Soccer Digest November 1984

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The forgotten story of … Steve Zungul, indoor soccer’s greatest ever player

Slavisa Zungul was a 1970s star for Hajduk Split. But then he moved to America, changed his name to Steve, and racked up the most goals in MISL history

Steve Zungul of the Golden Bay Earthquakes graces the cover featuring his “Outdoor” play at San Jose. The “Lord of All Indoors” proved he could dominate the traditional game too. Unfortunately 1984 proved to be the NASL’s final season. Shortly thereafter he would be sold to the San Diego Sockers in a blockbuster move. That trade/sale included Zungul, Branko Segota, George Katakilidis and Fernando Clavijo.

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle soccerwriter Michael Lewis describes “The Growth—And Growing Pains—Of The MISL”. This was the era that the Baltimore Blast played to 93% capacity at the Baltimore Civic Center (averaging 11,188 fans per game). On the other hand, the Buffalo Stallions once healthy average of 9,400 per game the team dropped to 5,183 fans per game.

Further back, Baltimore Sun Blast beat writer, Bill Glauber, breaks down how “The Blue-collar Blast Moved into the Penthouse”. The Blast won the 1983-84 MISL Crown in a Socker-less MISL season. The San Diego Sockers moved back to the NASL Indoor league for its final season. Glauber also pens a piece on Blast coach “Ken Cooper: He’s ‘Married’ To The Blast”.

And finally, St. Louis Post-Dispatch soccer writer Arnold Irish reports “The Steamers Chugged Along Despite Injuries”

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