Editing Los Angeles Aztecs (section)

===Best years===
[[File:George Best, Los Angeles Aztecs 1979 media guide page 53.png|thumb|[[George Best]] playing for the Aztecs]]
Following the [[1975 North American Soccer League season|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>{{cite news |last1=Yannis |first1=Alex |title=Elton John Acquires An Interest in Aztecs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/11/05/archives/elton-john-acquires-an-interest-in-aztecs.html |access-date=January 10, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=November 5, 1975}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Elton John And Aztecs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x_xYAAAAIBAJ&dq=los+angeles+aztecs+elton+john&pg=PA5&article_id=3189,3813548 |access-date=January 10, 2022 |work=The Daily Union Democrat |agency=UPI |date=December 10, 1975}}</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 F.C.|Manchester United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Aztecs seek George Best |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9-9LAAAAIBAJ&dq=george+best+los+angeles+1975&pg=PA7&article_id=4015,2452595 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Spokesman-Review |agency=AP |date=November 20, 1975 |page=17}}</ref>  After some confusion in December between the team announcing Best's signing<ref>{{cite news |title=Aztecs sing Best |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jjtVAAAAIBAJ&dq=los+angeles+aztecs+sign+george+best&pg=PA49&article_id=3653,887384 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Leader-Post |agency=AP |date=December 3, 1975 |page=49}}</ref> and the player denying he had,<ref>{{cite news |title=Soccer Star yet to sign |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kTtVAAAAIBAJ&dq=los+angeles+aztecs+sign+george+best&pg=PA20&article_id=5122,1924170 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Leader-Post |agency=AP |date=December 6, 1975 |location=London |page=20}}</ref> George Best arrived in Los Angeles on February 20, 1976.<ref>{{cite news |title=British Soccer Star Best Arrives in LA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xsJdAAAAIBAJ&dq=los+angeles+aztecs+george+best&pg=PA12&article_id=4042,4052220 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |agency=AP |date=February 21, 1976 |location=Los Angeles |page=12}}</ref>  The Aztecs opened the [[1976 North American Soccer League season]] on the road with a 1–2 loss against the [[San Jose Earthquakes (1974–1988)|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 (1967–1980)|Rochester Lancers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Best's Goal Gives Aztecs Soccer Win |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r8NdAAAAIBAJ&dq=los+Angeles+Aztecs+Rochester+Lancers+george+best&pg=PA85&article_id=2036,4884444 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |agency=AP |date=April 25, 1976 |location=Los Angeles |page=10}}</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>{{cite news |title=Soccer Roundup |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1AAMAAAAIBAJ&dq=dallas+tornado+los+angeles+aztecs+1976+playoffs&pg=PA18&article_id=6613,834376 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Evening Independent |agency=AP |date=August 19, 1976 |page=4C}}</ref>

After playing the previous two seasons at [[Featherstone Field|Murdock Stadium]] on the campus of [[El Camino College]], the team moved to the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum|L.A. Coliseum]] for the 1977 season.<ref name="Tucker">{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Bud |title=Soccer On Way Up? |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-8FdAAAAIBAJ&dq=aztecs+move+to+coliseum+1977&pg=PA27&article_id=5971,3636373 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |date=April 17, 1978 |page=27}}</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>{{cite web |title=North American Soccer League – 1977 → Saturday, April 09, 1977 → Los Angeles Aztecs 3 San Jose Earthquakes 0 |url=http://soccerstats.us/games/39990/ |website=SoccerStats.us |access-date=January 11, 2022}}</ref>  On July 3, 1977, the largest home crowd of the season, 32,165, attended the game against the [[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|Cosmos]], for Brazilian superstar [[Pelé]]'s last competitive appearance in Los Angeles. The Aztec won the game 4–1.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aztecs Defeat Cosmos, 4–1, Before 32,165 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=soVKAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+Defeat+Cosmos%2C+4-1%2C+Before+32%2C165&pg=PA13&article_id=4150,407512 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |date=July 3, 1977 |page=24}}</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 (1974–1983)|Seattle Sounders]] in the Conference Championships<ref>{{cite news |title=Pele, Cosmos face Seattle Sunday in Portland |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JftXAAAAIBAJ&dq=Pele%2C+Cosmos+face+Seattle+Sunday+in+Portland&pg=PA14&article_id=4673,1829755 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=The Bulletin |date=August 26, 1977}}</ref> after having beaten the Earthquakes in the first round,<ref>{{cite news |title=Rochester, LA, Seattle Advance |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=W_gLAAAAIBAJ&dq=Rochester%2C+LA%2C+Seattle+Advance&pg=PA17&article_id=6587,2321791 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=The Evening Independent |agency=AP |date=August 11, 1977 |page=2C}}</ref> and [[Dallas Tornado]] over two-legs in the Division Championships.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tornado to host Aztecs tomorrow |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nv1RAAAAIBAJ&dq=Tornado+to+host+Aztecs+tomorrow&pg=PA1&article_id=1594,3149815 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=Mid Cities Daily News |date=August 17, 1977 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Just A Few More Gang |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EeJdAAAAIBAJ&dq=los+angeles+aztecs+seattle+1977+NASL+playoffs&pg=PA17&article_id=1255,2978380 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=Observer-Reporter |date=August 20, 1977 |page=B3}}</ref>

