Editing Los Angeles Aztecs (section)

===Michels & Cruyff years===
[[File:Los Angeles Aztecs 1979 media guide cover.png|thumb|right|upright|Head coach [[Rinus Michels]] ahead of the 1979 season]]
On November 14, 1978, team president [[Larry Friend]] announced former [[FC Barcelona]], [[AFC Ajax]], and [[Netherlands national football team|Dutch national team]] manager [[Rinus Michels]] had been hired as head coach.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aztecs hire Dutch soccer coach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pS5UAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+hire+Dutch+soccer+coach&pg=PA8&article_id=5750,2682962 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=Boca Raton News |date=November 14, 1978 |page=2B}}</ref>  Michels revamped the team's roster with only four players from the Aztecs 1978 team remaining on the roster for the [[1979 North American Soccer League season|1979 NASL season]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Los Angeles Aztecs 1979 |url=https://www.nasljerseys.com/Rosters/Aztecs_Rosters.htm#1979 |website=nasljerseys |access-date=January 17, 2022}}</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>{{cite news |title=Aztec $$ Makes Cruyff NASL's New Superstar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cyAeAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztec+%24%24+Makes+Cruyff+NASL%27s+New+Superstar&pg=PA12&article_id=3300,3861853 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=Sarasota Journal |agency=UPI |date=May 23, 1979 |page=3C}}</ref><ref name="Wilner">{{cite news |last1=Wilner |first1=Barry |title=Cruyff Takes Chance with Aztecs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=10ZKAAAAIBAJ&dq=Cruyff+Takes+Chance+with+Aztecs&pg=PA12&article_id=6884,98745 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |date=June 1, 1979 |page=22}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Stinson |first1=Dan |title=Aztecs have Dutch treat for Whitecap fans |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gvFlAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+have+Dutch+treat+for+Whitecap+fans&pg=PA53&article_id=1577,301907 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=July 11, 1979 |page=D1}}</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>{{cite news |title=Team play is secret of Aztecs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6nRkAAAAIBAJ&dq=Team+play+is+secret+of+Aztecs&pg=PA53&article_id=984,884006 |access-date=January 17, 2022 |work=The Calgary Herald |agency=AP |date=August 22, 1974 |page=C5}}</ref>  The Aztecs won the home leg of the Conference Semifinals against the [[Vancouver Whitecaps (1974–1984)|Vancouver Whitecaps]] in an overtime shootout, but lost the away leg and the 30 minute mini game.<ref>{{cite web |title=Their Finest Hour: Vancouver Whitecaps 1979 Soccer Bowl winning season (Part 13 – The Playoffs continue with the Aztecs) |url=https://aftn.ca/vancouver-whitecaps-1979-soccer-bowl-winning-season-part-13-the-playoffs-continue/ |website=Away From The Numbers |access-date=January 17, 2022}}</ref>  Cruyff was awarded the league MVP<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilner |first1=Barry |title=Pro Soccer Has Best Year Ever |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yZ8tAAAAIBAJ&dq=Pro+Soccer+Has+Best+Year+Ever&pg=PA182&article_id=2967,2798237 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Reading Eagle |date=December 23, 1979 |page=71}}</ref> and [[Larry Hulcer]] was named the Rookie of the Year for the 1979 season.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wangerin |first1=Dave |title=Soccer in a Football World |date=2006 |publisher=WSC Books, Limited |isbn=9780954013479 |page=205 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1mK2xw1E6dAC |access-date=January 18, 2022}}</ref>

From September through October 1979, the team embarked on a three-country European tour<ref>{{cite news |last1=Romine |first1=Rich |title=Sports Jabs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cHZKAAAAIBAJ&dq=Los+Angeles+Aztecs+European+tour&pg=PA13&article_id=5886,3749415 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |date=September 16, 1979 |page=24}}</ref> beginning with a 2–1 victory over [[Paris Saint-Germain F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Werneck |first1=Jose |title=Camp Neutro |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NcsxAAAAIBAJ&dq=Los+Angeles+Aztecs+at+Paris+St.+Germain&pg=PA82&article_id=6972,4025636 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Jornal do Brasil |date=September 25, 1979 |page=25 |language=pt}}</ref>  The team then played six games in the [[Netherlands]] winning three, losing two and earning one draw.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aztecs lose in exhibition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eQFlAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+F.C.+Utrecht&pg=PA68&article_id=5089,1764363 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Edmonton Journal |agency=AP |date=October 3, 1979 |location=Utrecht |page=D8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=IN Soccer.... