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Los Angeles Aztecs

April 08, 2024

The Los Angeles Aztecs were an American professional soccer team based in Los Angeles, California that existed from 1974 to 1981. The Aztecs competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1981 as well as the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament, the 1979–80 and 1980–81 NASL Indoor seasons, and won the NASL Championship in 1974. During their eight years of existence, the Aztecs played at four different venues and were controlled by four different ownership groups, European soccer legends George Best and Johan Cruyff played for the team, and from 1975 to 1977 English singer Elton John was a part-owner.

Los Angeles Aztecs
Full nameLos Angeles Aztecs
FoundedDecember 11, 1973
DissolvedDecember 9, 1981; 42 years ago (December 9, 1981)
StadiumEast Los Angeles College Stadium (1974)
Murdock Stadium (1975–76)
LA Memorial Coliseum (1977, 1981)
Rose Bowl (1978–80)
Indoor:[1]
The Forum (1979–80)
LA Sports Arena (1980–81)

History edit

Founding and first season success edit

In January 1974, looking to build off what was considered increasing public interest in professional soccer, the NASL announced Los Angeles as one of six cities awarded an expansion team for the upcoming 1974 season.[2] Jack Gregory, a local doctor and real estate investor, paid the franchise fee and acted as team owner [3][4] and Alex Perolli was appointed the first head coach.[3][5] After playing a series of pre-season friendlies against teams from Mexico,[6] the Aztecs opened their first NASL season with a 2–1 win over the Seattle Sounders at the East Los Angeles College Stadium with 4,107 fans in attendance.[7] After three consecutive victories to start the season, Perolli publicly criticized and then fired his starting goal keeper, Trinidad and Tobago international Kelvin Barclay, after he allowed three goals in the second half.[8] The Aztecs finished the season with a record of 11 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses, averaging 5,098 fans per game, and winning first place in the Western Division .[9] Forward Doug McMillan scored eleven goals and was named Rookie of the Year for the 1974 season, an honor he had separately won the previous season with the Cleveland Stars of the American Soccer League.[10][11] Having earned a first round bye, the Aztecs defeated the Boston Minutemen 2–0 at home in the semi-finals.[12] Having earned the most points during the season, Los Angeles should[citation needed] have hosted the NASL Final 1974; however, due to the CBS televised start time of 3:30 (EDT)[13] and other factors[citation needed], the game was moved to the Miami Orange Bowl.[14] On August 25, 1974, with 15,507 people in attendance, the Los Angeles Aztecs and the Miami Toros played to a 3–3 draw in regular time, after which Los Angeles won the penalty shoot-out 5–3 to win the 1974 NASL Championship.[15][16][17] It was the second year in a row that an expansion franchise and won the championship[18] following the Philadelphia Atoms in 1973.

New ownership edit

Following the 1974 season, Alex Perolli left his position as head coach to take up the same job at the expansion San Antonio Thunder[19] and owner Jack Gregory sold his interest in the team to a group headed by John Chaffetz.[4][5][20] The new owners hired 25-year-old Terry Fisher, at the time the youngest coach in the NASL, giving him a two-year contract as head coach.[21] That February, the team traded its first and second draft choices to the expansion Chicago Sting and drafted Michael Bain, two-time All-American and captain of the 1974 NCAA Division I Soccer champions Howard Bison.[22][a] The Aztecs were one of the sixteen NASL teams to participate in the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament. In total, the Aztecs played three indoor matches in 1975, a pre-tournament tune-up match against the San Jose Earthquakes on February 14, and tournament matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders.[23]

The Aztecs opened the 1975 North American Soccer League season with a 2–1 victory on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes.[24] The team's first home sellout occurred on July 3, 1975, in a 5–1 rout of the Pelé led New York Cosmos, Uri Banhoffer scored a hat-trick and was named NASL player of the week for his performance.[25] The team officially protested their 2 August 1975 2–1 overtime loss to Earthquakes stating crowd noise prevented head coach Fisher from communicating with his players between the end of regulation and the beginning of overtime.[26] The team finished the season with a record of twelve wins and ten losses, ending in third place of the Western Division.[9] Making the playoffs as a wild card after Chicago Sting lost their final game of the season to the Washington Diplomats,[27] the Aztecs were defeated by the St. Louis Stars in a quarter-finals match that was decided by a penalty shoot-out.[28]

Best years edit

 
George Best playing for the Aztecs

Following the 1975 season, English singer Elton John, purchased a stake in the team, and was given permission by the league to sit on the bench during games.[29][30] A few weeks later, Managing General Partner Chaffetz announced the team's intention of signing 1968 Ballon d'Or winner George Best, who had been released by Manchester United.[31] After some confusion in December between the team announcing Best's signing[32] and the player denying he had,[33] George Best arrived in Los Angeles on February 20, 1976.[34] The Aztecs opened the 1976 North American Soccer League season on the road with a 1–2 loss against the San Jose Earthquakes, Best scored his first of fifteen goals for the season on April 25, 1976, in the team's home opener against the Rochester Lancers.[35] Los Angeles finished the season in third place of the Pacific Conference Southern Division with a record of twelve wins and twelve losses.[9] The Aztecs were defeated in the First Round of the playoffs 2–0 by the Dallas Tornado on August 18, 1976.[36]

