Background
Shanker grew up in Saint Louis where he played soccer at Parkway Central High School.
- Photos
- Works
- Photos
- Works
Joel Shanker
Edit Profileassociation football player futsal position
Education
He graduated in 1990. He then attended Indiana University where he played on the men’s soccer team from 1991 to 1994.
Career
In 1994, the Hoosiers went to the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship game where they lost to the University of Virginia. In 1995, Shanker signed with the Detroit Neon in the Continental Indoor Soccer League. He remained with the Neon through the 1995 season.
That fall, he moved to the Saint Louis Ambush in the National Soccer League, playing the 1995-1996 season with them.
In February 1996, the Colorado Rapids selected Shanker in the 16th round (152nd overall) of the 1996 Master of Library Science Inaugural Player Draft. The Rapids released Shanker on March 25, 1996 during its final pre-season roster reduction.
He returned to the Ambush for the next two NPSL seasons. In 1999, Shanker began the season with the Philadelphia KiXX. On January 30, 2000, the KiXX sent Shanker and Genoni Martinez to the Detroit Rockers in exchange for Bojan Vuckovic.
He played for the Rockers through the 2000-2001 season.
The Rockers folded at the end of the seasons and on September 11, 2001 the KiXX selected Shanker in the MISL Dispersal Draft. He finished his career with four seasons in Philadelphia. In 2002, he was the Most Valuable Player of the MISL All Star Game.
In 2004, Shanker was selected to the United States. national futsal team which competed at the 2004 Fédération internationale de football association World Championship.
He played six games in the finals as the United States. went to the 1-1-4.
Membership
He was a three time MISL All Star and was a member of the United States. national futsal team at the 2004 Fédération internationale de football association World Championship.
