Wally Ziaja

Infobox Football biography
playername= Wally Ziaja


fullname = Walter Ziaja
nickname =
dateofbirth =
cityofbirth =
countryofbirth = Austria
height =
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position =
youthyears =
youthclubs =
years = 1973
1974
clubs = Atlanta Chiefs
Denver Dynamos
caps(goals) = 1 (0)
5 (0)
nationalyears = 1973
nationalteam = United States
nationalcaps(goals) = 4 (0)
manageryears =
managerclubs = Arrowhead High School
Whitefish Bay High School
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Walter “Wally” Ziaja (born in Austria) is a former U.S. soccer player. He spent two seasons in the North American Soccer League and was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics. He also earned four caps with the U.S. national team between 1971 and 1973.

Olympic and national teams

Ziaja was selected to play with the U.S. team at 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. The U.S. went 0-2-1 in group play and failed to qualify for the second round. Ziaja played only one match, the 7-0 loss to West Germany. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1972f-det.html 1972 Olympic Soccer] ] He earned his first cap on March 20, 1973 in a 4-0 loss to Poland. His last game was a 2-0 loss to Israel on November 15, 1973. [ [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/usa-intres-det70.html USA - Details of International Matches 1970-1979] ]

NASL

In 1973, Ziaja signed with the Atlanta Chiefs of the North American Soccer League (NASL). At the end of the season, the Chiefs moved to Denver where it became the Denver Dynamos. Ziaja played the 1974 NASL season with the Dynamo then left the league. [ [http://nasljerseys.com/Players/xyz/Zaija.Wally.htm NASL Player Statistics] ]

Coaching

Ziaja later went on to coach at Arrowhead High School. In 2002, he became the girl’s soccer at Whitefish Bay High School.

He is a member of the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame. [ [http://www.wisoccer.org/Hall_Of_Fame/WASA_HOF_By_Last_Name.htm#Z Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame] ]

External links

* [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-6634292.html Article on Ziaja’s recreational team]

References