After playing the previous two seasons at Murdock Stadium on the campus of El Camino College, the team moved to the L.A. Coliseum for the 1977 season.[37] The Aztecs began the 1977 North American Soccer League season on the road against the Earthquakes again, this time beating San Jose 3–0.[38] On July 3, 1977, the largest home crowd of the season, 32,165, attended the game against the Cosmos, for Brazilian superstar Pelé's last competitive appearance in Los Angeles. The Aztec won the game 4–1.[39] The Aztecs finished the season in second place of the Pacific Conference Southern Division with a record of fifteen wins and eleven losses.[9] The Aztecs were defeated by the Seattle Sounders in the Conference Championships[40] after having beaten the Earthquakes in the first round,[41] and Dallas Tornado over two-legs in the Division Championships.[42][43]

After the season, the team was purchased by a group headed by Alan Rothenberg[4][44] with former Los Angeles Lakers player Rudy LaRusso named general manager.[45] The Aztecs also signed a lease to play its homes matches at the Rose Bowl for the 1978 North American Soccer League season.[46] In the first game of the season, the Aztecs lost to the Houston Hurricane in a shoot-out after playing to a 2–2 draw.[47] Rumor's of Best's extravagant lifestyle and various personal problems, including alcoholism, began to spread during the previous season.[48][49] After missing two training sessions and meeting with the team owners to address his concerns with the direction of the club, Best skipped the team's final practice before their May 10, 1978, match against the Oakland Stompers,[50] and the team announced his indefinite suspension.[51] The following month, the team traded Best to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, with the Aztecs receiving players George Dewsnip, Andy Rowland and the Strikers first 1980 draft choice.[52] On June 6, 1978, and with a record of five wins in thirteen games, the Aztecs fired head coach Terry Fisher and replaced him with Tommy Smith.[53] With only three wins during the next fourteen games, Smith was replaced by team Director of Personnel Peter Short for the final two games of the season.[54] The Aztecs finished the season in last place of the National Conference Western Division, recording nine wins and twenty-one loses. It was the team's worst outdoor season record and the only outdoor season the Aztecs did not qualify for the playoffs.[9] The Aztecs did not participate in the 1978 NASL Skelly Indoor Invitational, but did play a few indoor exhibition games in March 1978.[55]

Michels & Cruyff years edit

 
Head coach Rinus Michels ahead of the 1979 season

On November 14, 1978, team president Larry Friend announced former FC Barcelona, AFC Ajax, and Dutch national team manager Rinus Michels had been hired as head coach.[56] Michels revamped the team's roster with only four players from the Aztecs 1978 team remaining on the roster for the 1979 NASL season.[57] The Aztecs started the season with a record of five wins in seven games when on May 22, 1979, the team announced the signing of three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff on a $1.4 million contract over two years which also included a percentage of gate receipts, making Cruyff the highest paid athlete in Southern California.[58][59][60] The Aztecs finished the season in second place of the National Conference Western Division with a record of eighteen wins and twelve losses.[9] Prior to signing Cruyff, the Aztecs averaged 7,500 fans a game, but ended the season with an average attendance of 14,333.[59][9] The Aztecs defeated the Washington Diplomats two games to none in the first round of the playoffs.[61] The Aztecs won the home leg of the Conference Semifinals agsinst the Vancouver Whitecaps in an overtime shootout, but lost the away leg and the 30 minute mini game.[62] Cruyff was awarded the league MVP[63] and Larry Hulcer was named the Rookie of the Year for the 1979 season.[64]

From September through October 1979, the team embarked on a three-country European tour[65] beginning with a 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain F.C.[66] The team then played six games in the Netherlands winning three, losing two and earning one draw.[67][68][69] On the team's final leg through England, the Aztec drew 1–1 against Birmingham City F.C.[70] and lost 2–0 to Chelsea F.C.[71] Mexican media company Televisa purchased the team in early 1980 and sold the team's rights to Johan Cruyff to the Washington Diplomats for $1 million in order to save payroll money and foster a different image for the team.[72][73] The Aztecs participated in the 1979–80 NASL Indoor season earning only two wins in twelve matches.[9] A few weeks prior to the beginning of the 1980 outdoor season, Michels resigned has head coach, but was able to reach an agreement with the new owners and confirmed he would be returning.[74][75] The Aztecs finished the 1980 season in second place of the National Conference Western Division with a record of twenty wins and twelve losses.[9] Losing the first game of the Conference Quarterfinals at RFK Stadium the Aztecs defeated the Diplomats in the series by winning the home leg in a shootout, and the 30-minute minigame 2–0.[76] The Aztecs advanced to the Conference Championships after defeating the Seattle Sounders in another shootout after each team won their home leg and playing to a 1–1 tie in the minigame.[77] The Aztecs were defeated by the New York Cosmos in both games of the Conference Championships.[78][79] Less than a month after the team was eliminated from the playoffs, Michels left the team for the position of technical director of FC Köln.[80]

