Los Angeles Aztecs

Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Short description Template:Short description{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox football club with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y| alt | American | body1 | body2 | body3 | capacity | caption | chairman | chrtitle | clubname | coach | coordinates | current | dissolved | founded | fullname | ground | image | image_size | kit_alt1 | kit_alt2 | kit_alt3 | league | leftarm1 | leftarm2 | leftarm3 | manager | mgrtitle | nickname | owner | owntitle | pattern_b1 | pattern_b2 | pattern_b3 | pattern_la1 | pattern_la2 | pattern_la3 | pattern_name1 | pattern_name2 | pattern_name3 | pattern_ra1 | pattern_ra2 | pattern_ra3 | pattern_sh1 | pattern_sh2 | pattern_sh3 | pattern_so1 | pattern_so2 | pattern_so3 | position | rightarm1 | rightarm2 | rightarm3 | season | short name | shorts1 | shorts2 | shorts3 | socks1 | socks2 | socks3 | stadium | title | upright | website }}{{#if:True| }}{{#if:| }} The Los Angeles Aztecs were an American professional soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, that existed from 1974 to 1981. The Aztecs competed in the North American Soccer League (NASL) from 1974 to 1981 as well as the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament, the 1979–80 and 1980–81 NASL Indoor seasons, and won the NASL Championship in 1974. During their eight years of existence, the Aztecs played at four different venues and were controlled by four different ownership groups European soccer legends George Best and Johan Cruyff played for the team, and from 1975 to 1977 English singer Elton John was a part-owner.

HistoryEdit

Founding and first season successEdit

In January 1974, looking to build off what was considered increasing public interest in professional soccer, the North American Soccer League (NASL) announced Los Angeles as one of six cities awarded an expansion team for the upcoming 1974 season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Jack Gregory, a local doctor and real estate investor, paid the franchise fee and acted as team owner <ref name="SportsScene">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="LATimes">Template:Cite news</ref> and Alex Perolli was appointed the first head coach.<ref name="SportsScene"/><ref name="TACO">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> After playing a series of pre-season friendlies against teams from Mexico,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the Aztecs opened their first NASL season with a 2–1 win over the Seattle Sounders at the East Los Angeles College Stadium with 4,107 fans in attendance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After three consecutive victories to start the season, Perolli publicly criticized and then fired his starting goal keeper, Trinidad and Tobago international Kelvin Barclay, after he allowed three goals in the second half.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The Aztecs finished the season with a record of 11 wins, 2 draws and 7 losses, averaging 5,098 fans per game, and winning first place in the Western Division .<ref name="NASL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Forward Doug McMillan scored eleven goals and was named Rookie of the Year for the 1974 season, an honor he had separately won the previous season with the Cleveland Stars of the American Soccer League.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Having earned a first round bye, the Aztecs defeated the Boston Minutemen 2–0 at home in the semi-finals.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Having earned the most points during the season, Los Angeles shouldTemplate:Cn have hosted the NASL Final 1974; however, due to the CBS televised start time of 3:30 (EDT)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and other factorsTemplate:Cn, the game was moved to the Miami Orange Bowl.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On August 25, 1974, with 15,507 people in attendance, the Los Angeles Aztecs and the Miami Toros played to a 3–3 draw in regular time, after which Los Angeles won the penalty shoot-out 5–3 to win the 1974 NASL Championship.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was the second year in a row that an expansion franchise and won the championship<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> following the Philadelphia Atoms in 1973.

