Mark Simanton is a retired American soccer midfielder who spent his entire professional career with the Chicago Sting.
 Simanton circa 1984 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | December 8, 1958 | ||
| Place of birth | Chicago, Illinois, United States | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1976–1979 | Indiana Hoosiers | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980–1984 | Chicago Sting | 84 | (3) |
| 1980–1982 | Chicago Sting (NASL indoor) | 65 | (34) |
| 1982–1987 | Chicago Sting (MISL indoor) | 115 | (13) |
| Total | 264 | (50) | |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Simanton graduated from New Trier West High School. He attended the Indiana University where he played on the men's soccer team from 1976 to 1979.[1]
In 1980, Simanton turned professional with the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League. He would remain with the Sting for his entire career which consisted of five outdoor seasons, two NASL indoor seasons and four seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League. During these years, the Sting won both the 1981 and 1984 NASL titles. In 1987, Simanton publicly criticized the Sting for hiring Erich Geyer as head coach. He became a free agent that summer and refused to sign with the Sting.[2] He then became a vice-president of Huron Partners, a real estate development company. He also served as a broadcast analyst for Sting games.
References
edit- ^ IU Hoosiers soccer records
- ^ Simanton puts sting on Geyer Chicago Sun-Times - Tuesday, September 29, 1987