1974–1978 Dinamo Zagreb Name Veljko Tuksa | Years Team Role Football player ?–1974 NK Zagreb Position Defender, Midfielder | |
Date of birth (1950-11-21) 21 November 1950 (age 65) | ||
Place of birth Zagreb, SFR Yugoslavia Playing position | ||
Veljko Tukša (known in the United States as Val Tuksa; born 21 November 1950) is a retired Yugoslavian football (soccer) player who played professionally in the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League. He was the 1982 MISL Defender of the Year.
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. 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. On December 5, 1987, the Stars released Tuksa. The team signed him at a reduced salary in January 1988, but he saw time in only eighteen games before being released.