Drago Dumbovic (born February 5, 1960) is a Croatian former footballer and a head coach. He is noted for playing indoor soccer and the adoption of the nickname Drago in 1986.[1]

Drago Dumbovic
Personal information
Date of birth (1960-02-05) February 5, 1960 (age 64)
Place of birth Zagreb, PR Croatia, FPR Yugoslavia
Position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1979–1983 Dinamo Zagreb 37 (4)
1983–1984 Pittsburgh Spirit (indoor) 37 (32)
1984–1985 Wichita Wings (indoor) 12 (3)
1984–1986 Minnesota Strikers (indoor) 46 (27)
1985–1987 Chicago Sting (indoor) 45 (44)
1986–1988 Baltimore Blast (indoor) 74 (47)
1989 Maryland Bays
1989–1990 Hershey Impact (indoor) 22 (28)
1989–1991 Atlanta Attack (indoor)
1990 Washington Diplomats
1990–1994 Detroit Rockers (indoor) 41 (69)
1991 Windsor Wheels
1994–1995 Detroit Neon (indoor)
1995–1996 Pittsburgh Stingers (indoor)
1995–1996 Detroit Neon (indoor)
1996–1997 Sacramento Knights (indoor) 23 (12)
1998–1999 Detroit Rockers (indoor) 12 (0)
Managerial career
1999–2001 Detroit Rockers (indoor)
2003–2012 Saginaw Valley State Cardinals (women)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Dumbovic played in the Yugoslav First League in 1979 with Dinamo Zagreb.[2] Throughout his tenure with Dinamo he played in the 1979–80 UEFA Cup, 1980–81 European Cup Winners' Cup, and the 1982–83 European Cup. In 1983, he played abroad in the Major Indoor Soccer League with Pittsburgh Spirit.[3] After his stint with Pittsburgh he spent time with Wichita Wings, and Minnesota Strikers.[3] In 1985, he signed with league rivals Chicago Sting, where he began using the nickname Drago and shaved his hair.[1] After two seasons in Chicago he played with the Baltimore Blast in 1986.[4]

In 1989, he played in the American Soccer League with Maryland Bays, and with the Washington Diplomats in 1990.[5] In 1990, he played in the National Professional Soccer League with Atlanta Attack, and later with the Detroit Rockers.[6][7] During his time in Detroit he assisted in securing the NPSL Championship in the 1991–92 season.[8] In 1991, he played in Canada with Windsor Wheels in the National Soccer League.[9] After three seasons with the Rockers he played in Continental Indoor Soccer League with Detroit Neon, and a season with Pittsburgh Stingers and Sacramento Knights.[10]

In 1998, he returned to his former team the Detroit Rockers.[11]

Managerial career

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Dumbovic began coaching in the National Professional Soccer League with the Detroit Rockers in the 1998-1999 season as an interim assistant coach for Bryan Finnerty.[11] The following season he was given head coach responsibilities.[12] In 2003, he was appointed the head coach for Saginaw Valley State University's women's soccer team.[13] In 2014, he was named the director for Cleveland United's girl soccer program.[14]

Honors

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Detroit Rockers

References

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  1. ^ a b Leptich, John (November 16, 1986). "HE'S JUST DRAGO -- AND DELIGHTED TO BE A STING". chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  2. ^ "Drago Dumbović - Povijest Dinama". povijest.gnkdinamo.hr. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  3. ^ a b "MISL-Drago Dumbovic". www.nasljerseys.com. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  4. ^ "New Player". Newspapers.com. The Evening Sun. January 19, 1987. p. 1. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  5. ^ Free, Bill (April 16, 1989). "Drago, Chinapoo to give Bays familiar look". Newspapers.com. The Baltimore Sun. p. 101. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  6. ^ Sernoffsky, Dan (January 21, 1990). "Blockbuster trade offsets Impact's slow start". The Daily News. p. 25.
  7. ^ VanOlinda, Dick (November 1, 1990). "Lilley takes on new role with Impact". The York Dispatch. p. 16.
  8. ^ McDonald, Ken (November 13, 1992). "A Rocker by any other name.". Detroit Free Press. p. 35.
  9. ^ "Local Roundup - Wheels". Newspapers.com. The Windsor Star. June 29, 1991. p. 23. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  10. ^ Roose, Bill L. (September 2, 1995). "Drago dealt; will he return as a future consideration?". Detroit Free Press. p. 14.
  11. ^ a b "Soccer - National Professional Soccer League". El Paso Times. March 15, 1999. p. 24.
  12. ^ "NPSL team by team capsules". The Baltimore Sun. October 22, 1999. p. 166.
  13. ^ "Saginaw Valley State". Saginaw Valley State. Retrieved 2020-08-07.
  14. ^ "Staff". Cleveland United Soccer. Retrieved 2020-08-08.