Janos “Jim” Benedek was a Hungarian-American soccer forward who later coached at both the collegiate and national team levels.
Education
In 1963, Benedek immigrated to the United States. He attended Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York where he was a 1965 first team All American at outside left. In 1961, he was also a member of Chicago Schwaben as that team toured West Germany and later served in the United States. Army.
Career
Benedek was an All American collegiate soccer player before spending six seasons in the North American Soccer League. College Professional After graduating from Ithaca, he attempted to gain a place on several European clubs in Austria, France and Germany, but ultimately returned to the United States. and signed with the Houston Stars of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1968. The Houston Stars folded at the end of the 1968 season and Benedek moved to the Kansas City Spurs for the 1969 season.
Benedek then moved to the Dallas Tornado where he played a single season, his most productive, as a defender.
He left the NASL following the 1973 season to become a college soccer coach. Olympic and national team On May 21, 1967, he scored in a 1-1 tie with Bermuda in the first qualification game.
The United States. lost the away match and did not qualify for the tournament. Benedek earned four caps with the United States. national team in 1968.
His first game with the United States. came in a 3-3 tie with Israel on September 15, 1968.
In 1974, Southern Methodist University (SMU) hired Benedek to begin a men’s soccer team at the school. He remained with the team through the end of the 1984 season. Benedek also spent several years as an assistant coach with the Hungarian National Football Team.
In 1999, he coached the West Texas Heat of the West-League to an 8-2 record and the second division title.
He also coached the Texas Toros of the USL Doctorate-3 Pro League. In 2001, he coached the West Dallas Kings of the Premier Development League.
He went on to coach the men"s and women's soccer team at North Lake College in Irving, Texas before succumbing to cancer. He died in March 2009 of prostate cancer.
In 2009, Jim was inducted to the Football Club Dallas Walk of Fame.
Membership
He earned four caps with the United States. national team in 1968 and was member of the 1968 Olympic United States. soccer team 1968 Summer Olympics. In 1961, he was also a member of Chicago Schwaben as that team toured West Germany and later served in the United States. Army. He was again a member of a championship team when the Tornado took the 1971 NASL title.
Benedek was a member of the United States. soccer team which attempted to qualify for the 1968 Summer Olympics.