Robert Joseph "Bobby Joe" Esposito is a retired American soccer forward who played professionally in the Western Soccer Alliance, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Joseph Esposito | ||
| Date of birth | December 12, 1964 | ||
| Place of birth | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, United States | ||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| College career | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1983–1986 | Rutgers Scarlet Knights | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1988 | Cleveland Force (indoor) | 37 | (10) |
| 1988–1989 | Los Angeles Lazers (loan) | 41 | (10) |
| 1989 | California Kickers | (1) | |
| 1989–1991 | Atlanta Attack (indoor) | 68 | (67) |
| 1991–1993 | Kansas City Attack (indoor) | 81 | (87) |
| 1995–1997 | Baltimore Spirit (indoor) | 67 | (45) |
| 1997–2000 | Philadelphia KiXX (indoor) | 108 | (33) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2000–2001 | Philadelphia KiXX (assistant) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Youth
editIn 1983, Esposito graduated from Riverside High School. During his four year high school career, Esposito scored 150 goals and went to three New Jersey High School soccer championships.[1] In 2003, Riverside inducted Esposito into its Hall of Fame.[2] Esposito attended Rutgers University, playing on the men's soccer team from 1983 to 1986. He was a 1986 All American and is in second place on the school's career goals and points lists and fourth on the career assists list.[3] In 1999, Rutgers inducted Esposito into the school's Hall of Fame.[4]
Professional
editIn 1987, the Cleveland Force selected Esposito in the third round of the Major Indoor Soccer League draft. When the Force folded in 1988, he moved to the Los Angeles Lazers. The Lazers folded a year later. On July 11, 1989, the Dallas Sidekicks selected Esposito in the first round of the dispersal draft, but he chose to join the Lazer's coach, Keith Tozer, in a move to the Atlanta Attack of the National Professional Soccer League instead. He also spent the 1989 outdoor season with the California Kickers of the Western Soccer Alliance.[5] In 1992, the Spirit traded Esposito to the Kansas City Attack in exchange for a 1993 draft choice.[6] In 1994, Esposito retired and moved his family to New Jersey. In 1995, he decided to return to professional soccer, so he signed with the Baltimore Spirit.[7] In 1997, the Philadelphia KiXX purchased Esposito's contract from the Spirit. Esposito retired in 2000 but spent the 2000–2001 season as an assistant coach with the KiXX.
Retirement
editAfter Bobby-Joe Esposito's great professional soccer career he retired and moved to New Jersey to be with his family. He has 3 great children, Gabrielle(the oldest), Caleb(the middle child), and Rachel(the youngest). His wife's name is Ruth. He still is playing indoor, but just for a small fun league. He also coaches Caleb and Rachel on their soccer teams.
References
edit- ^ High school soccer stats
- ^ Riverside's Hall of Fame to honor eight, soccer team
- ^ Rutgers career leaders Archived August 16, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 1999 Rutgers Hall of Fame inductees Archived May 11, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ 1989 California Kickers
- ^ October 16, 1992 Transactions
- ^ Restless Esposito finds his level again Spirit's target man finds he had retired too soon