Final season edit

The Aztecs achieved their best indoor season record with eleven wins and seven loses and earning first place of the Western Division in the 1980–81 NASL Indoor season[9] but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Edmonton Drillers.[81][82] On January 9, 1981, the Aztecs announced Cláudio Coutinho had signed a two year contract to coach the team.[83] The team also moved back to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play their home games for the 1981 outdoor season.[84] The Aztecs finished the 1981 North American Soccer League season in second place of the Western Division with a record of nineteen wins and thirteen losses and an average attendance of 5,814.[9] The team was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by the Montreal Manic two games to one, the last game decided on a controversial penalty call in overtime.[85][86][87] Following the season on December 9, 1981, Televisa released a statement stating the team would not be operating for the 1982 season and that any remaining player contracts would be sold.[88]

Year-by-year edit

Year Division League Reg. season Playoffs Open Cup Avg. Attend.
1974 1 NASL 1st, Western Champions did not enter 5,098
1975 N/A NASL Indoor 3rd, Region 4 did not qualify N/A N/A
1975 1 NASL 3rd, Western Quarterfinals did not enter 8,307
1976 1 NASL 3rd, Pacific Southern 1st Round did not enter 8,051
1977 1 NASL 3rd, Pacific Southern Semifinals did not enter 9,638
1978 1 NASL 4th, National Western did not qualify did not enter 9,301
1979 1 NASL 2nd, National Western Conference Semifinals did not enter 14,334
1979–80 N/A NASL Indoor 5th, Western did not qualify N/A 3,152
1980 1 NASL 2nd, National Western Conference Championships did not enter 12,057
1980–81 N/A NASL Indoor 1st, Western 1st Round N/A 3,439
1981 1 NASL 2nd, Western 1st Round did not enter 5,814

Notable players edit

Ownership edit

Honors edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ Michael Bain does not appear on any NASL Official roster

