Mike Windischmann

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Windischmann's national team career reached its height between 1988 and 1990. He was a member of the U.S. team at the 1988 Summer Olympics, where he considers one of his all-time career highlights scoring a goal in a 1–1 tie with Argentina. Despite that result, the U.S. finished the first round at 1-1-1 and did not qualify for the second round. The next year, he was chosen as the 1989 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. He was also named captain for the 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification games. His greatest achievement came when he captained the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the first time the U.S. had made it to the World Cup since 1950. By the time he retired in 1990, he held the national-team record for the most consecutive games played (36) and started (33). Windischmann also played for the U.S. at the 1989 and 1992 FIFA Futsal World Championship, which finished third and second respectively. He earned 24 caps and scored 4 goals for the United States national futsal team between 1986 and 1992.

In Their Own Story

Windischmann earned his first cap with the senior national team in 1984. He played for the U.S. at the U-16 World Cup, the 1985 World University Games, and again at the 1987 World University Games. In 1987, he was also on the U.S. team at the 1987 Pan American Games, where the U.S. went 1-1-1 and did not make the second round. After graduating from Adelphi University in 1986, he chose an alternate career from most of his peers. While the Major Indoor Soccer League was the destination of choice for collegiate players, Windischmann decided instead to play for the Brooklyn Italians of New York City's Cosmopolitan League. He played two seasons with the Italians before joining the Los Angeles Lazers of MISL for the 1988 to 1989 season, when the team folded at the end of the season. He then moved to the Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League for another single season. At the end of the 1990 season, Windischmann retired from professional soccer. He currently teaches and coaches at the Susan B. Anthony Academy in New York.

Reader's Guide

When you look at Windischmann's career, the numbers tell a clear story. Fifty caps for the senior national team. Captain of the 1990 World Cup squad. 1989 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year. He held the national-team record for most consecutive games played (36) and started (33) at the time of his retirement. But his path was unusual. Instead of jumping straight into the MISL like most college players, he spent two seasons with the Brooklyn Italians in the Cosmopolitan League. He played one season with the Los Angeles Lazers before they folded, then one season with the Albany Capitals before retiring. His futsal career was also notable — he played for the U.S. at the 1989 and 1992 FIFA Futsal World Championships, finishing third and second, and scored 4 goals in 24 caps for the futsal team between 1986 and 1992. He was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004. For the full picture, the National Soccer Hall of Fame bio and USSoccerPlayers.com have more detail.

Did You Know?

• Windischmann was born in Nuremberg, West Germany, but his family moved to the United States when he was an infant.
• He considers scoring a goal in a 1–1 tie with Argentina at the 1988 Summer Olympics one of his all-time career highlights.
• He was the 1989 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year.
• He captained the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the first time the U.S. had qualified since 1950.
• He held the national-team record for most consecutive games played (36) and started (33) at the time of his retirement.