Janusz Michallik is a retired Polish-American football defender and current soccer coach and television sports commentator.
Background
Michallik moved to the United States with his father, a former Polish national team player, at the age of 16. His father had previously spent time in the United States. in 1976 when he played for the Hartford Bicentennials of the North American Soccer League.
Career
While Michallik played for the junior Polish national team, he never played for the senior team, making him eligible for the United States. team once he gained his citizenship. In 1983, Michallik began his professional career with Gwardia Warszawa. He played 10 games before his family moved to the United States. In 1984, he signed with the Cleveland Force of the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL) and played a single season with the team
He continued to play indoor soccer with his next two teams, the Louisville Thunder and Canton Invaders of the American Indoor Soccer Association (AISA), winning championships with them both despite only playing one season with each team
In 1988, he tried out with the Dallas Sidekicks of MISL, but while he played in the pre-season he was not offered a contract by the team In 1990, Michallik moved to outdoor soccer with the Boston Bolts of the newly established American Soccer League (APSL).
In the fall of 1990, he signed with the Atlanta Attack of the AISA. In 1992, he played for the amateur Gremio Lusitano. In 1995, he signed with the Connecticut Wolves of USISL. He played several early season games with the Wolves, then went on loan to the New York Centaurs of the A-League.
In 1996, the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer drafted Michallik in the 7th Round (61st overall) of the Inaugural Master of Library Science draft.
He played two seasons with the Crew before signing with the New England Revolution on January 16, 1998, for whom he played one season before being released on October 31, 1998. Michallik became a United States. citizen on March 8, 1991. United States. coach Bora Milutinovic quickly called him into the national team
In August 1991, he signed a contract to play exclusively for the national team
He went on to earn 44 caps and score a single goal as a tough defender. He was key to the United States. preparation for the 1994 World Cup, playing in 12 pre-tournament games and starting in seven.
As hosts of the 1994 World Cup, the United States qualified automatically, thus not having to qualify through the CONCACAF region"s qualification tournament. However, he was left off the roster for the tournament itself and retired from the national team later that year.
Futsal In 1995, Michallik earned five caps and scored 1 goal with the United States. futsal team
He is a soccer commentator, currently working for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, FOX Sports, ONE World Sports and SiriusXM Football Club.