References edit

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April 08, 2024
angeles, aztecs, were, american, professional, soccer, team, based, angeles, california, that, existed, from, 1974, 1981, aztecs, competed, north, american, soccer, league, nasl, from, 1974, 1981, well, 1975, nasl, indoor, tournament, 1979, 1980, nasl, indoor,. The Los Angeles Aztecs were an American professional soccer team based in Los Angeles California that existed from 1974 to 1981 The Aztecs competed in the North American Soccer League NASL from 1974 to 1981 as well as the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament the 1979 80 and 1980 81 NASL Indoor seasons and won the NASL Championship in 1974 During their eight years of existence the Aztecs played at four different venues and were controlled by four different ownership groups European soccer legends George Best and Johan Cruyff played for the team and from 1975 to 1977 English singer Elton John was a part owner Los Angeles AztecsFull nameLos Angeles AztecsFoundedDecember 11 1973DissolvedDecember 9 1981 42 years ago December 9 1981 StadiumEast Los Angeles College Stadium 1974 Murdock Stadium 1975 76 LA Memorial Coliseum 1977 1981 Rose Bowl 1978 80 Indoor 1 The Forum 1979 80 LA Sports Arena 1980 81 Home colorsAway colors Contents 1 History 1 1 Founding and first season success 1 2 New ownership 1 3 Best years 1 4 Michels amp Cruyff years 1 5 Final season 2 Year by year 3 Notable players 4 Ownership 5 Honors 6 Notes 7 ReferencesHistory editFounding and first season success edit In January 1974 looking to build off what was considered increasing public interest in professional soccer the NASL announced Los Angeles as one of six cities awarded an expansion team for the upcoming 1974 season 2 Jack Gregory a local doctor and real estate investor paid the franchise fee and acted as team owner 3 4 and Alex Perolli was appointed the first head coach 3 5 After playing a series of pre season friendlies against teams from Mexico 6 the Aztecs opened their first NASL season with a 2 1 win over the Seattle Sounders at the East Los Angeles College Stadium with 4 107 fans in attendance 7 After three consecutive victories to start the season Perolli publicly criticized and then fired his starting goal keeper Trinidad and Tobago international Kelvin Barclay after he allowed three goals in the second half 8 The Aztecs finished the season with a record of 11 wins 2 draws and 7 losses averaging 5 098 fans per game and winning first place in the Western Division 9 Forward Doug McMillan scored eleven goals and was named Rookie of the Year for the 1974 season an honor he had separately won the previous season with the Cleveland Stars of the American Soccer League 10 11 Having earned a first round bye the Aztecs defeated the Boston Minutemen 2 0 at home in the semi finals 12 Having earned the most points during the season Los Angeles should citation needed have hosted the NASL Final 1974 however due to the CBS televised start time of 3 30 EDT 13 and other factors citation needed the game was moved to the Miami Orange Bowl 14 On August 25 1974 with 15 507 people in attendance the Los Angeles Aztecs and the Miami Toros played to a 3 3 draw in regular time after which Los Angeles won the penalty shoot out 5 3 to win the 1974 NASL Championship 15 16 17 It was the second year in a row that an expansion franchise and won the championship 18 following the Philadelphia Atoms in 1973 New ownership edit Following the 1974 season Alex Perolli left his position as head coach to take up the same job at the expansion San Antonio Thunder 19 and owner Jack Gregory sold his interest in the team to a group headed by John Chaffetz 4 5 20 The new owners hired 25 year old Terry Fisher at the time the youngest coach in the NASL giving him a two year contract as head coach 21 That February the team traded its first and second draft choices to the expansion Chicago Sting and drafted Michael Bain two time All American and captain of the 1974 NCAA Division I Soccer champions Howard Bison 22 a The Aztecs were one of the sixteen NASL teams to participate in the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament In total the Aztecs played three indoor matches in 1975 a pre tournament tune up match against the San Jose Earthquakes on February 14 and tournament matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders 23 The Aztecs opened the 1975 North American Soccer League season with a 2 1 victory on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes 24 The team s first home sellout occurred on July 3 1975 in a 5 1 rout of the Pele led New York Cosmos Uri Banhoffer scored a hat trick and was named NASL player of the week for his performance 25 The team officially protested their 2 August 1975 2 1 overtime loss to Earthquakes stating crowd noise prevented head coach Fisher from communicating with his players between the end of regulation and the beginning of overtime 26 The team finished the season with a record of twelve wins and ten losses ending in third place of the Western Division 9 Making the playoffs as a wild card after Chicago Sting lost their final game of the season to the Washington Diplomats 27 the Aztecs were defeated by the St Louis Stars in a quarter finals