Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–1992)

For usages of the name, see Major Indoor Soccer League.

The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States. After the league folded in 1992, the Cleveland and Wichita teams joined the National Professional Soccer League. Two other teams (Dallas and San Diego) helped found the Continental Indoor Soccer League.

For two weeks in 1986, players faced a lockout as part of a labor dispute.

The MISL was one of the few "non-major" (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL) leagues to actually have a video game of its sport created. MISL Soccer came out in 1988 for the Commodore 64.

All-time statistics leaders

Points

1. 1,123--Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
2. 841--Branko Segota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St.Louis Storm)
3. 690--Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
4. 686--Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
5. 683--Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)
6. 682--Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
7. 664--Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
8. 612--Chico Borja (Las Vegas Americans, Wichita Wings, Los Angeles Lazers)
9. 544--Fred Grgurev (Philadelphia Fever, New York Arrows, New Jersey Rockets, Memphis/Las Vegas Americans, Pittsburgh Spirit, New York Express)
10. 542--Stan Stamenkovic (Memphis Americans, Baltimore Blast)

Goals

1. 652--Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Goden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
2. 463--Branko Segota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
3. 406--Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks, Wichita Wings)
4. 406--Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
5. 344--Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
6. 332--Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
7. 331--Fred Grgurev (Philadelphia Fever, New York Arrows, New Jersey Rockets, Memphis/Las Vegas Americans, Pittsburgh Spirit, New York Express)
8. 307--Andy Chapman (Wichita Wings, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast)
9. 297--Craig Allen (New Jersey Rockets, Cleveland Force)
10. 297--Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)

Assists

1. 471--Steve Zungul (New York Arrows, Golden Bay Earthquakes, San Diego Sockers, Tacoma Stars)
2. 386--Kai Haaskivi (Houston Summit, Cleveland Force, Baltimore Blast, Cleveland Crunch)
3. 378--Branko Segota (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
4. 338--Chico Borja (New York Cosmos, Las Vegas Americans, Wichita Wings, Los Angeles Lazers)
5. 338--Jan Goossens (Golden Bay Earthquakes, Minnesota Strikers, Kansas City Comets, Dallas Sidekicks)
6. 332--Preki (Tacoma Stars, St. Louis Storm)
7. 311--Stan Stamenkovic (Memphis Americans, Baltimore Blast)
8. 284--Tatu (Dallas Sidekicks)
9. 280--Dale Mitchell (Tacoma Stars, Kansas City Comets, Baltimore Blast)
10. 271--Jorgen Kristensen (Wichita Wings, Kansas City Comets)

Goals against average

(9,500 minutes minimum)

1. 4.03--Zoltan Toth (New York Arrows, San Diego Sockers, St. Louis Storm)
2. 4.09--Tino Lettieri (Minnesota Strikers)
3. 4.14--Krzysztof Sobieski (Pittsburgh Spirit, Cleveland Force, Dallas Sidekicks)
4. 4.18--Victor Nogueira (Chicago Sting, Cleveland Force, San Diego Sockers)
5. 4.21--David Brcic (New York Cosmos, Wichita Wings, Pittsburgh Spirit, Los Angeles Lazers, Kansas City Comets, St. Louis Storm)
6. 4.26--Slobo Ilijevski (St. Louis Steamers, Baltimore Blast, St. Louis Storm)
7. 4.32--P.J. Johns (Cleveland Force, Tacoma Stars, Cleveland Crunch)
8. 4.35--Jim Gorsek (San Diego Sockers, Los Angeles Lazers, Kansas City Comets, St. Louis Storm)
9. 4.3972--Joe Papaleo (Pittsburgh Spirit, Tacoma Stars, Dallas Sidekicks)
10. 4.3979--Keith Van Eron (Cincinnati Kids, Wichita Wings, Philadelphia Fever, Baltimore Blast, Las Vegas Americans)

MISL/MSL Championship Series

*Single-game championship

Awards

Most Valuable Player

Scoring Champion

MISL Pass Master

The Pass Master award was given out to the player with the most assists during the regular season.

Defender of the Year

Goalkeeper of the Year

Rookie Of The Year

Newcomer Of The Year

This award was given to 'the most outstanding player in his first year of competition in the Major Indoor Soccer League' in order to differentiate it from the Rookie Of The Year award.

Coach Of The Year

Championship Series Most Valuable Player

Championship Series Unsung Hero

Attendance

MISL Teams

Commissioners

• Earl Foreman (1978-1985)
• Francis Dale (1985-1986)
• Bill Kentling (1986-1989)
• Earl Foreman (1989-1992)

Prominent players

References

Leary, Dan; Griffin, John (1987). MISL Official Tenth Anniversary Guide. New York, NY: Major Indoor Soccer League Communications Department. 

External links

• The MISL: A Look Back
• All-Time MISL Standings
• MISL Attendance
• Top Attendance in United States Soccer
• MISL Yearly Awards
• Major Indoor Soccer League history – American Soccer History Archives