THE INDOOR SOCCER HALL OF FAME:

FORWARDS
STEVE ZUNGUL        BRANKO SEGOTA       STAN STAMENKOVIC       TATU             STAN TERLECKI                            
HECTOR MARINARO        ERIC RASMUSSEN        JULI VEEE         KAI HAASKIVI      KARL HEINTZ-GRANITZA

MIDFIELD
BRIAN QUINN     LUIS ALBERTO    GERRY GRAY        CHICO BORJA         ZORAN KARIC                        

DEFENDERS
KIM ROENTVED            DARYL DORAN          DOC LAWSON           FLEMMING LUND          TONY BELLINGER
JOHN O' HARA          KEVIN CROW            VAL TUKSA

GOALKEEPERS
SLOBO ILIJEVSKI          VICTOR NOGUEIRA         ZOLTAN TOTH               SHEP MESSING              ALAN MAYER
JIM GORSEK            SCOTT MANNING         CRIS VACCARO          KEITH VAN ERON            KRYS SOBIESKI
MIKE DOWLER

Before We Get To The Indoor Greats Lets do some Indoor Trivia!

The Answers To These Questions Is At The Bottom Of  The Page    (If you get all of these right you are a hardcore fan!)

1. Who kicked out the first ball at the inaugural MISL game in December 1978?

2. What is Brian Quinn's shoe size?

3.  Where was the 1981 MISL All-star game held?

4.  Name all the Teams that David Brcic played on!

5.  Which announcer would say "Remember folks to be a good sport, be a good sport always" at the end of his broadcasts?

6.  What Player represented Northern Ireland in table tennis as well as soccer?

7.  What was the name of the stuffed parrot Tino Letteiri put in the net when he played goal?

8.  How many consecutive years did the St. Louis Steamers outdraw the NHL Blues at the St. Louis Arena

9.  What team did Eusebio play 5 games for in the 1979-80 season?

10.  What did the MC stand for that the Pittsburgh Spirit had on the sleeves of their jerseys?

STEVE ZUNGUL- The most prolific scorer in the history of indoor soccer, and simply the greatest indoor soccer player to EVER live. Slavisa Zungul was born on July 28th 1954 in Split, Yugoslavia, and turned professional when he was 17 playing for Hajduk Split. In seven years with the team he scored 250 goals (leading the club every year) and led them to three championships. At this same time Steve played for the Yugoslavian National team where he scored in nearly every game he played. Because Steve had not fulfilled military obligations he was never allowed to play for the national team in a world cup. One can only imagine what his legend may have become if he had. Upon arriving in the U.S. for the inaugural season of the MISL in 1978 Steve quickly established himself, and led the New York Arrows to the leagues first four championship titles. Later given the title "The Lord of All Indoors" Zungul holds the record for goals, assists, and points for the original MISL. Unfortunately his passing skills are not noted that much, due to his amazing scoring prowess, but passing may have been his greatest asset, especially in the later years of his career when he was much slower. Any game tapes with Steve Zungul are always a pleasure to view.

STAN STAMENKOVIC- Born January 31 1956 in Yugoslavia, Stan starred for Yugoslavian fist division powerhouse Red Star Belgrade before coming to they United States. One of the greatest ball handlers the world of soccer has ever known indoor or out, Stan did things with the ball that no one before or since him has been able to do. One thing that makes it even more remarkable was that he did not have a typical athletes build. Although average in height Stamenkovic was always chubby and was given the nickname Stan the pizza man for his love of food. Another nickname he had was the magician. Although he only was on one championship team in his relatively short career, he was the MISL ALL-STAR game MVP three years in a row! Sadly Stan died in 1996 in his native Yugoslavia when he slipped on some ice after a "night out playing cards" at a local pub.

TATU- Tatu was born Anthonio Carlos Pecorari in Mairinque, Brazil on February 2nd 1962. His name means little armiadillo in Portuguese. Upon arriving in the United States he played outdoor soccer in the NASL, but soon after went to the Dallas Sidekicks of the Major Indoor Soccer League where he quickly became a fan favorite everywhere for his flashy style that included throwing his jersey into the stands as a sovanier after every goal he scored. Tatu has accumulated more goals in pro indoor soccer than anyone ever, and that has meant lots of jerseys for the fans. Besides just scoring lots of goals he has led the Sidekicks to several championships in different leagues. A great reader of the game Tatu has been the head coach of the Sidekicks for several years. When he was at the top of his game Tatu could take control like no one else with maybe the exception of a Stamenkovic or a Zungul. Three players would often mark him to no avail. A true legend of indoor soccer.

HECTOR MARINARO- Born December 6th 1964 in Toronto, Canada. Hector is indoor soccer's overall all-time leading scorer. After having a relatively slow start to his indoor career in the mid 80's, quickly catapulted to the top of the goal scorers list in the early 90's with a big help from a great passer named Zoran Karic ( The two were dubbed the dynamic duo). Having great speed and a deadly accurate shot helped in making several championship squads for the Cleveland Crunch in the 90's.

KIM ROENTVED- Born May 9th, 1960 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Kim is one of the great two-way players indoor soccer has known. Known not only for his defending where he won several defender of the year awards over his career, but also as an attacker. Kim is second all-time in games played with 731, 31st all-time in goals scored with 380, 13th all-time in assists with 437 and 6th all-time in shots blocked with 945. With these great stats at both ends of the field it is no surprise that Kim was an all-star an amazing 17 TIMES!!!!!!!

BRANKO SEGOTA- Born June 8th, 1961 in Rijeka, Yugoslavia Branko's family moved to Canada when he was very young. Branko's career found him winning MISL titles 10 times out of 14 years in the league. The second leading scorer behind only Zungul, Branko had to live in Steve's shadow alot because of playing on the same team several seasons. Branko possesed one of the leagues most lethal and accurate shots.

