Waad Hirmez
Encyclopedia
Waad Hirmez is a retired Iraqi-American football (soccer)
player who spent most of his professional career in the North American Soccer League
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1979, Hirmez, a Roman Catholic native of Iraq, moved to San Diego, California
to live with an uncle he was in high school. When he arrived in the United States, he changed his name from Waad Ajou to Waad Hirmez. In 1981, he graduated from Point Loma High School
. Two weeks after his graduation, he signed with the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League
for $18,000. He played seventeen minutes of one game for the Sockers in 1981 before being released. He then attended National University
where he played on the school's club team. In 1982, he played for the amateur San Diego Falcons. In 1983, the Sockers signed Hirmez again and he played eleven games, scoring one goal. He did not play professionally in 1984 after a series of unsuccessful trials with the Tacoma Stars, Phoenix Inferno
and Wichita Wings
. In February 1985, the Sockers signed Hirmez to a ten day contract after the team Kaz Deyna suffered a potentially season ending knee injury. His contract was extended to the end of the season as the Sockers won the league championship. The Sockers then retained Hirmez for the next three seasons as the Sockers won another two championships. Hirmez became a free agent in 1988 and he moved to the Los Angeles Lazers
. On February 21, 1989, the Lazers traded him to the Sockers in exchange for Poli Garcia
. He would play two and a half indoor seasons with the Sockers. In addition to his time playing indoor soccer with the Sockers, Hirmez also played for the San Diego Nomads
of the outdoor Western Soccer League
. Although the Nomads went to the league championship, Hirmez had returned to the Sockers before that game. In 1989, Hirmez also became an American citizen. In September 1991, the Sockers waived Hirmez. On September 20, 1991, he signed with the . On November 16, 1991, the Blast placed Hirmez on waivers. On November 31, Hirmez joined the St. Louis Storm
. The Storm released him at the end of the season. In 1993, Hirmez rejoined the Sockers who were now playing in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
. In January 1994, he signed with the Kansas City Attack
of the National Professional Soccer League. He then moved to Mexico where he played for Puebla in the Futbol Rapido league, helping the team win the league championship. He then returned to the Sockers for the 1994 CISL season. The Sockers waived him at the end of the season and Hirmez moved to the Monterrey La Raza for the 1995 season. After retiring from playing, Hirmez coached the Fallbrook Union High School
boys team and the Southwest Soccer Club, both beginning in 2001. In 2002, Hirmez left Fallbrook for Mission Viejo High School
.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who spent most of his professional career in the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
and Major Indoor Soccer League.
In 1979, Hirmez, a Roman Catholic native of Iraq, moved to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
to live with an uncle he was in high school. When he arrived in the United States, he changed his name from Waad Ajou to Waad Hirmez. In 1981, he graduated from Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School
Point Loma High School is a public high school in the San Diego Unified School District in San Diego, California. It is located in the Loma Portal neighborhood of Point Loma. The school serves the neighborhoods of Point Loma and Ocean Beach. In addition, students who live in Mission Hills may...
. Two weeks after his graduation, he signed with the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
for $18,000. He played seventeen minutes of one game for the Sockers in 1981 before being released. He then attended National University
National University (California)
National University , founded in 1971, is a comprehensive, nonsectarian, independent, accredited, non-profit private university headquartered in La Jolla, California, United States, with academic degree programs offered at campuses located throughout the state, one in Henderson, Nevada, and...
where he played on the school's club team. In 1982, he played for the amateur San Diego Falcons. In 1983, the Sockers signed Hirmez again and he played eleven games, scoring one goal. He did not play professionally in 1984 after a series of unsuccessful trials with the Tacoma Stars, Phoenix Inferno
Phoenix Inferno
The Phoenix Inferno was an American indoor soccer team based out of Phoenix, United States, that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1980 to 1983. In 1983 new ownership renamed the team the Phoenix Pride. The Pride folded at the end of the 1983-1984 season...
and Wichita Wings
Wichita Wings
This article is about the original team. For the current team, see Wichita Wings .The Wichita Wings were a professional indoor soccer franchise based in Wichita, Kansas. The Wings were admitted to the Major Indoor Soccer League as an expansion team on August 21, 1979...
