Background
Although born in Czechoslovakia, Rys grew up in Cicero, Illinois where he played high school soccer at Morton East High School.
Although born in Czechoslovakia, Rys grew up in Cicero, Illinois where he played high school soccer at Morton East High School.
Rys earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the United States. national team He died in Germany soon after signing with Hertha Berlin. Following his graduation in 1976, Rys elected to forego college and instead signed with the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League.
Rys played seventeen games and scored four goals for Chicago Sting that season.
Rys then transferred to the Los Angeles Aztecs during the 1977 season. He played in two games, scoring two goals for the Aztecs before signing with German club Hertha Berlin.
Rys died in a car accident in Germany, however, before he played for Hertha. Rys earned three caps with the United States. national team in 1976.
His first game came in a World Cup qualifier against Canada on October 20, 1976.
Rys scored in that game, a 2-0 victory, making him one of a handful of United States. players who have scored in their debut match. Rys then played in two scoreless ties with Haiti. He remains the youngest United States. player to appear in a World Cup qualifying game.
The Illinois High School Soccer Association (IHSSCA) awards an annual Miro Rys Sportsmanship Award.