti Bajnokság is a Hungarian professional league for association football clubs. The league is currently known as the OTP Bank Liga for sponsorship reasons, and it is the highest level of professional league since its inception in 1901. UEFA currently ranks the league 35th in Europe.Sixteen...
club Újpest FC
Újpest FC
Újpest Football Club , earlier known as Újpesti TE and Újpesti Dózsa, is a Hungarian football club, based in Újpest, Budapest. The club's colours are purple and white...
. As one of the top Hungarian clubs, Újpest regularly played in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
and European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
. They twice won the Hungarian national championship during Tóth's time, 1977–78 and 1978-79. In 1979, Tóth signed with the New York Arrows
New York Arrows
The New York Arrows was an indoor soccer team that played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1978 to 1984. They won the first four MISL championships.-Preparing for the first season:...
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...
(MISL) for the 1980-1981 season and got his start when Arrows' goalkeeper Shep Messing
Shep Messing
Shep Messing is a former American soccer goalkeeper and current broadcaster. He played seven seasons in the North American Soccer League and six in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a member of the U.S...
was injured. He was the 1982-1983 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year. Won 14 lost 2 in 1980-81 and won 15 lost 2 in 1981-82 season. Best winning percentage of all time. In 1984, he transferred to the San Diego Sockers 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 kept 7 clean sheets out of 10 games. The Sockers then moved to the MISL. Toth remained with the Sockers through the 1989-1990 season. He was selected as the MISL Goalkeeper of the Decade for the 1980s. He holds the league record for wins and goals against average
Goals against average
Goals Against Average is a statistic used in ice hockey, water polo, lacrosse, and soccer that is the mean of goals allowed per game by a goaltender....
. He then played for 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...
from 1990 to 1992.
Coaching career
- 1980 to 1982 Geza Henni Goalkeeper School Rhode Island University Goalkeeper coach Professional goalkeeper instructions
- 1984 to 1990 San Diego Sockers Youth Soccer Programs San Diego, CA.
- 1990 to 1992 American All-Stars Co., San Diego, CA. Youth Sports Athletic Director Responsible for team clinics, goalkeeper training
- 1992 to 1993 Full time professional coach. San Diego, California San Dieguito Surf U-16 boys and U-9 girls head coach Coached teams with success, winning Presidio Cup and North Huntington Beach tournament.
- 1993 to 1996 coach of the Encinitas Express U-11 boys teams
- 1997 - 2000 coach of the Fallbrook Fury Soccer Club U-14 boys. Advise for Fallbrook’s AAA U-10 boy’s team.
- 2000 SWSC Bu/19 team
- 2002 - 2007 Goalkeeper coach Vista Soccer Club
- 2002 - 2007 - Goalkeeper coach TVSA Temecula Murrieta Soccer Club
- 2005 - 2007 - Goalkeeper coach Fallbrook Fury