Pittsburgh Spirit were an indoor soccer team based in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

and were one of the original six teams that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). The Spirit were founded in 1978, suspended operation for the 1980–81 season, then returned to the MISL until owner Edward J. DeBartolo Sr. folded the team on April 11, 1986. The seven seasons of play in Pittsburgh the Spirit average attendance for the regular season was 6,351.

1981–82

The Pittsburgh Spirit were reinstated into the MISL after suspending operations during for the 1980–81 season. Stan Terlecki led the team with 74 goals, second in the MISL to

Steve Zungul ''yes'Steve is a masculine given name, usually a short form (hypocorism) of Steven or Stephen Notable people with the name include: steve jops * Steve Abbott (disambiguation), several people * Steve Adams (disambiguation), several people * Steve ...

's ( New York Arrows) 103 goals. Both Terlecki and Zungul were named MISL regular season MVP. Goaltender Krys Sobieski had the third-lowest goals-against average with a 4.20 GAA. The Spirit would face the third-place Baltimore Blast in the playoffs. The Spirit won the first game of the playoffs 3–1 but lost the second game 6–5 in overtime. The Spirit lost the third game of the series 4–2, which eliminated the Spirit from post-season play.

1982–83

The Spirit did not repeat the success of their previous season and played .500 soccer for the 1982–83 season (24–24–0). Stan Terlecki once again led the Spirit in goals (65) and points (105), and forward Paul Child finished in the top 25 in points (68). Krys Sobieski played sub-.500 goal, going 19–20 and watched his GAA fall to 4.88. The Spirit did not qualify for the playoffs during this season.

1983–84

The Spirit would have their best season in 1983–84, going 32–16 despite losing two-time leading scorer Terlecki to the

Golden Bay Earthquakes Golden means made of, or relating to gold. Golden may also refer to: Places United Kingdom *Golden, in the parish of Probus, Cornwall *Golden Cap, Dorset *Golden Square, Soho, London *Golden Valley, a valley on the River Frome in Gloucestershir ...

. The Spirit's attendance would peak during this season, drawing 8,000 fans. By comparison, the Pittsburgh Penguins averaged around 6,000 during the same season. Zeee Kapka would lead the Spirit with 66 points and former first round draft pick

Joe Papaleo Joe Papaleo (born October 7, 1961) is a retired American soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League and the Continental Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1990 MISL Goalkeeper of the Year and the 1993 CISL Goa ...

led the Spirit with a 16–8 record with a 4.12 GAA.

Kevin Maher Kevin Andrew Maher (born 17 October 1976) is a former professional footballer and coach who played as a midfielder. He is head coach of National League side Southend United. Born in England, he represented the Republic of Ireland internationall ...

would earn the honor of MISL Rookie Of The Year. The Spirit made the playoffs, but would lose to the Cleveland Force three games to one. The scores of the games were 4–6, 4–1, 5–6 (OT), 3–5.

1984–85

Two-time former leading scorer Stan Terlecki returned to the team, but the Spirit finished in sixth place ten games under .500, going 19–29. Terlecki led the team with 39 goals and 66 points and goaltender Peter Mowlik finished the season 11–13 with a 4.71 GAA.

1985–86

The 1985–

1986 The year 1986 was designated as the International Year of Peace by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 ** Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands by separating from the Netherlands Antilles. **Spain and Portugal ente ...

season would be the final season for the Spirit. Although they finished only four games out of first place of the MISL's Eastern Division, they also finished in last place with a record of 23–25. Goaltender David Brcic was named to the All-MISL team. After the completion of the season, the Pittsburgh Spirit folded.

Return

There was an attempt to revive the Spirit for the final Major Soccer League season, but it did not come to be. An ownership group known as Pittsburgh Soccer Inc. was approved to operate the Major Soccer League expansion team for three years.

Staff

* General Manager – Chris Wright

Former players

David Brcic David Joseph Brcic (born January 21, 1958) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics and earned fo ...

