Los Angeles Aztecs
Squad
Julio César Cortés1974–1974
George Best1976–1976- George Best1977–1978
Franciszek Smuda1978–1978- Héctor Pulido1978–1978
Ramón Mifflin1978–1978
Tommy Smith1978–1978
Bob Lenarduzzi1979–1980
Johan Cruyff1979–1979
Rildo da Costa Menezes1979–1981
Wim Suurbier1979–1981
Javier Aguirre1980–1981- Antonio de la Torre Villalpando1981–1981
Hugo Pérez1982–1982
The Los Angeles Aztecs were a defunct American soccer club that played in the NASL from 1974 to 1981.
The Aztecs competed in the North American Soccer League, a major league for soccer in the United States.
The Aztecs won the NASL Championship in 1974, marking a significant achievement in their early years.
Biography
Formation
The Los Angeles Aztecs were established in January 1974 as part of an expansion by the North American Soccer League (NASL), aiming to capitalize on the growing interest in professional soccer in the United States. Local doctor and real estate investor Jack Gregory purchased the franchise and appointed Alex Perolli as the first head coach. The team made its debut at East Los Angeles College Stadium, where they celebrated a 2–1 victory against the Seattle Sounders, drawing an enthusiastic crowd of 4,107 fans.
Breakthrough
In their inaugural season, the Aztecs quickly made a name for themselves, finishing with an impressive record of 11 wins, 2 draws, and 7 losses, which earned them first place in the Western Division. Forward Doug McMillan emerged as a standout player, scoring eleven goals and being named Rookie of the Year. The Aztecs advanced to the NASL semi-finals, defeating the Boston Minutemen 2–0, but were unable to host the final despite their strong performance throughout the season.
Notable Players and Ownership
Throughout their eight-year history, the Aztecs were notable for their roster, which included European soccer legends George Best and Johan Cruyff. Additionally, from 1975 to 1977, the team had a unique connection to the music world, as English singer Elton John served as a part-owner. The Aztecs played at four different venues and experienced changes in ownership, reflecting the challenges faced by the club during its existence. Ultimately, the team competed in the NASL until 1981, leaving a legacy as a pioneering force in American soccer.
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Gallery
Career & Clubs
Founding and first season success
In January 1974, looking to build off what was considered increasing public interest in professional soccer, the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced Los Angeles as one of six cities awarded an expansion team for the upcoming 1974 season. Jack Gregory, a local doctor and real estate investor, paid the franchise fee and acted as team owner and Alex Perolli was appointed the first head coach. After playing a series of pre-season friendlies against teams from Mexico, 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. 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. 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 . 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. Having earned a first round bye, the Aztecs defeated the Boston Minutemen 2–0 at home in the semi-finals. Having earned the most points during the season, Los Angeles should have hosted the NASL Final 1974; however, due to the CBS…
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- North American Soccer League
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Passport
Identifiers & aliases
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.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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