match that was decided by a penalty shoot out 28 Best years edit nbsp George Best playing for the AztecsFollowing the 1975 season English singer Elton John purchased a stake in the team and was given permission by the league to sit on the bench during games 29 30 A few weeks later Managing General Partner Chaffetz announced the team s intention of signing 1968 Ballon d Or winner George Best who had been released by Manchester United 31 After some confusion in December between the team announcing Best s signing 32 and the player denying he had 33 George Best arrived in Los Angeles on February 20 1976 34 The Aztecs opened the 1976 North American Soccer League season on the road with a 1 2 loss against the San Jose Earthquakes Best scored his first of fifteen goals for the season on April 25 1976 in the team s home opener against the Rochester Lancers 35 Los Angeles finished the season in third place of the Pacific Conference Southern Division with a record of twelve wins and twelve losses 9 The Aztecs were defeated in the First Round of the playoffs 2 0 by the Dallas Tornado on August 18 1976 36 After playing the previous two seasons at Murdock Stadium on the campus of El Camino College the team moved to the L A Coliseum for the 1977 season 37 The Aztecs began the 1977 North American Soccer League season on the road against the Earthquakes again this time beating San Jose 3 0 38 On July 3 1977 the largest home crowd of the season 32 165 attended the game against the Cosmos for Brazilian superstar Pele s last competitive appearance in Los Angeles The Aztec won the game 4 1 39 The Aztecs finished the season in second place of the Pacific Conference Southern Division with a record of fifteen wins and eleven losses 9 The Aztecs were defeated by the Seattle Sounders in the Conference Championships 40 after having beaten the Earthquakes in the first round 41 and Dallas Tornado over two legs in the Division Championships 42 43 After the season the team was purchased by a group headed by Alan Rothenberg 4 44 with former Los Angeles Lakers player Rudy LaRusso named general manager 45 The Aztecs also signed a lease to play its homes matches at the Rose Bowl for the 1978 North American Soccer League season 46 In the first game of the season the Aztecs lost to the Houston Hurricane in a shoot out after playing to a 2 2 draw 47 Rumor s of Best s extravagant lifestyle and various personal problems including alcoholism began to spread during the previous season 48 49 After missing two training sessions and meeting with the team owners to address his concerns with the direction of the club Best skipped the team s final practice before their May 10 1978 match against the Oakland Stompers 50 and the team announced his indefinite suspension 51 The following month the team traded Best to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers with the Aztecs receiving players George Dewsnip Andy Rowland and the Strikers first 1980 draft choice 52 On June 6 1978 and with a record of five wins in thirteen games the Aztecs fired head coach Terry Fisher and replaced him with Tommy Smith 53 With only three wins during the next fourteen games Smith was replaced by team Director of Personnel Peter Short for the final two games of the season 54 The Aztecs finished the season in last place of the National Conference Western Division recording nine wins and twenty one loses It was the team s worst outdoor season record and the only outdoor season the Aztecs did not qualify for the playoffs 9 The Aztecs did not participate in the 1978 NASL Skelly Indoor Invitational but did play a few indoor exhibition games in March 1978 55 Michels amp Cruyff years edit nbsp Head coach Rinus Michels ahead of the 1979 seasonOn November 14 1978 team president Larry Friend announced former FC Barcelona AFC Ajax and Dutch national team manager Rinus Michels had been hired as head coach 56 Michels revamped the team s roster with only four players from the Aztecs 1978 team remaining on the roster for the 1979 NASL season 57 The Aztecs started the season with a record of five wins in seven games when on May 22 1979 the team announced the signing of three time Ballon d Or winner Johan Cruyff on a 1 4 million contract over two years which also included a percentage of gate receipts making Cruyff the highest paid athlete in Southern California 58 59 60 The Aztecs finished the season in second place of the National Conference Western Division with a record of eighteen wins and twelve losses 9 Prior to signing Cruyff the Aztecs averaged 7 500 fans a game but ended the season with an average attendance of 14 333 59 9 The Aztecs defeated the Washington Diplomats two games to none in the first round of the playoffs 61 The Aztecs won the home leg of the Conference Semifinals agsinst the Vancouver Whitecaps in an overtime shootout but lost the away leg and the 30 minute mini game 62 Cruyff was awarded the league MVP 63 and Larry Hulcer was named the Rookie of the Year for the 1979 season 64 From September through October 1979 the team embarked on a three country European tour 65 beginning with a 2 1 victory over Paris Saint Germain F C 66 The team then played six games in the Netherlands winning three losing two and earning one draw 67 68 69 On the