(1985–86) 43 Apps 0 Goals *

Steve Buttle Stephen A. Buttle (1 January 1953 – 5 June 2012) was an English professional midfielder who spent six seasons in England, six in the North American Soccer League and at least three in the Major Indoor Soccer League. Buttle was born in Norwich ...

(1979–80) 28 Apps 35 Goals *

Micky Cave Michael John Cave (28 January 1949 – 6 November 1984) was an English footballer who played as a midfielder. Career Born in Weymouth, Dorset, Cave was studying engineering when he started his career in non-League football with hometown club ...

(1981–84) *

Clive Charles Clive Michael Charles (3 October 1951 – 26 August 2003) was an English football player, coach and television announcer. He was one of five National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) coaches to win more than 400 games. Born in Dagenham, E ...

(1982) * Paul Child (1981–86) 133 Apps 140 Goals * Alfie Conn (1979–80) *

John Dolinsky John Dolinsky is a retired German-American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League, United Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He also coached in the American Indoor So ...

(1978–79) 22 Apps 16 Goals * Helmut Dudek (1985–86) *

Drago Dumbovic Drago Dumbovic (born February 5, 1960) is a Croatian former footballer and a head coach. He is noted for playing indoor soccer and the adoption of the nickname Drago in 1986. Career Dumbovic played in the Yugoslav First League in 1979 with Din ...

(1983–84) 37 Apps 32 Goals * David Egan *

Charlie Falzon Charlie Falzon is a Canadian retired soccer player who spent time in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned nine caps with the Canadian national soccer team between 1983 and 1989. Charlie is currentl ...

(1985–86) * Graham Fyfe (1979–80) 31 Apps 37 Goals * Charley Greene (1984–86) *

Fred Grgurev Ferdo "Fred" Grgurev (born September 14, 1951) is an American retired soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned 14 caps, scoring one goal, for the United State ...

(1985–86) *

David Hoggan David Leslie Hoggan (March 23, 1923 – August 7, 1988) was an American professor of history, author of ''The Forced War: When Peaceful Revision Failed'' and other works in the German and English languages. He was antisemitic, maintained ...

(1984–86) *

Godfrey Ingram Godfrey Patrick Ingram (born 26 October 1959) is an English retired professional footballer who played as a striker. Active in England, Wales and the United States, Ingram made over 440 career league appearances, and scored over 270 league goal ...

(1985–86) *

Tommy Jenkins Thomas Ernest Jenkins (born 2 December 1947) is an English retired footballer. He played professionally in two continents as a winger and is now a soccer coach in the United States. Early career Born in Bethnal Green, Jenkins played for Ea ...

* Zdzisław Kapka (1983–86) 45 Apps 30 Goals *

Erhardt Kapp Erhardt Kapp (born June 16, 1959 in Romania) is a retired Romanian-American soccer defender and current business owner and soccer coach. He was also a member of the 1984 U.S. Olympic soccer team and U.S. national team. Career Kapp as a youth p ...

(1984–86) * Nicky Klinarski (1985–86) * Marcio Leite (1984–86) *

Mark Liveric Mirko "Mark" Liveric ( hr, Liverić; born August 16, 1953) is an American retired Association football, soccer Striker (association football), forward who spent eight years in the North American Soccer League (1968-1984), North American Soccer Lea ...

(1985–86) * Joseph Luxbacher (1978-80) scored first goal in franchise history * Dave MacKenzie (1984–85) *

Pat McCluskey Patrick McCluskey (13 April 1952 – 24 August 2020) was a Scottish footballer. He spent most of his career in the Scottish League, except for part of one season in Ireland and one season in the United States. Career In 1970, McCluskey began h ...

(1982–83) * David McNiven (1984–85) *

(1983–86) *

Peter Mannos Peter Mannos is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who played two seasons in the North American Soccer League, one in the American Soccer League and one in Major Indoor Soccer League. He was also a two-time first team All American goalkeeper. ...

(1978–79) 16 Apps 0 Goals *

Alan Mayer Alan Mayer (born July 3, 1952) is an American retired soccer goalkeeper. He played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and earned six caps with the United States men's national soccer team. In 2019 ...

