Matt Knowles (soccer)
Encyclopedia
Matt Knowles is a former U.S. soccer defender
who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. However, he also spent time in the American Professional Soccer League
in the early 1990s and Major League Soccer
in 1996 and 1997.
from 1985 to 1988. Most sources state that Knowles turned professional immediately after high school. However, there is a gap in the records between 1988 and 1990 when he signed with the Penn-Jersey Spirit
of the American Professional Soccer League
(APSL). In 1991, Knowles played nineteen games with the Spirit, scoring one goal. The Spirit folded at the end of the 1991 season and Knowles moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
for the 1992 APSL season. While he was an integral part of the Spirit, Knowles saw time in only three games with the Strikers. In 1993, he moved to the Tampa Bay Rowdies where his playing time increased to nine games.
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) He spent two seasons with in Illinois, earning NPSL Defender of the Year honors for the 1991-1992 season. That season, he scored forty-five goals in forty games as a defender. In addition to his Defender of the Year Award, Knowles was selected to the first team All NPSL team. The Thunder moved to Denver at the end of the 1991-1992 season, and Knowles played three games there before being traded to the Milwaukee Wave
. In the fall of 1993, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament
in his right knee. The injury put him out of all but five games of the 1993-1994 season. He bounced back the next season, gaining ninety-four points, making him the second highest scorer on the Wave. He continued his excellent play in the 1995-1996 season, earning his second Defender of the Year title and first team All NPSL recognition while racking up 123 points on 47 goals and 36 assists.
His indoor success brought him to the attention of Major League Soccer
(MLS) as that league was beginning operations in 1996. In February 1996, the MetroStars
selected Knowles in the first round (ninth overall) in the league’s Inaugural Player Draft
. While Knowles signed with the MetroStars, he continued to play indoor soccer during the MLS off-season.
While Knowles experienced considerable success with the Wave, he had frequent disagreements with the Wave’s ownership. This led to his expressing a desire to be traded. On December 26, 1996, the Wave acquiesced to Knowles desires and traded him to the Cleveland Crunch
for Glenn Carbonara, Todd Dusosky
, Obi Moneme and cash. He was injured while in Cleveland and saw little playing time. On July 29, 1997, Knowles bought out the remaining three years of his contract with the Crunch and signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia KiXX
. In the 1997-1998 season, his first in Philadelphia, Knowles experienced a resurgence which led to his third Defender of the Year award. After one more season with the KiXX, Knowles moved to the Detroit Rockers
. Knowles played two seasons in Detroit before the Rockers folded at the end of the 2000-2001 season.
In 2001, the Harrisburg Heat
picked up Knowles in the dispersal draft. That year, the NPSL disbanded and the surviving NPSL franchises created a new league, the Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). At some time in 2002, Knowles moved from the Heat to the Kansas City Comets
. On October 2, 2002, the Comets traded Knowles to the Philadelphia KiXX
in exchange for Matt Caution
. However, Knowles again experienced a considerable number of injuries and spent most of the season on the injured-reserved list.
in February 1996, Knowles spent two and a half seasons with the team. While he played nearly every game of the 1996 season, he was injured during the 1996-1997 NPSL season. This led to his sporadic playing time with the MetroStars during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. On July 1, 1998 traded to the expansion Miami Fusion
for a third round College Draft pick. He played out the remainder of the 1998 seasons with the Fusion, but played in only three games. At the end of the 1998 season, Knowles left outdoor soccer to concentrate on his more successful indoor career.
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
who spent most of his career playing indoor soccer. However, he also spent time in the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
in the early 1990s and Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
in 1996 and 1997.
APSL
Knowles grew up in Philadelphia and attended Archbishop Ryan High SchoolArchbishop Ryan High School
Archbishop Ryan High School is a Roman Catholic high school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA...
from 1985 to 1988. Most sources state that Knowles turned professional immediately after high school. However, there is a gap in the records between 1988 and 1990 when he signed with the Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit
Penn-Jersey Spirit played in the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 and 1991. The team's home stadium was Lions Stadium in Ewing, New Jersey, on the campus of Trenton State College...
of the American Professional Soccer League
American Professional Soccer League
The American Professional Soccer League is a former professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. It was the first outdoor soccer league to feature teams from throughout the United States since the demise of the original North American Soccer League...
(APSL). In 1991, Knowles played nineteen games with the Spirit, scoring one goal. The Spirit folded at the end of the 1991 season and Knowles moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers
Fort Lauderdale Strikers (APSL)
The Fort Lauderdale Strikers were an American soccer team established in 1988 as part of the third American Soccer League. In 1990, it moved to the American Professional Soccer League where it spent five seasons before folding in 1994...
for the 1992 APSL season. While he was an integral part of the Spirit, Knowles saw time in only three games with the Strikers. In 1993, he moved to the Tampa Bay Rowdies where his playing time increased to nine games.
NPSL
In 1990, Knowles signed with the expansion Illinois ThunderIllinois Thunder
The Illinois Thunder were an indoor soccer club that competed in the National Professional Soccer League.After the 1991/92 season, the team became the Denver Thunder.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL) He spent two seasons with in Illinois, earning NPSL Defender of the Year honors for the 1991-1992 season. That season, he scored forty-five goals in forty games as a defender. In addition to his Defender of the Year Award, Knowles was selected to the first team All NPSL team. The Thunder moved to Denver at the end of the 1991-1992 season, and Knowles played three games there before being traded to the Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee Wave
The Milwaukee Wave is an American professional indoor soccer team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Founded in 1984 they are the oldest continuously operating professional soccer team in North Americaand a member of the Major Indoor Soccer League....
