Robert Meschbach
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Robert Meschbach is a retired American soccer player of Austrian heritage.
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[edit] High School
Robert Meschbach was an All-American at Gordon Tech High School in Chicago, IL. In 2 seasons, he scored 105 goals. 71 of those goals were scored in his final season, then a national record. Meschbach played for Rapid Vienna in the Austrian Bundesliga and Werder Bremen in the German Bundesliga but turned down a contract offer in lieu of a scholarship at Indiana University.
[edit] College
At Indiana University, Meschbach became a 1st team All-American in 1980, and runner-up for the Hermann Award (the equivalent of the Heisman Trophy). Meschbach had 61 total goals while at IU, leading the nation in scoring his senior year with 27. During his tenure at IU, the team had a 76-9-4 record with 2 final four appearances. Meschbach scored a hat-trick in 8 minutes, 50 seconds against the Cincinnati Bearcats on October 8, 1980, an NCAA record until 1985.
[edit] Professional
In 1980, Meschbach was the first player drafted for the Chicago Horizon of the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also was a first round draft pick in the North American Soccer League to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and opted to play for the Strikers. With the Strikers, Meschbach won Rookie of the Year honors, was voted NASL player of the week, and was considered one of the top Americans in the NASL. Robert's childhood idol was Gerd Müller, who also played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. In 1984, Meschbach was traded to the Chicago Sting and helped them win the NASL Championship. Meschbach finished his professional career playing for the New York Cosmos, San Diego Sockers, and the Chicago Power. He now coaches for FC United.
