Full name Michael Sweeney Role Soccer player Years Team Height 1.70 m | Name Mike Sweeney | |
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Date of birth (1959-12-25) December 25, 1959 (age 56) 1980–1982 Edmonton Drillers (indoor) | ||
Michael "Mike" Sweeney (born December 25, 1959) is a former Canadian soccer player. In 2012 as part of the Canadian Soccer Association's centennial celebration, he was named to the all-time Canada XI men's team.
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NASL
In 1980, the Edmonton Drillers of the North American Soccer League signed Sweeney. He spent three seasons with the Drillers before moving to the Vancouver Whitecaps for the 1983 season. While he began the 1984 season with the Whitecaps, he was traded to the Golden Bay Earthquakes. The NASL folded at the end of the 1984 season. Sweeney, never discouraged, continued to display soccer skills far advanced compared to the rest of the league.
MISL
Sweeney was also a long-time Cleveland Force MISL player. He then moved to the Minnesota Strikers for the 1987-1988 season.[1] He then moved to the Baltimore Blast. In 1989, the Cleveland Crunch selected Sweeney in the Expansion Draft. On June 30, 1989, he signed with the Crunch and remained with the team through at least the 1991-1992 season.[2]
Toronto Blizzard
In 1988, Sweeney spent time with the Toronto Blizzard of the Canadian Soccer League (CSL).
Boston Bolts
In 1988, he signed with the Boston Bolts of the American Soccer League (ASL). In 1990, the ASL merged with the Western Soccer League to form the American Professional Soccer League (APSL). The Bolts spent one season, 1990, in the APSL before folding.
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame inducted Sweeney in 2002.[3]
International career
A defender or midfielder, Sweeney made his debut for Canada in a September 1980 friendly match against New Zealand and earned 61 caps, scoring 1 goal. He has represented Canada in 24 FIFA World Cup qualification matches and played 2 of Canada's games at the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals, the country's only appearance at a World Cup finals. Sweeney was sent off in the second game against Hungary, making him the only Canadian player ever to be dismissed at a World Cup Finals tournament.
He also played for Canada at the 1984 Olympics and was a squad member at the 1979 FIFA World Youth Championship but did not play.
His final international game was an August 1993 World Cup qualification match against Australia.