(1979–80) 17 Apps 0 Goals *

Shep Messing Shep Norman Messing (born October 9, 1949) is a retired American soccer goalkeeper and current broadcaster who works as the lead analyst for New York Red Bulls matches on the MSG Network. In 2021 he took the position of chairman of the Major Arena ...

(1984–85) * Joe Mihaljevic (1982–86) *

Piotr Mowlik Piotr Mowlik (born 21 April 1951 in Rybnik) is a retired Polish football goalkeeper. Career Club In 1965, Mowlik began as an apprentice with LZS Orzepowice. In 1966, he signed as a professional with ROW Rybnik where he played until 1970. Tha ...

(1984–86) 27 Apps 0 Goals * Bill Nichol (1981–82) 44 Apps 26 Goals * Sid Nolan (1978–79) 23 Apps 21 Goals * Grzegorz Ostalczyk (1981–85) *

(1983–84) 25 Apps 0 Goals * Art Rex (1979–80) *

Nathan Sacks Nathan Sacks ( he, נתן זקס) is a former South African professional football (soccer) player who spent one season in the North American Soccer League. Professional In 1981, Sacks signed with the Dallas Tornado of the North American Soccer ...

(1982) *

Dave Sarachan Dave Sarachan (born June 7, 1954) is an American former soccer player and coach who is currently the head coach of the Puerto Rico national team. Sarachan spent two seasons as a player in the North American Soccer League and four in Major Ind ...

(1978–79) 23 Apps 23 Goals * Krzysztof Sobieski (1981–83) 70 Apps 0 Goals *

Janusz Sybis Janusz Sybis (born 10 October 1952) is a Polish football striker Forwards (also known as attackers) are outfield positions in an association football team who play the furthest up the pitch and are therefore most responsible for scoring goal ...

(1983–86) 42 Apps 35 Goals *

Stanisław Terlecki Stanisław Andrzej Terlecki (13 November 1955 – 28 December 2017) was a Polish footballer. He played in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1981–1990. Terlecki was a MISL Most Valuable Playe ...

"Stan the Man" (1981–83) 88 Apps 139 Goals (1984–85) 39 Apps 39 Goals * George Tiger (1984–85) 93 Apps 19 Goals *

Adam Topolski Adam Stephen Topolski (born 25 December 1951) is a retired Polish football defender who played professionally Poland and the United States. Since his retirement in 1988, he has amassed a considerable resume as a coach in Poland. Player In 196 ...

(1984–86) *

Keith Tozer Keith Tozer is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the Major Indoor Soccer League, American Soccer League and American Indoor Soccer Association. He is currently the commissioner of the Major Arena Soccer League. Play ...

(1981–84) 85 Apps 8 Goals * Val Tuska (1985–86) * Bob Vosmaer (1984–85) * Roger Wynter (1984–85)

Former coaches

* Bruno Schwarz (1978–79) *

Alex Pringle Alex Pringle (born 8 November 1948) is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender. Active in Scotland and the United States, Pringle made over 100 appearances in a 10-year career. Career Born in Edinburgh, Pringle play ...

(1979) * Len Bilous (1979–80) *

John Kowalski John Kowalski (born December 22, 1951 in Miłków, Poland) is a former coach of the professional United States soccer clubs Tampa Bay Mutiny ( Major League Soccer), Pittsburgh Riverhounds ( NASL) and Pittsburgh Spirit ( MISL). He also briefly ...

(1981–85) *

Don Popovic Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON * Don (river), a river in European Russia * Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name * Don, Benin, a town in Benin * Don, Dang, a ...

(1985–1986)

Individual Honours

MISL MVP *1981–1982 – Stan Terlecki (jointly held) MISL All-Star Team *1981–1982 – Stan Terlecki *1985–1986 –

MISL Rookie of the Year *1983–1984 –

Coach of the Year *1979–80 – Len Bilous (jointly held)

References

External links

Pittsburgh Spirit on American Soccer History Archives
{{Defunct Pennsylvania sports teams Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992) teams

Spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...

Soccer clubs in Pittsburgh 1978 establishments in Pennsylvania 1986 disestablishments in Pennsylvania