|
 One
of the finest soccer players ever produced in Canada, Bobby Lenarduzzi
played in more NASL games that any other player.
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Personal Information |
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Class of 2003 |
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Born:
May 1, 1955 - Vancouver, BC |
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Position:
Defender / Midfielder |
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Int'l
Caps: 47 |
Int'l
Goals: 0 |
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Between May 5, 1974, when he made his debut for
the Vancouver Whitecaps in the first game that club ever played, and the
last game of the 1984 season, Lenarduzzi appeared in 288 regular season
games and 24 playoff matches over 11 seasons. During that time he
played every position on the field for the Whitecaps - even goalkeeper
for 45 minutes when Tino Lettieri was injured in a game against
Toronto. Perhaps Lenarduzzi's finest NASL season was in 1978 when, as a
midfield player, he scored 10 goals and picked up 17 assists. The
following season he was moved to left back and helped the Whitecaps win
Soccer Bowl '79. Lenarduzzi left his native Vancouver at the tender
age of 15 and became an apprentice with Reading Football Club in England,
eventually appearing in 67 Football League games and scoring 2 goals. He made his International debut for Canada against Poland in Toronto in 1973
and gained his 47th cap against the Soviet Union during the 1986 World Cup
Finals in Mexico. Lenarduzzi also played for Canada in the 1984
Olympic Games. His older brother Sam, also played in the NASL and for
Canada. In 1987, Lenarduzzi became player-coach of the Vancouver 86ers of the
Canadian Soccer League, leading them to the championship in 1988. In
1992 Lenarduzzi was appointed Coach of Canada's National Team a position he
held until 1997. |
