Lothar Spranger

Lothar Spranger is a German former footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Lothar Spranger
Personal information
Place of birth Leipzig, Weimar Republic
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1953–1957 Lokomotive Leipzig
1960–1961 Kreuzlingen
1962–1963 Toronto Olympia
1963–1965 Germania
1966 Montebello
1967 Los Angeles Toros 14 (0)
1968–1978 Montebello Armenians
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

Spranger played in the DDR-Oberliga in the 1950s with 1. FC Lokomotive Leipzig for five seasons.[1] In 1957, he received a short-term travel visa to West Germany and as result defected.[1] In 1960, he played abroad in Switzerland with FC Kreuzlingen and played with the organization for two seasons.[1][2] In 1961, he continued his career this time in North America where he played in Canada's National Soccer League with Toronto Olympia for the 1962 season.[3][4] He would re-sign with Toronto for the 1963 season.[5]

For the remainder of the 1963 season, he played in the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League with Germania.[6] He furthered his soccer career in Southern California by playing with Germania for an additional two seasons.[7][8] In 1966, he played in the Continental Soccer League with Montebello.[9] The following season he signed with Los Angeles Toros of the National Professional Soccer League.[10] He originally was signed as a backup keeper for Blagoje Vidinić but became the starting goalkeeper after Vidinic sustained an injury for the majority of the season.[11] He would make 14 appearances for Los Angeles.[12]

In 1968, he returned to the Greater Los Angeles League to play with Montebello Armenians and was named to the All-Star team.[13] Spranger featured in the 1969 National Challenge Cup final but Montebello was defeated by reigning champions Greek American AA.[14] He was named once more to the All-Star team for the 1970 season.[15] He played his final season in the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League with Montebello in 1978.[16]

References
  1. Glick, Shav (June 21, 1967). "Toros' Standby Goalie Turns Into Brightest Star in League". The Los Angeles Times. p. 38.
  2. "Kreuzlinger Kiste – Fundstücke". PORTEÑOS 2013 - The Seagulls Roar! (in German). 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  3. Waring, Ed (July 19, 1963). "Tuff Tut!! Tut!!!: Soccer Player Found Using Padded Pants". The Globe and Mail. p. 37.
  4. Waring, Ed (July 6, 1963). "Olympia Ends Streak Of Hakoah Squad 3-1". The Globe and Mail. p. 24.
  5. Waring, Ed (April 29, 1963). "Olympia, Ukes Tie for 1,226 Fans". The Globe and Mail. p. 19.
  6. "With Germania on Flashy Boot". Los Angeles Times. October 28, 1963. p. 53.
  7. "Penalty Scores Give Germania Soccer Win". Los Angeles Times. March 29, 1965. p. 38.
  8. "K-V Eleven Risk Clean 1964 Record". Los Angeles Evening Citizen News. October 3, 1964. p. 5.
  9. "Orange County Seeks First Win of Season". Los Angeles Times. October 23, 1966. p. 58.
  10. Reich, Carl (May 14, 1967). "Clippers Clobber Toros, 4-0". San Francisco Examiner. p. 51.
  11. Heufelder, Bill (August 1, 1967). "Toros' Coach In Demand As Goaltender". The Pittsburgh Press. p. 30.
  12. "NASL-Lothar Spranger". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 2022-02-12.
  13. "All-star soccer play tomorrow". Evening Vanguard. December 28, 1968. p. 7.
  14. "Greeks Beat Armenians Retain Cup". Los Angeles Times. June 30, 1969. p. 44.
  15. Morejon, Tony (March 23, 1970). "Mata's goal evens score for Latins". San Pedro News-Pilot. p. 8.
  16. "Croatians upset Homenetmen". San Pedro News-Pilot. March 27, 1978. p. 8.
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