team s final leg through England the Aztec drew 1 1 against Birmingham City F C 70 and lost 2 0 to Chelsea F C 71 Mexican media company Televisa purchased the team in early 1980 and sold the team s rights to Johan Cruyff to the Washington Diplomats for 1 million in order to save payroll money and foster a different image for the team 72 73 The Aztecs participated in the 1979 80 NASL Indoor season earning only two wins in twelve matches 9 A few weeks prior to the beginning of the 1980 outdoor season Michels resigned has head coach but was able to reach an agreement with the new owners and confirmed he would be returning 74 75 The Aztecs finished the 1980 season in second place of the National Conference Western Division with a record of twenty wins and twelve losses 9 Losing the first game of the Conference Quarterfinals at RFK Stadium the Aztecs defeated the Diplomats in the series by winning the home leg in a shootout and the 30 minute minigame 2 0 76 The Aztecs advanced to the Conference Championships after defeating the Seattle Sounders in another shootout after each team won their home leg and playing to a 1 1 tie in the minigame 77 The Aztecs were defeated by the New York Cosmos in both games of the Conference Championships 78 79 Less than a month after the team was eliminated from the playoffs Michels left the team for the position of technical director of FC Koln 80 Final season edit The Aztecs achieved their best indoor season record with eleven wins and seven loses and earning first place of the Western Division in the 1980 81 NASL Indoor season 9 but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Edmonton Drillers 81 82 On January 9 1981 the Aztecs announced Claudio Coutinho had signed a two year contract to coach the team 83 The team also moved back to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play their home games for the 1981 outdoor season 84 The Aztecs finished the 1981 North American Soccer League season in second place of the Western Division with a record of nineteen wins and thirteen losses and an average attendance of 5 814 9 The team was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by the Montreal Manic two games to one the last game decided on a controversial penalty call in overtime 85 86 87 Following the season on December 9 1981 Televisa released a statement stating the team would not be operating for the 1982 season and that any remaining player contracts would be sold 88 Year by year editYear Division League Reg season Playoffs Open Cup Avg Attend 1974 1 NASL 1st Western Champions did not enter 5 0981975 N A NASL Indoor 3rd Region 4 did not qualify N A N A1975 1 NASL 3rd Western Quarterfinals did not enter 8 3071976 1 NASL 3rd Pacific Southern 1st Round did not enter 8 0511977 1 NASL 3rd Pacific Southern Semifinals did not enter 9 6381978 1 NASL 4th National Western did not qualify did not enter 9 3011979 1 NASL 2nd National Western Conference Semifinals did not enter 14 3341979 80 N A NASL Indoor 5th Western did not qualify N A 3 1521980 1 NASL 2nd National Western Conference Championships did not enter 12 0571980 81 N A NASL Indoor 1st Western 1st Round N A 3 4391981 1 NASL 2nd Western 1st Round did not enter 5 814Notable players edit nbsp Javier Aguirre nbsp Gary Allison nbsp Lee Atack nbsp Desmond Backos nbsp Phil Beal nbsp George Best nbsp Zeljko Bilecki nbsp Bob Bolitho nbsp Colin Boulton nbsp Colin Clarke nbsp Martin Cohen nbsp Charlie Cooke nbsp Julio Cesar Cortes nbsp Renato Costa nbsp Peter Coyne nbsp Johan Cruyff nbsp Chris Dangerfield nbsp Steve David nbsp Ron Davies nbsp Antonio de la Torre Villalpando nbsp Roberto de Oliveira nbsp George Dewsnip nbsp Angelo DiBernardo nbsp Vito Dimitrijevic nbsp Tony Douglas nbsp Gary Etherington nbsp Bernie Fagan nbsp Mike Ferguson nbsp Santiago Formoso nbsp Randy Garber nbsp Poli Garcia nbsp Steve Gay nbsp Uruguay Graffigna nbsp Austin Hayes nbsp Graham Horn nbsp Larry Hulcer nbsp Alan Jones nbsp Garry Jones nbsp Jerry Kazarian nbsp Alan Kelley nbsp Jimmy Kelly nbsp Mihalj Keri nbsp Gyorgy Kottan nbsp Bob Lenarduzzi nbsp Dave Lennard nbsp Malcolm Linton nbsp Sammy Llewellyn nbsp Miguel Lopez nbsp Luis Fernando Gaucho nbsp Terry Mancini nbsp Jackie Marsh nbsp John Mason nbsp Bobby McAlinden nbsp John McGrane nbsp Mike McLenaghen nbsp Doug McMillan nbsp Alan Merrick nbsp Ramon Mifflin nbsp Ane Mihailovich nbsp Jim Millinder nbsp Bill Mishalow nbsp Ramon Moraldo nbsp Dave Morrison nbsp Buzz Parsons nbsp Hugo Perez nbsp Hector Pulido nbsp Brian Quinn nbsp Luiz Rangel nbsp Tom Reynolds nbsp Bob Rigby nbsp Andy Rolland nbsp Ruben Omar Romano nbsp Thomas Rongen nbsp Alex Russell nbsp Miro Rys nbsp Todd Saldana nbsp Bill Sautter nbsp Dave Shelton nbsp Bobby Sibbald nbsp Dave Smith nbsp Tommy Smith nbsp Franciszek Smuda nbsp Frantz St Lot nbsp Wim Suurbier nbsp Chris Turner nbsp Juli Veee nbsp Leo van Veen nbsp Sergio Velazquez nbsp Scott Vorst nbsp Walter Wagner nbsp Rudy YbarraOwnership editDr Jack Gregory Founder co owner Elton John co owner 1975 1977 Alan Rothenberg owner 1977 80 Televisa owners 1980 1981 Honors editNASL championships 1974NASL Regular Season Premierships 1974Division Champions 1974 Western Division 1980 81 Western Division indoor League MVP 1979 Johan CruyffRookie of the Year 1974 