Werner Roth (soccer)

Werner Roth (born April 4, 1948) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a defender. Mainly associated with the New York Cosmos, he also played for the United States national team for three years. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

This article is about the American soccer player. For other persons with the same name, see Werner Roth (disambiguation).
Werner Roth
Personal information
Date of birth (1948-04-04) April 4, 1948
Place of birth Yugoslavia
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1972 N.Y. German-Hungarians
1972–1979 New York Cosmos 125 (2)
International career
1972–1975 United States 15 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Soccer career

Born in Yugoslavia, Roth emigrated to the United States at age eight,[1] going on to become a rising star in American soccer through the 1960s. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, playing on the varsity squad from 1962 to 1966, and captaining the team in his senior year.[2]

Additionally, he studied architecture at the Pratt Institute, and played for the German-Hungarians in the German American Soccer League.[3]

One of the few Americans on a star-studded New York Cosmos side (i.e. Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer), Roth played with the club seven years, and helped it to Soccer Bowl titles in 1972, 1977 and 1978. He also appeared 15 times for his adopted country's national team, in the 1970s.

Movie career and personal life

Roth played Germany national team captain Baumann in the 1981 movie Victory (titled Escape to Victory in Europe), which also featured former Cosmos teammate Pelé, as well as Sylvester Stallone and Michael Caine. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1989.[2]

In 2005, having been living in Brooklyn and Long Island for decades, Roth became engaged to soap opera actress Robin Mattson. The couple were married in June 2006.[1]

Films
Year Title Role Notes
1978Manny's OrphansHimself
1981Escape to VictoryBaumann, Team Captain - The Germans

References
  1. World Soccer Society profile
  2. Former Cosmos captain Werner Roth serving as honorary captain
  3. Good ol' days at soccer park
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