. In February 1985, the Sockers signed Hirmez to a ten day contract after the team Kaz Deyna suffered a potentially season ending knee injury. His contract was extended to the end of the season as the Sockers won the league championship. The Sockers then retained Hirmez for the next three seasons as the Sockers won another two championships. Hirmez became a free agent in 1988 and he moved to the Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers
Los Angeles Lazers were a soccer team based out of Los Angeles that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League from 1982 to 1989.-History:Major Indoor Soccer League awarded a Los Angeles franchise to Jerry Buss on June 24, 1982. Buss had purchased the Philadelphia Fever and wanted to move it to...
. On February 21, 1989, the Lazers traded him to the Sockers in exchange for Poli Garcia
Poli Garcia
Jose “Poli” Garcia is a former U.S. soccer player. He spent at least four seasons in the American Soccer League, three in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League...
. He would play two and a half indoor seasons with the Sockers. In addition to his time playing indoor soccer with the Sockers, Hirmez also played for the San Diego Nomads
San Diego Nomads
-History:The Nomads joined the Western Soccer Alliance in 1986. In 1989, the WSA changed its name to the Western Soccer League and in 1990, the team joined the American Professional Soccer League in 1990 when the WSL merged with the American Soccer League. After winning the WSL championship in...
of the outdoor Western Soccer League
Western Soccer League
Western Soccer Alliance was a professional soccer league featuring teams from the West Coast of the United States and Western Canada. The league began in 1985 as the Western Alliance Challenge Series. In 1986, it became the Western Soccer Alliance...
. Although the Nomads went to the league championship, Hirmez had returned to the Sockers before that game. In 1989, Hirmez also became an American citizen. In September 1991, the Sockers waived Hirmez. On September 20, 1991, he signed with the . On November 16, 1991, the Blast placed Hirmez on waivers. On November 31, Hirmez joined the St. Louis Storm
St. Louis Storm
The St. Louis Storm were a soccer team based out of St. Louis that played in the Major Indoor Soccer League. They played from 1989 to 1992. Their home arena was St...
. The Storm released him at the end of the season. In 1993, Hirmez rejoined the Sockers who were now playing in the Continental Indoor Soccer League
Continental Indoor Soccer League
The Continental Indoor Soccer League was an indoor soccer league that played from 1993 to 1997.-History:When the Major Soccer League folded in the summer of 1992, two of its former teams joined a group of hockey and basketball arena owners led by Ron Weinstein who wanted to create a league to...
. In January 1994, he signed with the Kansas City Attack
Kansas City Attack
The Kansas City Attack, previously the Atlanta Attack and later known as the Kansas City Comets, were an indoor soccer team based for most of its existence in Kansas City, Missouri. In its various incarnations the franchise played in the National Professional Soccer League from 1989–2001 and the...
of the National Professional Soccer League. He then moved to Mexico where he played for Puebla in the Futbol Rapido league, helping the team win the league championship. He then returned to the Sockers for the 1994 CISL season. The Sockers waived him at the end of the season and Hirmez moved to the Monterrey La Raza for the 1995 season. After retiring from playing, Hirmez coached the Fallbrook Union High School
Fallbrook Union High School
Fallbrook Union High School is a public high school located in the rural community of Fallbrook, California. Established in 1893, FUHS is the 2nd oldest high school in San Diego County.-Sports:...
boys team and the Southwest Soccer Club, both beginning in 2001. In 2002, Hirmez left Fallbrook for Mission Viejo High School
Mission Viejo High School
Mission Viejo High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Mission Viejo, California, United States, as part of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. The school has served the area since 1966. Students within its attendance boundaries live in western Mission...
.