CHICO BORJA-Hernan Borja was born August 24th, 1959 in Quito, Equador. Borja was a superb player on both ends of the field with blazing speed and great ball skills. Although his aggressive play would often land Chico in the penalty box he was a player who gave 110% every time out. Watching a celebration alone after one of his scores always sent the crowd into a frenzy! He was a player loved at home, and always hated by fans in opposing cities.

SOME NOT SO ALL-TIME GREATS: THE ALL-TIME DIVE TEAM:

1. Ade Coker- when players would get within two feet of him he would fall to the ground like he was hit by a bus.

2. Zoran Karic- as is the case with most scorers he knew how to draw a foul, except he took it to a whole new level.

3. Tatu- spent almost as much time with his hands in the air looking for a foul as he did whipping off the shirt after a goal.

                                                           THE ALL-TIME GOON TEAM:

1. Omar Gomez- probably the all-time most hated player by other players.  Omar would use his elbows, feet, head and anything else he could to hurt an opposing player, this is the main reason such a talented player made the all-star team only once in his career.

2. Denny Vanniger- although played in only 10 career games he solidified himself on this list by making a classic goon move, and football style tackling Dave D'errico from behind in the 2004 legends game at all-star weekend.  As a player he was known to take lots of cheap shots,  in one game I have on tape he decides to kick an opposing players legs out from underneath when walking the other direction, after the game had ended!

3. Lee Tschantret- dubbed beetlejuice for the insane hairdo Lee used to wear, he has consistently been a penalty minute leader throughout his entire career.  Although he hustles as much as fouls, the penalty box has never been far from Mr. Tschantret.

My choices for an all-time indoor team:

forward: Steve Zungul- Stan Stamenkovic

Midfield: Juli Veee- Chico Borja

Defenders- Kim Roentved- Daryl Doran

Goalkeepers- Slobo Ilijevski- Zoltan Toth

SLOBO ILIJEVSKI'S CHOICES FOR AN ALL-TIME INDOOR TEAM:

Forward- Steve Zungul, Stan Stamenkovic

Midfield-Branko Segota, Brian Quinn, and Eric Rasmussen

Defenders- Carl Rose, Kim Roentved

Goalkeepers- Zoltan Toth, Victor Nogueria

DARYL DORAN'S CHOICES FOR AN ALL-TIME INDOOR TEAM:

Forward-Steve Zungul, Stan Stamenkovic

Midfield-Brian Quinn

Defenders- Kim Roentved, Tony Bellinger, Daryl Doran, Sean Bowers

Goalkeepers- Slobo Ilijevski, Victor Nogueria

TIM WALTER'S CHOICES FOR AN ALL-TIME INDOOR TEAM:

Zungal,,,,,Stamenkovic,,,,Segota,Christiansen,
Roentved...............Doran..no keeper comes to mind

OSCAR ALBUQUERQUE'S CHOICES FOR AN ALL-TIME INDOOR TEAM:

Zoltan Toth

Fernando Clavijo, Kim Roentved

Luis Alberto

Zungul and Segota

RON NEWMAN WHEN ASKED WHO HE WOULD CHOOSE FOR AN ALL-TIME INDOOR TEAM:

Tim,
when we try to select the very best we have to consider their best performances at the height of their careers.
Preki and Stan the man were perhaps the best ever to play the game right behind them must be Zungal and Veee. Having said that I cannot believe that I did not mention the great Kaz Deyna. Kaz was once voted the third best player in the world behind Franz Beckenbauer and Cryuff. Kaz was a little late in adapting to the hybrid game but once he mastered it he was incredible.
But how can Tatu be left off the list-maybe because he played so long one forgets what he was like in his prime.
The best defenders was Kevin Crowe and Kim Roentved.
Midfield was Rasmussen and Quinn with Ben Collins (silk) needing a mention.
In the early days Hugo Perez was superb.
Victor and Zoltan are easier to pick in goal even though Brett Phillips turned in some of the best performances I ever saw.
And I haven't mentioned Branko Segota.

As my memories come flooding back i remember so many great players so i will stop here.
all the best
Ron

ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE

1. Pete Rose

2. 7.5

3. Madison Square Garden

4. The New York Cosmos, Wichita Wings, Pittsburgh Spirit, Los Angeles Lazers, Kansas City Comets, and the St. Louis Storm

5. Bob Robertson of the Tacoma Stars

6.  Victor Moreland

7.  Ozzie

8.  5 Years

9.  The Buffalo Stallions

10.  Mickey Cave, a Spirit player who had died

PLAYER NICKNAMES:

Steve Zungul- The Lord Of All Indoors, the Scoring Machine

Alan Mayer- The Cat

Kai Haaskivi- The Flying Fin

Adrian Brooks- The Blond Bomber

Omar Gomez- El Indio

Carl Rose- The Pearl

Branko Segota- The Lazer

Greg Makowski- Face

Lee Tschantret- Beetlejuice

Ralph Black- Heart and Soul

Jorgen Kristensen- The Magician

Mike Stankovic- The Prince

Juli Veee- Double Deuce, Triple E

Tony Glavin- The Pocket Rocket, Wee Man

Slobo Ilijevski- The Ageless Wonder

Doug Neely- Tubes

Stan Stamenkovic- The Pizza man, the Magician

Kim Roentved- The Rocket

Steve Buttle- Thin Man

Ben Collins- Silk

Ricky Davis- Captain America

Chris Kenny- The Rock

Pato Margetic- The Magic Man

Clyde Best- Big Daddy

MORE TO COME!!!!!!!!!