New ownershipEdit

Following the 1974 season, Alex Perolli left his position as head coach to take up the same job at the expansion San Antonio Thunder<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and owner Jack Gregory sold his interest in the team to a group headed by John Chaffetz.<ref name="LATimes"/><ref name="TACO" /><ref name="Durslag">Template:Cite news</ref> The new owners hired 25-year-old Terry Fisher, at the time the youngest coach in the NASL, giving him a two-year contract as head coach.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> That February, the team traded its first and second draft choices to the expansion Chicago Sting and drafted Michael Bain, two-time All-American and captain of the 1974 NCAA Division I Soccer champions Howard Bison.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>Template:Efn The Aztecs were one of the sixteen NASL teams to participate in the 1975 NASL Indoor tournament. In total, the Aztecs played three indoor matches in 1975, a pre-tournament tune-up match against the San Jose Earthquakes on February 14, and tournament matches against the Vancouver Whitecaps and Seattle Sounders.<ref name="Indoor">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The Aztecs opened the 1975 North American Soccer League season with a 2–1 victory on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The team's first home sellout occurred on July 3, 1975, in a 5–1 rout of the Pelé led New York Cosmos, Uri Banhoffer scored a hat-trick and was named NASL player of the week for his performance.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team officially protested their 2 August 1975 2–1 overtime loss to Earthquakes stating crowd noise prevented head coach Fisher from communicating with his players between the end of regulation and the beginning of overtime.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team finished the season with a record of twelve wins and ten losses, ending in third place of the Western Division.<ref name="NASL"/> Making the playoffs as a wild card after Chicago Sting lost their final game of the season to the Washington Diplomats,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> the Aztecs were defeated by the St. Louis Stars in a quarter-finals match that was decided by a penalty shoot-out.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Best yearsEdit

File:George Best, Los Angeles Aztecs 1979 media guide page 53.png

George Best playing for the Aztecs

Following the 1975 season, English singer Elton John, purchased a stake in the team, and was given permission by the league to sit on the bench during games.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> A few weeks later, Managing General Partner Chaffetz announced the team's intention of signing 1968 Ballon d'Or winner George Best, who had been released by Manchester United.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After some confusion in December between the team announcing Best's signing<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the player denying he had,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> George Best arrived in Los Angeles on February 20, 1976.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs opened the 1976 North American Soccer League season on the road with a 1–2 loss against the San Jose Earthquakes, Best scored his first of fifteen goals for the season on April 25, 1976, in the team's home opener against the Rochester Lancers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Los Angeles finished the season in third place of the Pacific Conference Southern Division with a record of twelve wins and twelve losses.<ref name="NASL"/> The Aztecs were defeated in the First Round of the playoffs 2–0 by the Dallas Tornado on August 18, 1976.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After playing the previous two seasons at Murdock Stadium on the campus of El Camino College, the team moved to the L.A. Coliseum for the 1977 season.<ref name="Tucker">Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs began the 1977 North American Soccer League season on the road against the Earthquakes again, this time beating San Jose 3–0.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On July 3, 1977, the largest home crowd of the season, 32,165, attended the game against the Cosmos, for Brazilian superstar Pelé's last competitive appearance in Los Angeles. The Aztec won the game 4–1.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs finished the season in second place of the Pacific Conference Southern Division with a record of fifteen wins and eleven losses.<ref name="NASL"/> The Aztecs were defeated by the Seattle Sounders in the Conference Championships<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after having beaten the Earthquakes in the first round,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Dallas Tornado over two-legs in the Division Championships.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After the season, the team was purchased by a group headed by Alan Rothenberg<ref name="LATimes"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with former Los Angeles Lakers player Rudy LaRusso named general manager.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs also signed a lease to play its homes matches at the Rose Bowl for the 1978 North American Soccer League season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In the first game of the season, the Aztecs lost to the Houston Hurricane in a shoot-out after playing to a 2–2 draw.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Rumor's of Best's extravagant lifestyle and various personal problems, including alcoholism, began to spread during the previous season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After missing two training sessions and meeting with the team owners to address his concerns with the direction of the club, Best skipped the team's final practice before their May 10, 1978, match against the Oakland Stompers,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and the team announced his indefinite suspension.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The following month, the team traded Best to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, with the Aztecs receiving players George Dewsnip, Andy Rowland and the Strikers first 1980 draft choice.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On June 6, 1978, and with a record of five wins in thirteen games, the Aztecs fired head coach Terry Fisher and replaced him with Tommy Smith.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With only three wins during the next fourteen games, Smith was replaced by team Director of Personnel Peter Short for the final two games of the season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs finished the season in last place of the National Conference Western Division, recording nine wins and twenty-one loses. It was the team's worst outdoor season record and the only outdoor season the Aztecs did not qualify for the playoffs.<ref name="NASL"/> The Aztecs did not participate in the 1978 NASL Skelly Indoor Invitational, but did play a few indoor exhibition games in March 1978.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Michels & Cruyff yearsEdit