. In the fall of 1993, he tore the anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
in his right knee. The injury put him out of all but five games of the 1993-1994 season. He bounced back the next season, gaining ninety-four points, making him the second highest scorer on the Wave. He continued his excellent play in the 1995-1996 season, earning his second Defender of the Year title and first team All NPSL recognition while racking up 123 points on 47 goals and 36 assists.
His indoor success brought him to the attention of Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
(MLS) as that league was beginning operations in 1996. In February 1996, the MetroStars
Metrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
selected Knowles in the first round (ninth overall) in the league’s Inaugural Player Draft
1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft
The MLS Inaugural Player Draft, held before Major League Soccer's initial 1996 season, distributed players who had already graduated from college to the league's ten inaugural teams. The draft occurred on February 6 and 7, 1996...
. While Knowles signed with the MetroStars, he continued to play indoor soccer during the MLS off-season.
While Knowles experienced considerable success with the Wave, he had frequent disagreements with the Wave’s ownership. This led to his expressing a desire to be traded. On December 26, 1996, the Wave acquiesced to Knowles desires and traded him to the Cleveland Crunch
Cleveland Crunch
The Cleveland Crunch was formed in 1989 as an expansion team in the Major Soccer League to replace the Cleveland Force, which had folded on July 22, 1988. Akron businessmen George S. Hoffman and Stuart Lichter formed an ownership group, named Al Miller general manager and former Force star Kai...
for Glenn Carbonara, Todd Dusosky
Todd Dusosky
Todd Dusosky is a retired American soccer forward who spent most of his career with indoor teams. He also played a handful of seasons in the USL A-League.-Soccer:...
, Obi Moneme and cash. He was injured while in Cleveland and saw little playing time. On July 29, 1997, Knowles bought out the remaining three years of his contract with the Crunch and signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia KiXX
Philadelphia KiXX
The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.The team colors were red, black, white, and blue...
. In the 1997-1998 season, his first in Philadelphia, Knowles experienced a resurgence which led to his third Defender of the Year award. After one more season with the KiXX, Knowles moved to the Detroit Rockers
Detroit Rockers
The Detroit Rockers were an indoor soccer team in the National Professional Soccer League from 1990 to 2001. They played in Joe Louis Arena and Cobo Arena in downtown Detroit, Michigan as well as The Palace of Auburn Hills and Compuware Sports Arena in the suburbs...
. Knowles played two seasons in Detroit before the Rockers folded at the end of the 2000-2001 season.
In 2001, the Harrisburg Heat
Harrisburg Heat
The Harrisburg Heat was a professional indoor soccer team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team was part of the National Professional Soccer League, which later became the Major Indoor Soccer League, and has been defunct since 2003. The Harrisburg Heat was first formed during the 1991-92...
picked up Knowles in the dispersal draft. That year, the NPSL disbanded and the surviving NPSL franchises created a new league, the Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Indoor Soccer League (2001–2008)
The Major Indoor Soccer League was the top professional indoor soccer league in the USA. The league was a member of both the United States Soccer Federation and FIFA. The MISL had replaced the NPSL which folded in 2001. According to MISL.net, the league has ceased operations as of May 31, 2008...
(MISL). At some time in 2002, Knowles moved from the Heat to the Kansas City Comets
Kansas City Comets
The Kansas City Comets were a professional indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. They played in the original Major Indoor Soccer League from 1979–1991, when they folded...
. On October 2, 2002, the Comets traded Knowles to the Philadelphia KiXX
Philadelphia KiXX
The Philadelphia KiXX were a professional indoor soccer team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Founded in 1995 as an NPSL expansion franchise, they played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.The team colors were red, black, white, and blue...
in exchange for Matt Caution
Matt Caution
Matt Caution is a retired American soccer player who played professionally in the USISL and the National Professional Soccer League.-Youth:In 1993, Caution graduated from Fort Zumwalt South High School. He attended Southwest Missouri State University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1993 to...
. However, Knowles again experienced a considerable number of injuries and spent most of the season on the injured-reserved list.
MLS
Following his being drafted by the MetroStarsMetrostars
Metrostar may refer to:*New York Red Bulls, formerly called the "MetroStars", a soccer team from New York*Manila Metro Rail Transit System, popularly called "The Metrostar Express", a part of the metropolitan rail system in Manila...
in February 1996, Knowles spent two and a half seasons with the team. While he played nearly every game of the 1996 season, he was injured during the 1996-1997 NPSL season. This led to his sporadic playing time with the MetroStars during the 1997 and 1998 seasons. On July 1, 1998 traded to the expansion Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion
Miami Fusion F.C. was a professional soccer club located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida that participated in Major League Soccer from 1998 to 2001. The club played in Lockhart Stadium, which was a former high school stadium converted into a soccer-specific stadium...
for a third round College Draft pick. He played out the remainder of the 1998 seasons with the Fusion, but played in only three games. At the end of the 1998 season, Knowles left outdoor soccer to concentrate on his more successful indoor career.