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-5ZjAAAAIBAJ&dq=Los+Angeles+Aztecs+European+tour&pg=PA58&article_id=1893,1737508 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Star Phoenix |date=October 5, 1979 |page=C18}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Early goal dims hopes for Spain |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FZtlAAAAIBAJ&dq=Early+goal+dims+hopes+for+Spain&pg=PA47&article_id=1245,263706 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=The Vancouver Sun |date=October 11, 1979 |page=C7}}</ref>  On the team's final leg through [[England]], the Aztec drew 1–1 against [[Birmingham City F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=La Opinion |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uXtEAAAAIBAJ&dq=Cruyff%20birmingham%20city&pg=PA9 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |publisher=La Opinion |date=October 18, 1979 |language=Spanish}}</ref> and lost 2–0 to [[Chelsea F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Chelsea wins exhibition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xZ4xAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+Tie+English+Team&pg=PA147&article_id=1228,3543642 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=The Montreal Gazette |publisher=The Montreal Gazette |date=October 17, 1979 |page=34 |language=en}}</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>{{cite news |title=Washington Signs Superstar Cruyff |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qfAcAAAAIBAJ&dq=Washington+Signs+Superstar+Cruyff&pg=PA29&article_id=3669,5705745 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |agency=AP |date=February 27, 1980 |page=9D}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Tucker |first1=Bud |title=A Johan Cruyff Explained |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MBxKAAAAIBAJ&dq=A+Johan+Cruyff+Explained&pg=PA9&article_id=6646,1115229 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=The Press-Courier |date=April 5, 1980 |page=16}}</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 North American Soccer League season|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>{{cite news |title=IN Soccer.... |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hPRlAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+Defeat+Dutch+Team&pg=PA37&article_id=1027,203359 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=Edmonton Journal |publisher=Edmonton Journal |date=March 1, 1980 |page=C5 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=NASL's 14th Season Set to Unfold |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Xp00AAAAIBAJ&dq=NASL%27s+14th+Season+Set+to+Unfold&pg=PA14&article_id=5168,5518669 |access-date=January 18, 2022 |work=The Hour |publisher=The Hour |date=March 29, 1980 |page=26 |language=en}}</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 [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|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>{{cite news |last1=Feinstein |first1=John |title=Diplomats Shocked by Aztec Loss |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1980/09/01/diplomats-shocked-by-aztec-loss/ef7ef10e-18be-480c-8b58-f151b3245b57/ |access-date=January 19, 2022 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=September 1, 1980}}</ref>  The Aztecs advanced to the Conference Championships  after defeating the [[Seattle Sounders (1974–1983)|Seattle Sounders]] in another shootout after each team won their home leg and playing to a 1–1 tie in the minigame.<ref>{{cite news |title=Aztecs nip Sounders in Shootout |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kHARAAAAIBAJ&dq=Aztecs+nip+Sounders+in+Shootout&pg=PA17&article_id=4944,1315798 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |agency=AP |publisher=Eugene Register-Guard |date=September 6, 1980 |location=Seattle |page=3C |language=en}}</ref>  The Aztecs were defeated by the [[New York Cosmos (1970–1985)|New York Cosmos]] in both games of the Conference Championships.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yannis |first1=Alex |title=Cosmos Beat Aztecs; Birkenmeier Excels; Goalie Makes Spectacular Saves Cosmos Subdue Aztecs by 2–1 Neeskens Still Missing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/09/11/archives/cosmos-beat-aztecs-birkenmeier-excels-goalie-makes-spectacular.html |access-date=January 19, 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=September 11, 1980 |location=Pasadena |page=S9}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cosmos Nip Aztecs |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lA9IAAAAIBAJ&dq=Cosmos+Nip+Aztecs&pg=PA30&article_id=6320,3994302 |work=The Victoria Advocate |agency=AP |date=September 14, 1980 |location=East Rutherford |page=3B |language=en}}</ref>  Less than a month after the team was eliminated from the playoffs, Michels left the team for the position of technical director of [[1. FC Köln|FC Köln]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Sports Brief...Coach Will Not Return |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QTMcAAAAIBAJ&dq=sports+brief+stroman%2C+victoria+boosters+to+meet&pg=PA10&article_id=2924,3634697 |access-date=January 19, 2022 |work=The Victoria Advocate |publisher=The Victoria Advocate |date=October 14, 1980 |page=18 |language=en}}</ref>