Veljko Tukša

Veljko Tukša (known in the United States as Val Tuksa; born 21 November 1950) is a retired Yugoslavian association football player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1982 MISL Defender of the Year.

Veljko Tukša
Personal information
Date of birth (1950-11-21) 21 November 1950
Place of birth Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Position(s) Defender / Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
?–1974 NK Zagreb
1974–1978 Dinamo Zagreb 44 (5)
1977 Toronto Metros-Croatia 15 (4)
1978–1984 New York Arrows (indoor) 183 (58)
1979 Olimpija Ljubljana 7 (0)
1979–1980 Rochester Lancers 40 (3)
1984–1985 Las Vegas Americans (indoor) 35 (7)
1985–1986 Pittsburgh Spirit (indoor) 24 (1)
1986–1988 Tacoma Stars (indoor) 70 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

In 1979, Tuksa played for Toronto Metros-Croatia of the North American Soccer League. In 1980 and 1981, he played for the Rochester Lancers in the NASL. In 1978, he signed with the New York Arrows of the Major Indoor Soccer League where he would play every winter indoor season until 1984. He was the 1982 MISL Defender of the Year.[1] In 1984, he moved to the Las Vegas Americans. When the Americans folded at the end of the season, the head coach Don Popovic moved to the Pittsburgh Spirit where he signed Tuksa. The Spirit folded at the end of the 1985-1986 season. In November 1986, the Tacoma Stars signed Tuksa.[2] On 5 December 1987, the Stars released Tuksa.[3] The team signed him at a reduced salary in January 1988,[4] but he saw time in only eighteen games before being released.

Yearly awards
  • MISL Defender of the Year 1981-82
  • MISL All-Star Team 1981-82, 1982–83

References
  1. 1981-1982 MISL
  2. "Manager of Year McNamara finally wins a close decision". The San Diego Union. California, US. 5 November 1986.
  3. "Stars send Ingram to Steamers". Seattle Post-Intelligencer. 5 December 1987.
  4. "Tacoma Stars re-sign Tuksa for added defense". The Seattle Times. 28 January 1988.
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