I usually played sweeper (the last man on defense) but loved to get involved in the offense. I would score many goals from the sweeper position because I would make many opportunistic runs into the offensive third of the field. I enjoyed the freedom to roam the field, but my first responsibility was coordinating the defense. 

Our first year we had a very good coach from Yugoslavia named Ivan who left to coach professionally in the middle East. After that first year, we never had a coach. We had a team manager, Mike Mikacenic from Croatia, who provided and dealt with all the administrative issues, and got us financial support from the Fraternal Order of Eagles club (hence the team name 'Eagles'). The players were experienced and talented soccer players, so we felt we didn't need a coach and it worked well for the Eagles. It must have since we went all the way to US Open Cup Final!

 

As I have gotten older, my memory has faded and I've played so many matches in my life that I can't honestly remember all the details of our opponents and where we traveled. The Eagles had numerous runs in the US Open and US Amateur Cups, winning the Amateur Cup in 1982 and placing 2nd in the 1987 US Open Cup. Usually we entered both Cups, with the difference being professional teams could enter the US Open Cup. Both tournaments were played simultaneously at the same time and locations, so we would enter both and continue playing in each tournament until we got knocked out.  

 

I remember one year Western Regionals were played in Phoenix, and it was 115 degrees, and we had to play two games per day (One game in the US Open & another game in the US Amateur Cup). We advanced to nationals but we definitely did it the difficult way since no other teams entered both Cups simultaneously. We just loved playing but that was insane to play an entire weekend in 115 degree temperatures.

 

Eddie Krueger today.

 

Usually our toughest opponents in the Western Regionals were the Greek Americans from San Francisco. Year after year we would face them and depending how we fared, would advance to nationals where one team from each region (North, South, East & West) would square off against each other for the national championship. I can't remember who we played in the semi-finals but most likely either a Dallas or Virginia team.

 

The 1987 US Open Cup Final was one of those dramatic soccer moments for us. We played a team from Washington DC (Espana) ) to a 0:0 draw, but lost in penalty kicks 3:2.

 

By making the Final of the US Open, we were a United States representative to play in the CONCACAF tournament. Top teams from other countries, such as Mexico, Carribean & South American nations had to qualify also to play in the tournament. Our opponent in the CONCACAF tournament was the elite Mexican pro club Cruz Azul. It was a home & away series to advance in the tournament.

 

It was quite an honor to have a bunch of amateur players playing a top professional team. We didn't do too well against Cruz Azul, losing 9:0 in Mexico City. It was extremely hot and we had a difficult time in the high altitude. You have to realize, the Eagles were an amateur team and everyone had fulltime day jobs. But we redeemed ourselves somewhat when we played the rubber match in Memorial Stadium in Seattle and tied them 0:0.

 

I was very young, 17 years old, and the youngest US player to sign a professional contract at that time when I joined the Sounders in 1977. I had been playing for the US National Youth team for a few years prior to my signing, therefore I had attracted attention to pro teams. The week after I graduated from Seattle Prep high school, I signed a professional contract.

 

Jimmy Johnson was the scout for the Sounders and Jimmy Gabriel was the head coach, and they talked to my dad and myself about wanting me to play for the Sounders. It was an extremely exhilarating feeling to become a pro player since I had dreamed of it since I was a small kid. My dad was instrumental in developing me, coaching me throughout my youth and teen years. We spent many, many hours playing soccer, going to the local school after he got home from work and I would perform shooting drills while he was in goal.

 

My dad also hired some local Sounder players (Pepe Fernandez and Hank Liotart) and they trained me once a week for a few hours teaching me dribbling skills. Playing professionally was a lot of fun and competing with and against some of the top players in the world in the NASL was a privilege. Players such as Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, George Best, Alan Hudson, Hugo Sanchez. Also, it was gratifying to play with local fellow Americans from Seattle such as Jimmy McAlister, Tony Crudo, Jeff Stock, Mark Peterson, Dean Wurzberger, Bernie James...  

Obviously it was very disappointing when the NASL folded, but it was great that FC Seattle emerged from the aftermath. FC Seattle was a totally different team than the Sounders. The Sounders consisted basically of foreign players while FC Seattle was built upon local Seattle players. It was a terrific opportunity for local players to play a high level of soccer that they otherwise wouldn't have had in the NASL. It gave a lot of hope for local talented players and something to strive towards. I really enjoyed my stint with FC Seattle, because the pressure wasn't as great as in the NASL, and I was playing mostly for the pure joy of the game. 

I currently coach my son's U17 boys team in Portland, Oregon area. I coach for an former Seattle Sounder player, Bernie Fagan, who started and built a successful classic soccer organization called Oregon Soccer Academy. I've been coaching my son, Taylor, since he was 5 yrs old. My daughter, Lexie, is also a talented soccer player and has dreams of playing professionally. I think its important to offload the knowledge I've gained and received from the many wonderful youth, high school, and professional coaches I've had and played for.

It's very exciting Seattle has an MLS team. Hopefully this will generate a soccer frenzy in the area. I wish Portland could have received an MLS team also, since Portland and Seattle have had a great rivalry for many years. I attend the Seattle games whenever they play in Portland in the current USL league. Hopefully the Sounders can return to the old NASL days whereby 30,000 fans attended games, and maybe fill up the stadium when David Beckham comes to town. Since my parents and my wife's parents live in the Seattle area, I'll be attending games whenever I can and will be rooting them on.