File:Los Angeles Aztecs 1979 media guide cover.png

Head coach Rinus Michels ahead of the 1979 season

On November 14, 1978, team president Larry Friend announced former FC Barcelona, AFC Ajax, and Dutch national team manager Rinus Michels had been hired as head coach.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Michels revamped the team's roster with only four players from the Aztecs 1978 team remaining on the roster for the 1979 NASL season.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The Aztecs started the season with a record of five wins in seven games when on May 22, 1979, the team announced the signing of three-time Ballon d'Or winner Johan Cruyff on a $1.4 million contract over two years which also included a percentage of gate receipts, making Cruyff the highest paid athlete in Southern California.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Wilner">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs finished the season in second place of the National Conference Western Division with a record of eighteen wins and twelve losses.<ref name="NASL"/> Prior to signing Cruyff, the Aztecs averaged 7,500 fans a game, but ended the season with an average attendance of 14,333.<ref name="Wilner"/><ref name="NASL"/> The Aztecs defeated the Washington Diplomats two games to none in the first round of the playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs won the home leg of the Conference Semifinals against the Vancouver Whitecaps in an overtime shootout, but lost the away leg and the 30 minute mini game.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Cruyff was awarded the league MVP<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and Larry Hulcer was named the Rookie of the Year for the 1979 season.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

From September through October 1979, the team embarked on a three-country European tour<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> beginning with a 2–1 victory over Paris Saint-Germain F.C.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team then played six games in the Netherlands winning three, losing two and earning one draw.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On the team's final leg through England, the Aztec drew 1–1 against Birmingham City F.C.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and lost 2–0 to Chelsea F.C.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Mexican media company Televisa purchased the team in early 1980 and sold the team's rights to Johan Cruyff to the Washington Diplomats for $1 million in order to save payroll money and foster a different image for the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs participated in the 1979–80 NASL Indoor season earning only two wins in twelve matches.<ref name="NASL"/> A few weeks prior to the beginning of the 1980 outdoor season, Michels resigned has head coach, but was able to reach an agreement with the new owners and confirmed he would be returning.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs finished the 1980 season in second place of the National Conference Western Division with a record of twenty wins and twelve losses.<ref name="NASL"/> Losing the first game of the Conference Quarterfinals at RFK Stadium the Aztecs defeated the Diplomats in the series by winning the home leg in a shootout, and the 30-minute minigame 2–0.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs advanced to the Conference Championships after defeating the Seattle Sounders in another shootout after each team won their home leg and playing to a 1–1 tie in the minigame.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs were defeated by the New York Cosmos in both games of the Conference Championships.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Less than a month after the team was eliminated from the playoffs, Michels left the team for the position of technical director of FC Köln.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Final seasonEdit

The Aztecs achieved their best indoor season record with eleven wins and seven loses and earning first place of the Western Division in the 1980–81 NASL Indoor season<ref name="NASL"/> but were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by Edmonton Drillers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On January 9, 1981, the Aztecs announced Cláudio Coutinho had signed a two-year contract to coach the team.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team also moved back to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to play their home games for the 1981 outdoor season.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The Aztecs finished the 1981 North American Soccer League season in second place of the Western Division with a record of nineteen wins and thirteen losses and an average attendance of 5,814.<ref name="NASL"/> The team was knocked out of the first round of the playoffs by the Montreal Manic two games to one, the last game decided on a controversial penalty call in overtime.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following the season on December 9, 1981, Televisa released a statement stating the team would not be operating for the 1982 season and that any remaining player contracts would be sold.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Year-by-yearEdit

Year	Division	League	Reg. season	Playoffs	Open Cup	Avg. Attend.
1974	1	NASL	1st, Western	Champions	did not enter	5,098
1975	N/A	NASL Indoor	3rd, Region 4	did not qualify	N/A	N/A
1975	1	NASL	3rd, Western	Quarterfinals	did not enter	8,307
1976	1	NASL	3rd, Pacific Southern	1st Round	did not enter	8,051
1977	1	NASL	3rd, Pacific Southern	Semifinals	did not enter	9,638
1978	1	NASL	4th, National Western	did not qualify	did not enter	9,301
1979	1	NASL	2nd, National Western	Conference Semifinals	did not enter	14,334
1979–80	N/A	NASL Indoor	5th, Western	did not qualify	N/A	3,152
1980	1	NASL	2nd, National Western	Conference Championships	did not enter	12,057
1980–81	N/A	NASL Indoor	1st, Western	1st Round	N/A	3,439
1981	1	NASL	2nd, Western	1st Round	did not enter	5,814