Tom Poltl
Encyclopedia
Tom Poltl is a retired American
soccer midfielder who was a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
.
, and played college soccer
at UCLA from 1995 to 1998. In 1997, Poltl was part of the Bruins team which won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
over the Virginia Cavaliers
.
selected Poltl in the second round (20th overall) of the MLS College Draft
. Soon after, the San Francisco Bay Seals
of the USL A-League selected Poltl in the second round (forty-ninth overall) in the A-League draft. The Rapids did not sign him, and the Seals traded his rights to the Boston Bulldogs
of the A-League, with whom he spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
In 2002 Poltl signed as a player-coach with the Orange County Blue Star
of the fourth division USL Premier Development League
. On April 20, 2005, he moved to the Portland Timbers
of the USL First Division
. He played over 100 games for Portland in his five years with club, leading his team to the 2009 USL First Division championship, before being released on December 7, 2009.
. In 1997, he was a member of the U.S. team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
. He played one game, a 3-0 loss to Uruguay in the Round of 16.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer midfielder who was a member of the United States U-20 men's national soccer team
United States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
.
Youth
Poltl attended San Marcos High SchoolSan Marcos High School
San Marcos High School is a public high school located near the Southern California city of Santa Barbara, United States. It is under the governance of the Santa Barbara School Districts, and has an enrollment of approximately 2200 students in Grades 9-12. San Marcos High School was founded in...
, and played college soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
at UCLA from 1995 to 1998. In 1997, Poltl was part of the Bruins team which won the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
NCAA Men's Soccer Championship
The NCAA began conducting a Men's Division I Soccer Championship tournament in 1959 with an eight-team tournament. Currently, the tournament field consists of 48 teams...
over the Virginia Cavaliers
Virginia Cavaliers
The Virginia Cavaliers, also known as Wahoos or Hoos, are the athletic teams officially representing the University of Virginia in college sports. The Cavaliers compete in 25 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
.
Professional
In February 1999, the Colorado RapidsColorado Rapids
The Colorado Rapids are an American professional soccer club based in the Denver suburb of Commerce City, Colorado which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league...
selected Poltl in the second round (20th overall) of the MLS College Draft
1999 MLS College Draft
The 1999 Major League Soccer College Draft.Major League Soccer held its fourth annual college draft on February 6 and 7, 1999 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The first round of the draft took place on Saturday with the second and third rounds on Sunday morning. The College Draft was followed by the...
. Soon after, the San Francisco Bay Seals
San Francisco Bay Seals
San Francisco Seals was an American soccer team based in San Francisco, California, United States. Founded in 1992, the team played in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2008, when the franchise left the league.The team played its home games...
of the USL A-League selected Poltl in the second round (forty-ninth overall) in the A-League draft. The Rapids did not sign him, and the Seals traded his rights to the Boston Bulldogs
Boston Bulldogs (soccer)
The Boston Bulldogs were a soccer club originally founded in 1996 as the Worcester Wildfire. The team debuted in the USISL and would play in the A-League from 1997 to 2000...
of the A-League, with whom he spent the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
In 2002 Poltl signed as a player-coach with the Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star
Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...
of the fourth division USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. On April 20, 2005, he moved to the Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers (USL)
Portland Timbers was an American professional soccer team based in Portland, Oregon, United States. Founded in 2001, the team played in various leagues at the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, including the USL First Division and the USSF Division 2 Professional League, until the end of...
of the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
. He played over 100 games for Portland in his five years with club, leading his team to the 2009 USL First Division championship, before being released on December 7, 2009.
International
Between 1995 and 1997, Poltl earned eleven caps with the U.S. U-20 national teamUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
. In 1997, he was a member of the U.S. team at the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
1997 FIFA World Youth Championship
The 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship was the 11th staging of the FIFA World Youth Championship. It was held from June 16 to July 5, 1997 in Malaysia.-Venues:-Qualification:The following 24 teams qualified for the 1997 FIFA World Youth Championship...
. He played one game, a 3-0 loss to Uruguay in the Round of 16.