Full name Mirko Liveric 1976-1977 San Jose Earthquakes Name Mark Liveric | Years Team Role Soccer player 1974-1975 New York Cosmos | |
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Date of birth (1953-08-16) August 16, 1953 (age 62) | ||
Mirko “Mark” Liveric is a retired Croatian-American soccer forward who spent eight years in the North American Soccer League and seven in the Major Indoor Soccer League. He also earned sixteen caps, scoring three goals, with the U.S. national team.
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NASL
Liveric, a native of Croatia, began his U.S. soccer career with the New York Cosmos in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He spent the 1974 and 1975 seasons with the Cosmos. On January 31, 1976, the Cosmos traded Liveric to the San Jose Earthquakes for cash. Liveric’s one full season with the Earthquakes was his most productive. He scored ten goals in twenty games, adding nine assists. This led to his selection as a 1976 Honorable Mention NASL All Star. While Liveric began the 1977 season with the Earthquakes, the team traded him to the Washington Diplomats after only two games. He then appeared in fifteen games, scoring only two goals with the Dips before moving back California to the Oakland Stompers during the off season. The Stompers only lasted one season before folding and Liveric found himself with the Edmonton Drillers at the beginning of the 1979 season, only to be traded back to the New York Cosmos after only five games. He spent the 1980 season in New York before the Cosmos traded him, for a second time, to the San Jose Earthquakes.
MISL
In 1980, Liveric joined the Baltimore Blast of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL). He returned to the NASL for one last outdoor season in 1981 with the Earthquakes. In 1981, Liveric joined the New York Arrows (MISL) and spent the next three seasons with them. During the 1983-1984 quarterfinal playoff season with the Blast, Liveric was part of a brawl between the two teams. As a result, the league suspended him for two playoff games and five regular season games.[1] However, in July 1984, the Arrows sold Liveric to Kansas City Comets after the Arrows went bankrupt.[2] As a result, Liveric sat out the first five games with the Comets in order to serve his suspension. Liveric played the next nine games then was suspended by his coach. On January 4, 1985, the Comets sold Liveric to the New York Cosmos.[3] After the Cosmos folded during the 1984-1985 season, the Cosmos released Liveric and he signed with the Pittsburgh Spirit in March 1985. He played out the season with the Spirit.[4] In 1986, Liveric joined the New York Express (MISL). However, the Express made it only to the All Star break before folding.
National team
Liveric earned sixteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1973 and 1980, scoring three goals. His first game came in a 1-0 loss to Poland on August 3, 1973. He scored his first goal two days later as the U.S. defeated Canada 2-0. His last game came in a 2-1 loss to Canada in a November 1, 1980 World Cup Qualifier. Liveric came off for Steve Moyers in the 76th minute.