Robert Meschbach

Infobox Football biography
playername= Robert Meschbach
fullname =
nickname =


dateofbirth =
cityofbirth =
countryofbirth = Canada
height =
position = Midfielder
youthyears = 1977-1980
youthclubs = Indiana
years = 1981-1983
1984
1984
clubs = Fort Lauderdale Strikers
→ Minnesota Strikers
Chicago Sting
caps(goals) = 64 (13)
01 0(0)
18 0(0)
manageryears =
managerclubs =
pcupdate =
ntupdate =

Robert Meschbach is a retired American soccer player of Austrian heritage.

High School

Robert Meschbach was an All-American at Gordon Tech High School in Chicago, Illinois. In two seasons, he scored 105 goals. Seventy-one of those goals were scored in his final season, then a national record. Meschbach played for Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga and Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga but turned down a contract offer in lieu of a scholarship at Indiana University.

College

At Indiana University, Meschbach became a 1st team All-American in 1980, and runner-up for the Hermann Award (the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy). Meschbach had 61 total goals while at IU, leading the nation in scoring his senior year with 27. During his tenure at IU, the team had a 76-9-4 record with 2 final four appearances. Meschbach scored a hat-trick in 8 minutes, 50 seconds against the Cincinnati Bearcats on October 8, 1980, an NCAA record until 1985.

Professional

In 1980, Meschbach was the first player drafted for the Chicago Horizon of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also was a first round draft pick in the North American Soccer League to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and opted to play for the Strikers. With the Strikers, Meschbach won Ft. Lauderdale Rookie of the Year honors, was voted NASL player of the week, and was considered one of the top Americans in the NASL. Robert's childhood idol was Gerd Müller, who also played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In 1984, Meschbach was traded to the Chicago Sting and helped them win the NASL Championship. Meschbach finished his professional career playing for the New York Cosmos, San Diego Sockers, and the Chicago Power.

In 2006, Robert was invited to play for the American Team in the North American Soccer League Reunion game in Dallas.

Coaching

While in college, Robert began coaching at the IU Soccer Camps. Robert also coached boys Varsity at Plantation High School in 1982 while playing for the Strikers. He coached girls Varsity at St. Viator High School, where the Lions won back to back IHSA State Championships in 2002 & 2003. Also coached boys at Carmel HS in Mundelein 2006. Additionally was an ODP evaluator for the state of Illinois 2000 & 2001.

Robert has coached youth club teams professionally for the last ten years. He led Eclipse Select U16 teams to the USYSA National Championships in 2001 and 2003. While with the Eclipse in 2003, Robert initiated the Eclipse Select boys program. Later in 2003, he left the Eclipse to start FC United, and held the position of Director of Technical Development for the boys and girls programs. In 2006 FC United won the U23 men's USASA state cup and in 2008, he led FC United U18 boys to a USYSA Illinois State Championship, the clubs first youth state cup. In the same year, he led the Ela Elite U23 men to a USASA National Championship and is currently coaching at Ela Elite.

Robert, along with his longtime assistant coaches, "Frank Hermanutz" and "Eric Kuehl", take great pride in elevating players to the next level. Numerous former players are in the collegiate ranks or have had collegiate careers thanks to their coaching style, dedication and abilities.

References

External links

* http://studentsportssoccer.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=458082
* http://www.ncaa.org/library/records/soccer/soccer_records_book/2007/2007_soccer_records.pdf
* http://mywebpages.comcast.net/dulyjs/strikers/strikers.html
* http://www.elaelite.com
* [http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/M/Meschbach.Robert.htm NASL stats]