Branko Segota

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Branimir "Branko" Segota (born June 8, 1961 in Croatia) is a former Canadian professional soccer forward, starring in the original Major Indoor Soccer League, the North American Soccer League, the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the National Professional Soccer League, and the Canadian Soccer League.

Raised in Toronto, Segota began his pro soccer career at age 17, signing with the New York Arrows of MISL. He was named NASL player of the year in 1984 with the Golden Bay Earthquakes. During his 18 year pro career he also played outdoors in the NASL in 1979 and 1980 with Rochester Lancers and from 1981 to '83 with Fort Lauderdale Strikers and several summers after that in the Canadian Soccer League with the Toronto Blizzard. Segota played winters in the MISL with the Arrows, San Diego Sockers from 1984-85 through 1990-91, Baltimore Blast, and Las Vegas Americans. He played indoors (in at least 1994) for the Las Vegas Dustdevils of the CISL and as recently as 1997 for the Baltimore Spirit of the National Professional Soccer League.

Segota scored 73 goals in 147 regular season NASL games to rank 13th in the history of the league. He also scored 12 goals in 13 play-off games, including 11 in the 1981 play-offs. In the history of the original MISL he ranked second in career goal and points scoring with 463 goals and 841 points. His 378 assists ranks him third. His being nine MISL championship teams, three with the Arrows and 6 with the Sockers is also a record. He was a five-time MISL all-star.

Segota earned 19 caps for Canada men's national soccer team including appearances as a substitute in all 3 of the country's 1986 World Cup games. He played for Canada at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship, scoring twice in 3 matches. He earned his first senior cap against Mexico in 1980 and scored twice in his 19 appearances. He was inducted into the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in 2002.

Segota served as an assistant coach with the Cleveland Internationals of the Premier Development League in 2004 after coaching their youth program for 6 years. He has two children, Ashley and Toni, with his wife Ena Segota.

Segota is of Croatian descent.

v • d • e Canada squad - 1986 FIFA World Cup 1 Lettieri • 2 Lenarduzzi • 3 Wilson • 4 Ragan • 5 Moore • 6 Bridge • 7 Valentine • 8 Gray • 9 Segota • 10 Vrablic • 11 Sweeney • 12 Samuel • 13 Pakos • 14 Mitchell • 15 James • 16 Ion • 17 Norman • 18 Lowery • 19 De Luca • 20 Miller • 21 Habermann • 22 Dolan • Coach: Waiters

[edit] Sources

• USLSoccer.com with news of Segota joining Internationals coaching staff
• Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame entry