Washington Diplomats (APSL)
Encyclopedia
The Washington Diplomats were an American soccer team established in 1987 which played in the American Soccer League
in 1988 and 1989 and the American Professional Soccer League
in 1990.
, from Club España
. The newly formed Diplomats won the 1987 Ambassador's Cup when they tied the Honduran national team
in June. In April 1988, the team entered the newly established American Soccer League
. At the time, Ian Bain had been hired as an interim head coach. On May 6, 1988, Berly returned as head coach with the team at 2-3. He quickly revamped the Diplomats roster, bringing in Philip Gyau
and Jean Harbor
who were instrumental in taking the team to the ASL title that season. The Diplomats began the 1989 American Soccer League
season well, but lost team-leading scorer Harbor for a month to suspension after he broke Pedro Magallanes
jaw. The Dips finished just out of playoff contention. For the 1990 season, this league merged with the Western Soccer Alliance to form the American Professional Soccer League. The Diplomats finished with the lowest number of points in the APSL Eastern Conference. In October 1990, the league terminated the Diplomats who were facing significant financial difficulties at the time.
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
in 1988 and 1989 and 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 1990.
History
Established in 1987 as an independent team, the Diplomats, owned by Julio Pinon, drew many of their players, and head coach Hugo BerlyHugo Berly
Hugo Berly is a former Chilean footballer currently played for Unión Española, Audax Italiano and Santiago Wanderers of Chile and in the Chile national football team in the FIFA World Cup England 1966.-External links:* Profile at...
, from Club España
Club España
Club España was an American soccer team which won the National Challenge Cup in 1987. The team also won the 1985 National Amateur Cup. The team ceased operations in 1987 when head coach, Hugo Berly, and most of the players, moved to the newly formed Washington Diplomats....
. The newly formed Diplomats won the 1987 Ambassador's Cup when they tied the Honduran national team
Honduras national football team
The Honduran national football team, nicknamed Los Catrachos, La Bicolor or La H, is the national team of Honduras and is controlled by the Federación Nacional Autónoma de Fútbol de Honduras...
in June. In April 1988, the team entered the newly established American Soccer League
American Soccer League
The American Soccer League has been a name used by three different professional soccer leagues in the United States. The first American Soccer League was established in 1921 by the merger of teams from the National Association Football League and the Southern New England Soccer League. For...
. At the time, Ian Bain had been hired as an interim head coach. On May 6, 1988, Berly returned as head coach with the team at 2-3. He quickly revamped the Diplomats roster, bringing in Philip Gyau
Philip Gyau
Phillinoisip “Philip” Gyau is a former U.S. soccer forward. He spent his outdoor career in the American Soccer League and the American Professional Soccer League, his indoor career with the Washington Warthogs and Baltimore Blast, and spent nine years with the U.S. National Beach Soccer team. He...
and Jean Harbor
Jean Harbor
Jean Harbor is a former Nigerian American soccer forward who played for numerous teams in Nigeria and the U.S. He earned fifteen caps with the U.S. national team after becoming a U.S. citizen in 1992.-Youth:...
who were instrumental in taking the team to the ASL title that season. The Diplomats began the 1989 American Soccer League
1989 American Soccer League
-Northern Division:-Southern Division:-Semifinal 1:-Semifinal 2:-Final:-Points leaders:-Honors:* All A-League*Goalkeeper: Neil Cowley, Winston DuBose...
season well, but lost team-leading scorer Harbor for a month to suspension after he broke Pedro Magallanes
Pedro Magallanes
Pedro Magallanes is a retired Argentine football midfielder who played professionally in Argentina and the United States.Magallanes had an extensive career in Argentina. He played the 1978-1979 season with Independiente. He also played for Rosario Central and Talleres de Córdoba. He played for...
jaw. The Dips finished just out of playoff contention. For the 1990 season, this league merged with the Western Soccer Alliance to form the American Professional Soccer League. The Diplomats finished with the lowest number of points in the APSL Eastern Conference. In October 1990, the league terminated the Diplomats who were facing significant financial difficulties at the time.
Year-by-year
| Year | Division | League | Regular Season | Playoffs | U.S. Open Cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 1988 American Soccer League -History:The third American Soccer League owed its creation to several events in the early 1980s. In 1983, the second American Soccer League collapsed from over-expansion, runaway spending and a restricted fan base. A year later, the North American Soccer League collapsed for essentially the same... |
N/A | ASL | 2nd, Southern | Champion | Did not enter |
| 1989 1989 American Soccer League -Northern Division:-Southern Division:-Semifinal 1:-Semifinal 2:-Final:-Points leaders:-Honors:* All A-League*Goalkeeper: Neil Cowley, Winston DuBose... |
N/A | ASL | 3rd, Southern | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
| 1990 | N/A | APSL | 5th, ASL South | Did not qualify | Did not enter |
Coach
- Hugo BerlyHugo BerlyHugo Berly is a former Chilean footballer currently played for Unión Española, Audax Italiano and Santiago Wanderers of Chile and in the Chile national football team in the FIFA World Cup England 1966.-External links:* Profile at...
(1987) - Ian Bain (1988 - interim)
- Hugo BerlyHugo BerlyHugo Berly is a former Chilean footballer currently played for Unión Española, Audax Italiano and Santiago Wanderers of Chile and in the Chile national football team in the FIFA World Cup England 1966.-External links:* Profile at...
(1988) - John EllingerJohn EllingerJohn Ellinger is a former American soccer coach of the Under-17 United States men's national soccer team, and former head coach of Real Salt Lake of Major League Soccer....
(1989) - Stojan Nikolic (1990)