Zoran Karic
Encyclopedia
Zoran Karić is a retired Yugoslavian soccer forward
who began his career with FK Partizan
before spending seventeen seasons playing indoor soccer in the United States. He was the 1988 MISL
Rookie of the Year, 1992 MISL leading scorer, 1994 NPSL MVP, and a nine time, first team All Star.
of the Yugoslavian First Division. In 1987, Karić moved to the United States and signed with the San Diego Sockers of Major Indoor Soccer League
(MISL). He won two championships (1988, 1989) with the Sockers. In his second year in San Diego, Karic was the team’s second leading scorer behind Branko Segota
. He began the 1989-90 season with the Sockers, but was traded to the Cleveland Crunch
for Paul Wright
on 6 March 1990. Paired with Hector Marinaro
, the Crunch now boasted one of the strongest pair of forwards in the league. Karic was named a first team All Star this year. In the 1990-91 season, he was the league’s second leading scorer and was again named a first team All Star. Karić led the points chart during the 1991-92 season.
In the summer of 1992, the MISL collapsed and the Crunch moved to the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). With Marinaro and Karic setting all sorts of scoring records, the Crunch reached the league finals six times in eight years, winning championships in 1994, 1996 and 1999. Karic peaked in 1994 when he finished as the NPSL points leader on the strength of his 104 assists and 85 goals. Karic was named both a first team All Star and the NPSL MVP. In 1996, he played six games with the Rochester Rhinos in the American Professional Soccer League
. Recurring tendinitis led him to leave the team on 20 July 1996.
In 2000, the Crunch decided not to resign Karic and he went to the Kansas City Attack
. However, injury had begun to slow him and he saw time in only 12 games that season. In 2001, he went to the Harrisburg Heat
. Once again, he saw time in a limited number of games. In 2002, he rejoined the Crunch, now renamed the Cleveland Force
. He spent two seasons with the Force, playing only four games in 2002-2003 and 23 the next season. On 2 October 2004, the Cleveland Force
signed Karic to a two year contract, but he retired without playing a game that season. Since he left the professional game, he continues to play with Beck’s Cleveland All Stars, a team in an amateur indoor soccer league in Cleveland.
In 2011, The Syracuse Silver Knights ( http://www.syracusesilverknights.com/ ) signed Karic to the team in their inaugural season. In the Knights first game, Karic recorded two assists in the 16-15 win over the Rochester Lancers. However, he only played during the inaugural game, being a friend of the Silver Knights head coach, Tommy Tanner
.
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who began his career with FK Partizan
FK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
before spending seventeen seasons playing indoor soccer in the United States. He was the 1988 MISL
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...
Rookie of the Year, 1992 MISL leading scorer, 1994 NPSL MVP, and a nine time, first team All Star.
Bio
Karić began his career as a child in Yugoslavia. He signed with FK PartizanFK Partizan
Fudbalski klub Partizan is a professional football club based in Belgrade, Serbia. In its long history, FK Partizan won as many as 37 trophies. The club is the holder of 23 national championships, 12 national cups and 1 national supercup, and has also won the Mitropa Cup in 1978...
of the Yugoslavian First Division. In 1987, Karić moved to the United States and signed with the San Diego Sockers of Major Indoor Soccer League
Major Soccer League
The Major Indoor Soccer League, known in its final two seasons as the Major Soccer League, was an indoor soccer league in the USA from 1978 to 1992. After the folding of the North American Soccer League in 1984, the MISL was the Division I soccer league for the United States...
(MISL). He won two championships (1988, 1989) with the Sockers. In his second year in San Diego, Karic was the team’s second leading scorer behind Branko Segota
Branko Segota
Branimir "Branko" Šegota is a former Canadian professional soccer forward, starring in the original Major Indoor Soccer League, the North American Soccer League, the Continental Indoor Soccer League, the National Professional Soccer League, and the Canadian Soccer League.Born in Rijeka, then part...
. He began the 1989-90 season with the Sockers, but was traded 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 Paul Wright
Paul Wright (soccer)
Paul Wright is a U.S. soccer forward who spent most of his career in the U.S. indoor leagues. He began his career with the San Diego Nomads in the Western Soccer Alliance, led the American Professional Soccer League in scoring in 1994 and played four seasons with the Kansas City Wizards in Major...
on 6 March 1990. Paired with Hector Marinaro
Hector Marinaro
Hector Luis Marinaro is the all-time leader in points and goals in professional indoor soccer. He is currently the men's soccer coach at John Carroll University.-Youth:...
, the Crunch now boasted one of the strongest pair of forwards in the league. Karic was named a first team All Star this year. In the 1990-91 season, he was the league’s second leading scorer and was again named a first team All Star. Karić led the points chart during the 1991-92 season.
In the summer of 1992, the MISL collapsed and the Crunch moved to the National Professional Soccer League (NPSL). With Marinaro and Karic setting all sorts of scoring records, the Crunch reached the league finals six times in eight years, winning championships in 1994, 1996 and 1999. Karic peaked in 1994 when he finished as the NPSL points leader on the strength of his 104 assists and 85 goals. Karic was named both a first team All Star and the NPSL MVP. In 1996, he played six games with the Rochester Rhinos 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...
. Recurring tendinitis led him to leave the team on 20 July 1996.
In 2000, the Crunch decided not to resign Karic and he went to 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...
. However, injury had begun to slow him and he saw time in only 12 games that season. In 2001, he went to 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...
. Once again, he saw time in a limited number of games. In 2002, he rejoined the Crunch, now renamed the Cleveland Force
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...
. He spent two seasons with the Force, playing only four games in 2002-2003 and 23 the next season. On 2 October 2004, the Cleveland Force
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...
signed Karic to a two year contract, but he retired without playing a game that season. Since he left the professional game, he continues to play with Beck’s Cleveland All Stars, a team in an amateur indoor soccer league in Cleveland.
In 2011, The Syracuse Silver Knights ( http://www.syracusesilverknights.com/ ) signed Karic to the team in their inaugural season. In the Knights first game, Karic recorded two assists in the 16-15 win over the Rochester Lancers. However, he only played during the inaugural game, being a friend of the Silver Knights head coach, Tommy Tanner
Tommy Tanner
Thomas “Tommy” Tanner is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in the USL A-League, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer Leaguey...
.
Honors
- Rookie of the Year:
- 1988
- MVP:
- 1994
- First team All Star
- 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
- Goals Leader:
- 1992
- Assists Leader:
- 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999
- Points Leader:
- 1992, 1994