Doug McMillan 1979 Larry HulcerLeague scoring champion 1977 Steve David 26 goals 6 assists 58 points League goal scoring champion 1977 Steve David 26 goals League Assists Leader 1974 Doug McMillan 10 assists 1977 George Best 18 assists Indoor All Stars 1980 81 Mihalj Keri Chris Dangerfield 89 All Star first team selections 1976 George Best 1977 Steve David George Best 1979 Johan CruyffAll Star second team selections 1974 Luis Marotte Doug McMillan 1977 Charlie Cooke 1979 Mihalj Keri 1980 Luis Fernando Mihalj Keri 1981 Mihalj KeriAll Star honorable mentions 1976 Charlie Cooke 1979 Wim SuurbierU S Soccer Hall of Fame 2003 Bob Lenarduzzi 2006 Hugo PerezCanadian Soccer Hall of Fame 2001 Bob Lenarduzzi 2003 Buzz Parsons 2004 Bob Bolitho 2008 John McGraneIndoor Soccer Hall of Fame 90 2012 Juli Veee 2013 Brian QuinnNotes edit Michael Bain does not appear on any NASL Official rosterReferences edit The Press Courier Google News Archive Search Retrieved December 16 2014 Soccer Loop Is Expanded To 13 Teams Gettysburg Times AP December 12 1973 Retrieved January 5 2022 a b Aztecs Find Haven At East Lost Angeles The Press Courier April 7 1974 p 29 Retrieved January 19 2022 a b c Jones Grahame December 29 1999 Grass Roots Grandeur Los Angeles Times Retrieved January 18 2022 a b Fernandez Ivan October 4 2018 Before The L A Galaxy Chivas USA Or LAFC We Had The Los Angeles Aztecs L A TACO Retrieved January 5 2022 Club America Spoils Aztecs Win Streak The Press Courier April 23 1974 p 11 Retrieved January 19 2022 Sounders lose Ellensburg Daily Record UPI May 6 1974 p 6 Retrieved January 5 2022 Cascio Chuck 1975 Soccer U S A R B Luce p 96 ISBN 9780883310755 a b c d e f g h i j k Litterer David North American Soccer League The Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation Retrieved January 5 2022 At Age 29 He s Rookie Of Year Gettysburg Times August 24 1974 Retrieved January 7 2022 Hatfield Thomas July 21 2014 The History of Soccer in Greater Cleveland from 1906 Until 1981 United States Outskirts Press p 924 ISBN 9781478700173 Retrieved January 7 2022 North American Soccer League 1974 Saturday August 17 1974 SoccerStats us Retrieved January 7 2022 North American Soccer Finals on CBS The Robesonian August 25 1974 p 11 Retrieved January 8 2022 Miami to Host Soccer Title Game on Sunday Sarasota Herald Tribune AP August 24 1974 p 2 C Retrieved January 8 2022 Aztecs Win Soccer Title in Overtime The Press Courier AP August 26 1974 p 12 Retrieved January 8 2022 Los Angeles Aztecs win North American Soccer League title Lodi News Sentinel UPI August 26 1974 p 13 Retrieved January 8 2022 Levin Dan The Penalty for Success Vault Retrieved January 8 2022 Blankenship Ken February 4 1975 Rowdies Looking to rosy Future Expansion clubs successful St Petersburg Times p 7C Retrieved January 11 2022 San Antonio Thunder Original Roster Build and Preseason sanantoniofc Retrieved January 8 2022 Durslag Mel February 24 1975 Soccer League Keeps Trying The News Dispatch p 9 Retrieved January 8 2022 Yannis Alex January 5 1975 Coach Helps Aztecs Get New Image The New York Times p S15 Retrieved January 8 2022 Howard player 1st pick in pro soccer draft The Afro American February 1 1975 p 10 Retrieved January 8 2022 Holroyd Steve History of Indoor Soccer in the USA RSSSF Rec Sport Soccer Statistics Foundation Retrieved January 10 2022 North American Soccer League 1975 Friday April 18 1975 SoccerStats us Retrieved January 10 2022 Banhoffer Chosen The Bryan Times July 9 1975 Retrieved January 10 2022 Sports in Brief The Altus Times Democrat August 4 1975 Retrieved January 10 2022 Aztecs Battle Stars In Soccer Playoffs The Press Courier August 11 1975 Retrieved January 10 2022 Tossell David April 13 2012 Playing for Uncle Sam The Brits Story of the North American Soccer League Mainstream Publishing ISBN 9781780574721 Yannis Alex November 5 1975 Elton John Acquires An Interest in Aztecs The New York Times Retrieved January 10 2022 Elton John And Aztecs The Daily Union Democrat UPI December 10 1975 Retrieved January 10 2022 Aztecs seek George Best The Spokesman Review AP November 20 1975 p 17 Retrieved January 11 2022 Aztecs sing Best The Leader Post AP December 3 1975 p 49 Retrieved January 11 2022 Soccer Star yet to sign The Leader Post London AP December 6 1975 p 20 Retrieved January 11 2022 British Soccer Star Best Arrives in LA The Press Courier Los Angeles AP February 21 1976 p 12 Retrieved January 11 2022 Best s Goal Gives Aztecs Soccer Win The Press Courier Los Angeles AP April 25 1976 p 10 Retrieved January 11 2022 Soccer Roundup The Evening Independent AP August 19 1976 p 4C Retrieved January 11 2022 Tucker Bud April 17 1978 Soccer On Way Up The Press Courier p 27 Retrieved January 11 2022 North American Soccer League 1977 Saturday April 09 1977 Los Angeles Aztecs 3 San Jose Earthquakes 0 SoccerStats us Retrieved January 11 2022 Aztecs Defeat Cosmos 4 1 Before 32 165 The Press Courier July 3 1977 p 24 Retrieved January 12 2022 Pele Cosmos face Seattle Sunday in Portland The Bulletin August 26 1977 Retrieved January 12 2022 Rochester LA Seattle Advance The Evening Independent AP August 11 1977 p 2C Retrieved January 12 2022 Tornado to host Aztecs tomorrow Mid Cities Daily News August 17 1977 p 8 Retrieved January 12 2022 Just