- Mike Connell (soccer)
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Mike Connell Personal information Date of birth November 1, 1956 Place of birth Johannesburg, South Africa Playing position Defender Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1972-1975 Rangers Johannesburg 1975-1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies 252 (8) 1979-1984 Tampa Bay Rowdies (indoor) 75 (13) * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).Mike Connell (born November 1, 1956 in Mayfair, Johannesburg, South Africa) is a former professional footballer. He played in his native South Africa as well as in the North American Soccer League.
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Youth
Connell grew up playing street soccer in Mayfair and attending Rangers F.C. games at Bloch Park. Playing in black and white striped shirts of the Rangers Club was a must for any kid from the neighborhood and Connell was no different. Connell spent most Sundays from 9am to 5pm watching and playing pick soccer at Bloch Park. When he was nine, he was recruited into a U-11 team which practiced in the park. As luck had it his first game would be against the rivals of Rangers. Highlands Park was a team from the northern suburbs. The game would be played as a first curtain raiser before a Rangers professional game and it would be played on the Rand Stadium. Although they were beat 9-2 that days Mike scored both goals and so began his journey to becoming a professional soccer player.
National team
Through the early 1970s, Connell was selected to the all star teams and in 1971 and 1972 was selected to the South African Schoolboy team. At the time South Africa was suspended from FIFA and no international games could be played.
Professional
Alex Forbes, the manager of the professional team brought Mike into the first team squad. His full professional debut was made in 1972 at the age of 16 against Durban City. In 1973 Mike was invited to go on trial with Arsenal in England. He spent 6 months on trial but was not signed.[citation needed] He returned to Rangers. In 1974 Eddie Firmani, the new coach of the Tampa Bay Rowdies in Tampa USA, was scouting for players in South Africa. Rangers was playing Arcadia Shepherds who featured Steve Wegerle. After Mike was substituted his father confronted Alex Forbes on the field. An act Eddie Firmani realised gave him opportunity to get Mike. In 1975 at the age of 18 Mike arrived in Tampa Florida USA.[1] He played every season for the Rowdies until the NASL collapsed in 1984. His years with the team included one championship, in 1975, and two runner-ups, in 1978 and 1979. He was a 1979 and 1980 First Team All Star and a 1982 Honorable Mention All Star.
Coach
In the mid-1980s, Connell became the head coach of the Clearwater Central Catholic High School boys' team.
He has a wife, Kim, and a daughter, Ashton, and a son, Michael. They currently reside in Lutz, Florida.
References
External links
Categories:- 1956 births
- Living people
- Anglo-African people
- American soccer players
- American people of South African descent
- Expatriate soccer players in the United States
- NASL indoor players
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- North American Soccer League players
- People from Johannesburg
- South African emigrants to the United States
- South African association football players
- South African people of Irish descent
- South African people of British descent
- Tampa Bay Rowdies (NASL) players
- White South African people
- White South African association football players
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