- Mark Simpson (soccer)
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Mark Simpson Personal information Date of birth March 18, 1966 Place of birth Schaumburg, Illinois, United States Height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) Playing position Goalkeeper Youth career Eastern Illinois Panthers Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1990 Orlando Lions 1988-1995 Chicago Power (indoor) 1994 Rockford Raptors 1995 Dayton Dynamo (indoor) 12 (1) 1995-1996 Cincinnati Silverbacks (indoor) 15 (0) 1996-2001 D.C. United 53 (0) 1996-1997 Buffalo Blizzard (indoor) 13 (0) 1999 MLS Pro-40 National team 1999 U.S. Futsal 1 (0) Teams managed 2002 D.C. United (assistant) 2003 Virginia Beach Mariners (assistant) 2004- D.C. United (assistant) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Mark Simpson (born March 18, 1966) is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who spent six seasons with D.C. United in Major League Soccer. He backstopped the team to the MLS Cup 1996. He also spent one season in the American Professional Soccer League, two in the USISL and six in the National Professional Soccer League. He earned one cap with the U.S. National Futsal Team in 1999.
Contents
Player
Youth
Simpson attended Eastern Illinois University where he played on the men's soccer team until 1988.
Professional
On June 17, 1988, the Chicago Sting selected Simpson in the third round (25th overall) of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft.[1] The Sting folded a month later and the San Diego Sockers picked up Simpson in the July 1988 dispersal draft.[2] The Sockers did not sign him and Simpson joined the Chicago Power of the American Indoor Soccer Association in October 1988.[3] He played each winter indoor season with the Power until February 1995 when he was traded to the Dayton Dynamo for Jim Adams and future considerations.[4] He finished the 1994-1995 season with Dayton.[5] In 1990, Simpson spent a season outdoors with the Orlando Lions of the American Professional Soccer League.[6] He had also spent the summer of 1994 with the expansion Rockford Raptors of the USISL. In the fall of 1995, Simpson joined the Cincinnati Silverbacks of NPSL.[7] He had attended the MLS Supplemental Combine, but went undrafted in 1996. Intending to play the summer with the Richmond Kickers, he was on trial there when he received a call from D.C. head coach Bruce Arena asking if he wanted to join United. On April 19, 1996, the Silverbacks sent Simpson on loan to D.C. United of Major League Soccer. Although he began the season as a backup, he made five regular season appearances at the end of the season and was Arena’s keeper of choice for the playoffs. On October 20, 1996, he backstopped United to the MLS Championship.[8] He returned to the indoor game for the 1996-1997 indoor season with the Buffalo Blizzard.[9] However, he tore his medial and lateral meniscus thirteen games into the season.[10] He had surgery to repair the damage, but his knee then became infected. This kept him from playing for nearly a year and a half. In 1998, he began his comeback, going on loan to the MLS Pro-40 team and playing two games with D.C. United waived him on October 30, 1998. He returned to playing full time in 1999, spending time with the MLS Pro-40 team in the USISL. United then called him back into the team and he remained with D.C. until his retirement on January 8, 2002.
Futsal
In 1999, he earned one cap with the U.S. National Futsal team.[11]
Coach
In 2002, he was the goalkeeper coach for D.C. United.[12] At the end of the season, he left the team for the Virginia Beach Mariners of the USL A-League. On January 19, 2004, Simpson returned to United as an assistant coach for goalkeeping, a position which he still holds.
References
- ^ ECK, MOSER 2ND-ROUND CHOICES IN MISL DRAFT State Journal-Register, The (Springfield, IL) - Saturday, June 18, 1988
- ^ MISL USA TODAY - Thursday, July 21, 1988
- ^ EX-STING AMONG 6 SIGNED BY POWER Chicago Tribune - Friday, October 21, 1988
- ^ Knowles on top of the game
- ^ NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1994-1995
- ^ 1990 APSL
- ^ NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1995-1996
- ^ 1996 MLS Cup
- ^ NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1996-1997
- ^ D.C. United Goalkeeper Mark Simpson Undergoes Knee Surgery
- ^ Futsal: All Time Player Register
- ^ D.C. names Hudson head coach
External links
Categories:- 1966 births
- Living people
- American Indoor Soccer Association players
- American Professional Soccer League players
- American soccer coaches
- American soccer players
- Buffalo Blizzard players
- Chicago Power players
- Cincinnati Silverbacks players
- Dayton Dynamo players
- D.C. United players
- Eastern Illinois Panthers men's soccer players
- Association football goalkeepers
- Major League Soccer players
- National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) players
- Orlando Lions (ASL/APSL) players
- Rockford Raptors players
- USISL players
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