International Soccer League

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The International Soccer League (ISL) was a soccer league in the United States from 1960 to 1965. Divided into two groups, well-known European and American teams changed every year, for example FC Bayern Munich in 1960 and Dukla Prague in 1961 , later for example West Ham United or Werder Bremen .

history

The ISL was founded in 1960 by William D. Cox, a former owner of the Philadelphia Phillies baseball club . Cox believed that a football league could establish itself in the United States.

In the International Soccer League during the US off-season, European teams in particular played against each other in two groups of four to eight teams each. The group winners met in one game in 1960, then back and forth to play the ISL championship.

After Dukla Prague had dominated the ISL in 1961, the so-called American Challenge Cup was launched the following year , in which Dukla competed against the ISL master. In these comparisons, the Prague Army Club was always victorious until 1965.

The ISL games were mainly played in New York , with other venues including Montreal , Chicago , Detroit , Chicopee , Guadalajara , Cleveland and later Boston and Los Angeles .

The so-called Dwight D. Eisenhower Trophy was awarded to the best player in the league.

Although the league did well, the summer of 1965 was the final season. The American association USSFA opposed the "import" of foreign teams and Cox was forced to dissolve the ISL.

winner

ISL Championship

American Challenge Cup

  • 1962 Dukla Prague
  • 1963 Dukla Prague
  • 1964 Dukla Prague
  • 1965 Polonia Bytom

Dwight D. Eisenhower Trophy

Web links and sources

Commons : International Soccer League  - Collection of images, videos and audio files