soccer
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 players who primarily use their feet to propel the ball around a rectangular field called a pitch. The objective of the game is ...
player professionally in the
North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League may refer to:
*North American Soccer League (1968–1984), a former Division I league
*North American Soccer League (2011–2017)
The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league b ...
cap
A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...
with the
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team (USMNT) represents the United States in men's international soccer competitions. The team is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and is a member of FIFA and CONCACAF.
The U.S. team ha ...
in 1975.
Player
Youth
Pires grew up in
Newark, New Jersey
Newark ( , ) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Jersey and the seat of Essex County and the second largest city within the New York metropolitan area.East Side High School. He was a three sport varsity letterman in soccer, baseball and basketball. When he was still in high school, he also played for the Newark Benfica. When he was seventeen, he scored three goals in Benfica’s 5-1 victory over the New York Ukrainians in an indoor tournament held at the Elizabeth Armory. He attended
Montclair State College
Montclair State University (MSU) is a public research university in Montclair, New Jersey, with parts of the campus extending into Little Falls. As of fall 2018, Montclair State was, by enrollment, the second largest public university in New ...
.
Professional
In 1974, Pires began his professional career with the
Rhode Island Oceaneers Home field was Pierce field East Providence RI
Rhode Island Oceaneers was a soccer team.
History
The original Rhode Island Oceaneers soccer team was established in 1974. That season, they won the league title after a 16-2 regular season. U.S. Socc ...
of the American Soccer League. He played two seasons in Rhode Island. In 1976, Pires played a single season in the
North American Soccer League The North American Soccer League may refer to:
*North American Soccer League (1968–1984), a former Division I league
*North American Soccer League (2011–2017)
The North American Soccer League (NASL) was a professional men's soccer league b ...
(NASL) with the
Hartford Bicentennials
The Connecticut Bicentennials were an American soccer team that competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1975 to 1977. Originally founded as the Hartford Bicentennials, the team relocated to New Haven, Connecticut after the 19 ...
. In 1977, he was with the
New Jersey Americans
New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created.
New or NEW may refer to:
Music
* New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz
Albums and EPs
* ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013
* ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...
in the ASL. That season, he scored nine goals in twenty-two games as the Americans took the ASL title with a win over the Sacramento Spirits in the championship game. Pires scored a goal in the 3–0 victory. Pires then spent two seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. In 1978–1979, he played for the Cincinnati Kids and in 1979–1980 for the
Hartford Hellions
The Hartford Hellions were a soccer team based out of Hartford, Connecticut that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1979 to 1981. The Hellions played their first season in the New Haven Coliseum before moving to the remo ...
.
National team
Pires earned one
cap
A cap is a flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head. They made their first appearance as early as 3200 BC. Caps typically have a visor, or no brim at all. They are popular in casual and informal se ...
Poland
Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...
on June 24, 1975. He also appeared with the U.S. Olympic soccer team as it attempted, but failed, to qualify for the
1976 Summer Olympics
Events January
* January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force.
* January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea.
* January 11 – The 1976 Phi ...
. However, Pires did score in a 4–2 loss to Mexico in the last qualification game on August 28, 1975. He also played on the 1975 U.S.
Pan American Games
The Pan American Games (also known colloquially as the Pan Am Games) is a continental multi-sport event in the Americas featuring summer sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The competition is held ...
soccer team.
Coach
In March 1981, Pires was hired as the head coach of the New England Sharks of the American Soccer League.''NEW BEDFORD GETS FRANCHISE IN ASL'' Boston Globe - Tuesday, March 17, 1981