After the season, the team was purchased by a group headed by [[Alan Rothenberg]]<ref name="LATimes"/><ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. soccer chief faces selling job |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FBwaAAAAIBAJ&dq=U.S.+soccer+chief+faces+selling+job&pg=PA13&article_id=5285,4887664 |access-date=January 13, 2022 |work=The Times-News |agency=AP |date=October 21, 1990 |page=8B}}</ref> with former [[Los Angeles Lakers]] player [[Rudy LaRusso]] named general manager.<ref>{{cite news |title=NASL's Aztecs name new general manager |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pWdQAAAAIBAJ&dq=NASL%27s+Aztecs+name+new+general+manager&pg=PA25&article_id=4918,3273470 |access-date=January 13, 2022 |work=St. Petersburg Times |date=November 5, 1977 |page=3C}}</ref>  The Aztecs also signed a lease to play its homes matches at the [[Rose Bowl (stadium)|Rose Bowl]] for the [[1978 North American Soccer League season]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Round Up |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sDJcAAAAIBAJ&dq=los+angeles+aztecs+move+to+coliseum&pg=PA20&article_id=1157,4833506 |access-date=January 12, 2022 |work=The Daily Sentinel |date=December 14, 1977}}</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>{{cite web |title=North American Soccer League – 1978 → Sunday, April 02, 1978 Rose Bowl |url=http://soccerstats.us/games/42068/ |website=SoccerStats.us |access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref> Rumor's of Best's extravagant lifestyle and various personal problems, including [[alcoholism]], began to spread during the previous season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Murray |first1=Jim |title=Now playing for Aztecs George Best part-time superstar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aGEwAAAAIBAJ&dq=Now+playing+for+Aztecs+George+Best+part-time+superstar&pg=PA20&article_id=6818,4546975 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=The Spokesman-Review |publisher=Los Angeles Times |date=May 27, 1977 |page=39}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Burn |first1=George |title=The long goodbye |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/nov/25/sport.comment2 |access-date=January 11, 2022 |work=the Guardian |date=November 24, 2005}}</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>{{cite news |title=George Best Leaves Aztecs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OIQsAAAAIBAJ&dq=George+Best+Leaves+Aztecs&pg=PA19&article_id=2674,2505315 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=Spartnburg Herald |agency=AP |date=May 11, 1978 |page=D3}}</ref> and the team announced his indefinite suspension.<ref>{{cite news |title=Best Given Suspension With Aztecs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BcZKAAAAIBAJ&dq=Best+Given+Suspension+With+Aztecs&pg=PA12&article_id=3066,2566655 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |agency=AP |date=May 10, 1978}}</ref> The following month, the team traded Best to the [[Fort Lauderdale Strikers (1977–1983)|Fort Lauderdale Strikers]], with the Aztecs receiving players [[George Dewsnip]], [[Andy Rowland]] and the Strikers first 1980 draft choice.<ref>{{cite news |title=Strikers Obtain George Best |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FPEcAAAAIBAJ&dq=Strikers+Obtain+George+Best&pg=PA31&article_id=4936,3924249 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=AP |date=June 25, 1978 |page=7D}}</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 (footballer, born 1945)|Tommy Smith]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Aztecs Fire Coach Fisher |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9wZMAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+Fire+Coach+Fisher&pg=PA7&article_id=4816,1149640 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |agency=AP |date=June 6, 1978}}</ref> With only three wins during the next fourteen games, Smith was replaced by team Director of Personnel [[Peter Short (footballer)|Peter Short]] for the final two games of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Romie |first1=Rich |title=Colton, Bruner Starting Tigers Peter Short |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0CBLAAAAIBAJ&dq=Colton%2C+Bruner+Starting+Tigers+peter+short&pg=PA10&article_id=6981,4142994 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |date=October 19, 1978 |page=19}}</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>{{cite news |title=Lindsay Leads Hurricane Romp |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u1pQAAAAIBAJ&dq=Lindsay+Leads+Hurricane+Romp&pg=PA21&article_id=4348,3615491 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=St. Petersburg Independent |agency=AP |date=March 15, 1978 |location=Houston |page=2-C}}</ref>