Desmond Backos

Desmond Patrick Backos (born 13 November 1950) is a South African former footballer who played in the Football League for Stoke City.^[1]

Desmond Backos

Personal information
Full name	Desmond Patrick Backos
Date of birth	(1950-11-13) 13 November 1950 (age 73)
Place of birth	Johannesburg, South Africa
Position(s)	Forward
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1966–1967	Johannesburg Rangers
1968–1973	Highlands Park
1974	Johannesburg Rangers
1975–1976	Hellenic
1977	Los Angeles Aztecs	20	(3)
1977–1978	Stoke City	2	(0)
1978–1981	Highlands Park
1982–1986	Johannesburg Rangers
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Backos was born in Johannesburg and played football with local sides Johannesburg Rangers, Highlands Park a second spell at Johannesburg Rangers and Hellenic.^[1] At Hellenic he worked under former England international George Eastham who working as a coach but in 1977 Eastham returned to England and Backos moved to the United States to play for the Los Angeles Aztecs.^[1] But Backos was brought over to England by Eastham in November 1977 who was now manager at Stoke City.^[1] However Backos had an awful time at Stoke managing to make just two appearances and soon returned to South Africa in January 1978.^[1]

Career statistics

Club	Season	Division	League		FA Cup		League Cup		Total
			Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Los Angeles Aztecs	1977^[2]	North American Soccer League	20	3	—		—		20	3
Stoke City	1977–78^[1]	Second Division	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
Career Total			22	3	0	0	0	0	22	3

References

1. Matthews, Tony (1994). The Encyclopaedia of Stoke City. Lion Press. ISBN 0-9524151-0-0.
2. "Des Backos". NASL Jerseys. Retrieved 13 August 2020.