Miami Toros

Miami Toros (1973–76)
Full name	Miami Gatos / Miami Toros
Founded	(Previously Washington Darts); 1972 Miami Gatos; 1973 Miami Toros
Dissolved	1976; (rebranded Fort Lauderdale Strikers)
Stadium	Miami-Dade North Stadium (1972), ; Miami Orange Bowl (1973–1975), Tamiami Field (1974, 1976); Miami, Florida
Chairman	John Bilotta (1972–1973) ; Joe Robbie (1973–1976)
League	NASL
Home colors	Away colors

The Miami Toros were a professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League from 1972 to 1976. The club was founded in 1967 as the Washington Darts, and moved to Miami, where they played the 1972 season in the NASL's Southern Division as the Miami Gatos. In 1973, the club rebranded as the Miami Toros. Their home field was at times the Miami Orange Bowl, Tamiami Field and Miami Dade College's North Campus Stadium.^[1]^[2]

After the 1976 season, the team moved to Fort Lauderdale and became known as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later moved to Minnesota and became known as the Minnesota Strikers.^[3]

Prominent players included 1973 league MVP Warren Archibald who was from Point Fortin, the smallest borough in Trinidad and Tobago, and 1975 league MVP Juan Carlos Moramarco who was from Rosario, Argentina.

Beginning in 1975, the Toros had a rivalry with the Tampa Bay Rowdies that grew even fiercer after the Toros moved to Ft. Lauderdale and became the Strikers.^[4]^[5]^[6]^{[unreliable source?]}

Year-by-year

Year	League	W	L	T	Pts	Reg. season	Playoffs	Attendance
1972	NASL	3	8	3	44	4th, Southern Division	did not qualify	2,112
1973	NASL	8	5	6	88	3rd, Eastern Division	did not qualify	5,479
1974	NASL	9	5	6	107	1st, Eastern Division	Won Semifinal (Dallas) Lost Championship (Los Angeles Aztecs)	7,340
1975	NASL indoor	2	0	—	4	2nd, Region 3	did not qualify	N/A
1975	NASL	14	8	—	123	2nd, Eastern Division	Won Quarterfinal (Boston) Lost Semifinal (Tampa Bay)	4,921
1976	NASL indoor	1	1	—	2	3rd, Eastern Regional	did not qualify	N/A
1976	NASL	6	18	—	63	4th, Atlantic Conference, Eastern Division	did not qualify	3,070

Honors

NASL championships^[7]^{[unreliable source?]}

1974 runner-up

Division titles

1974 Eastern Division

League MVP

1973 Warren Archibald
1975 Steve David

League scoring champion

1975 Steve David (23 goals, 6 assists, 52 points)

League goal scoring champion

1973 Warren Archibald (12 goals)
1975 Steve David (23 goals)

Coach of the Year

1974 John Young

All-Star first team selections

All-Star second team selections

All-Star honorable mentions

U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame

2003 Ace Ntsoelengoe, Joe & Elizabeth Robbie

Head coaches

Sal DeRosa (1972)
John Young (1973–1974)^[8]
Dr. Greg Myers (1975–1976)^[5]
Ken Furphy (1976)

Owners/GMs

Garo Yepremian (1972)^[1]
John Bilotta (1971–72)
Joe Robbie (1973–76)
Angel Lorie, Jr. (Managing Partner) (1972–75)
Elizabeth Robbie (Managing Partner) (1976)

References

^ ^a ^b Ed, Uncle (October 13, 2010). "Football in Miami and Beyond: Ft Lauderdale Strikers History: PART II: PRO SOCCER COMES TO MIAMI". Football in Miami and Beyond. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
^ Blankenship, Ken (July 2, 1976). "Rowdies try Toros". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3C. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Fort Lauderdale Strikers Home Page". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.
^ Gurney, Jack (June 11, 1975). "Round Two: Rowdies Vs. Toros In 'Blood' Match". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. C1. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
^ ^a ^b Blankenship, Ken (July 26, 1976). "Toros facing changes". St. Petersburg Times. p. 4C. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.
^ "Rowdies Press Photos – 1975 Rowdies vs. Toros Brawl". Tampa Bay Rowdies Appreciation Blog. May 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2016.
^ "NASL (North American Soccer League)". May 1, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2017.
^ "John Young :: thefinalball.com". www.thefinalball.com. Retrieved October 15, 2016.

External links

[auto-1] Ed, Uncle (October 13, 2010). "Football in Miami and Beyond: Ft Lauderdale Strikers History: PART II: PRO SOCCER COMES TO MIAMI". Football in Miami and Beyond. Retrieved October 15, 2016.

[2] Blankenship, Ken (July 2, 1976). "Rowdies try Toros". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3C. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.

[3] "Fort Lauderdale Strikers Home Page". Archived from the original on June 4, 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011.

[4] Gurney, Jack (June 11, 1975). "Round Two: Rowdies Vs. Toros In 'Blood' Match". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. p. C1. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.

[auto1-5] Blankenship, Ken (July 26, 1976). "Toros facing changes". St. Petersburg Times. p. 4C. Retrieved October 15, 2016 – via Google News Archive.

[6] "Rowdies Press Photos – 1975 Rowdies vs. Toros Brawl". Tampa Bay Rowdies Appreciation Blog. May 28, 2013. Retrieved October 15, 2016.

[7] "NASL (North American Soccer League)". May 1, 2008. Archived from the original on May 1, 2008. Retrieved November 1, 2017.

[8] "John Young :: thefinalball.com". www.thefinalball.com. Retrieved October 15, 2016.

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v t North American Soccer League (1968–1984)
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Seasons	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Soccer Bowls	1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984
Predecessors	USA 1967 Final NPSL 1967 Final
Indoor seasons	1971 1975 1976 1978 1979 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1983 1983–84
Conferences	1968 East West 1976–1977 Atlantic Pacific 1978–1980 American National
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