A Few More Gang Observer Reporter August 20 1977 p B3 Retrieved January 12 2022 U S soccer chief faces selling job The Times News AP October 21 1990 p 8B Retrieved January 13 2022 NASL s Aztecs name new general manager St Petersburg Times November 5 1977 p 3C Retrieved January 13 2022 Round Up The Daily Sentinel December 14 1977 Retrieved January 12 2022 North American Soccer League 1978 Sunday April 02 1978 Rose Bowl SoccerStats us Retrieved January 17 2022 Murray Jim May 27 1977 Now playing for Aztecs George Best part time superstar The Spokesman Review Los Angeles Times p 39 Retrieved January 11 2022 Burn George November 24 2005 The long goodbye the Guardian Retrieved January 11 2022 George Best Leaves Aztecs Spartnburg Herald AP May 11 1978 p D3 Retrieved January 17 2022 Best Given Suspension With Aztecs The Press Courier AP May 10 1978 Retrieved January 17 2022 Strikers Obtain George Best Sarasota Herald Tribune AP June 25 1978 p 7D Retrieved January 17 2022 Aztecs Fire Coach Fisher The Press Courier AP June 6 1978 Retrieved January 17 2022 Romie Rich October 19 1978 Colton Bruner Starting Tigers Peter Short The Press Courier p 19 Retrieved January 17 2022 Lindsay Leads Hurricane Romp St Petersburg Independent Houston AP March 15 1978 p 2 C Retrieved January 18 2022 Aztecs hire Dutch soccer coach Boca Raton News November 14 1978 p 2B Retrieved January 17 2022 Los Angeles Aztecs 1979 nasljerseys Retrieved January 17 2022 Aztec Makes Cruyff NASL s New Superstar Sarasota Journal UPI May 23 1979 p 3C Retrieved January 17 2022 a b Wilner Barry June 1 1979 Cruyff Takes Chance with Aztecs The Press Courier p 22 Retrieved January 17 2022 Stinson Dan July 11 1979 Aztecs have Dutch treat for Whitecap fans The Vancouver Sun p D1 Retrieved January 17 2022 Team play is secret of Aztecs The Calgary Herald AP August 22 1974 p C5 Retrieved January 17 2022 Their Finest Hour Vancouver Whitecaps 1979 Soccer Bowl winning season Part 13 The Playoffs continue with the Aztecs Away From The Numbers Retrieved January 17 2022 Wilner Barry December 23 1979 Pro Soccer Has Best Year Ever Reading Eagle p 71 Retrieved January 18 2022 Wangerin Dave 2006 Soccer in a Football World WSC Books Limited p 205 ISBN 9780954013479 Retrieved January 18 2022 Romine Rich September 16 1979 Sports Jabs The Press Courier p 24 Retrieved January 18 2022 Werneck Jose September 25 1979 Camp Neutro Jornal do Brasil in Portuguese p 25 Retrieved January 18 2022 Aztecs lose in exhibition Edmonton Journal Utrecht AP October 3 1979 p D8 Retrieved January 18 2022 IN Soccer Star Phoenix October 5 1979 p C18 Retrieved January 18 2022 Early goal dims hopes for Spain The Vancouver Sun October 11 1979 p C7 Retrieved January 18 2022 La Opinion in Spanish La Opinion October 18 1979 Retrieved January 18 2022 Chelsea wins exhibition The Montreal Gazette The Montreal Gazette October 17 1979 p 34 Retrieved January 18 2022 Washington Signs Superstar Cruyff Sarasota Herald Tribune AP February 27 1980 p 9D Retrieved January 18 2022 Tucker Bud April 5 1980 A Johan Cruyff Explained The Press Courier p 16 Retrieved January 18 2022 IN Soccer Edmonton Journal Edmonton Journal March 1 1980 p C5 Retrieved January 18 2022 NASL s 14th Season Set to Unfold The Hour The Hour March 29 1980 p 26 Retrieved January 18 2022 Feinstein John September 1 1980 Diplomats Shocked by Aztec Loss Washington Post Retrieved January 19 2022 Aztecs nip Sounders in Shootout Eugene Register Guard Seattle Eugene Register Guard AP September 6 1980 p 3C Retrieved January 19 2022 Yannis Alex September 11 1980 Cosmos Beat Aztecs Birkenmeier Excels Goalie Makes Spectacular Saves Cosmos Subdue Aztecs by 2 1 Neeskens Still Missing The New York Times Pasadena p S9 Retrieved January 19 2022 Cosmos Nip Aztecs The Victoria Advocate East Rutherford AP September 14 1980 p 3B Sports Brief Coach Will Not Return The Victoria Advocate The Victoria Advocate October 14 1980 p 18 Retrieved January 19 2022 Drillers shoot past Aztecs Edmonton Journal Los Angeles Edmonton Journal February 2 1981 p D3 Retrieved January 19 2022 Finn finishes off Aztecs in playoffs The Vancouver Sun The Vancouver Sun February 20 1981 p D2 Retrieved January 19 2022 Soccer The Phoenix January 10 1981 p C4 Wood Larry May 20 1981 Sports The Calgary Herald The Calgary Herald p C1 Retrieved January 19 2022 Maiden Manic Outpace Aztecs The Evening Independent Montreal The Evening Independent AP August 25 1981 p 4C Retrieved January 19 2022 Aztecs top Manic to tie series The Vancouver Sun Los Angeles The Vancouver Sun AP August 28 1981 p C3 Retrieved January 19 2022 Manic make most of call The Leader Post The Leader Post Canadian Press August 31 1981 p B9 Retrieved January 19 2022 Aztecs are now part of history The Vancouver Sun Los Angeles AP December 10 1981 p C6 Retrieved January 19 2022 Henderson Jim April 21 1981 For Keith Bailey The Long Wait Is Finally Over The Tampa Tribune p 5 C Retrieved January 6 2021 Joomla Administrator Hall of Famers Indoorsoccerhall com Archived from the original on October 23 2013 Retrieved December 16 2014 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Los Angeles Aztecs amp oldid 1211848322, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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