|
One
of the finest defenders to ever play in the NASL, Bruce began his career
with the Vancouver Whitecaps when the club was formed in 1974 and remained
with them for four seasons before being traded to Chicago Sting.
|
Personal Information |
|
Class of 2000 |
|
Born: June 20, 1951 - Vancouver, BC |
|
Position:
Defender |
|
Int'l
Caps: 57 |
Int'l
Goals: 0 |
|
After two seasons in
Chicago, he went to New York Cosmos for one season before ending his career
after four seasons with Toronto Blizzard. Captain of Canada's
International Team in the 1986 World Cup Finals, Wilson played 51 times for
his country. That figure would have been much higher had the Cosmos
released him to play in the 1982 World Cup qualifying rounds instead of
going with them on tour for a series of exhibition games. Wilson also
played for Canada in the 1984 Olympic Games and captained Toronto Blizzard
in Soccer Bowl '83 and the NASL Championship Games of 1984. Only one
other man - Canadian National Team player
Bobby
Lenarduzzi -
played in more NASL games than Wilson. One of the finest left backs in the
game, Wilson turned down an offer to join the English League club, Everton,
early in his career. Wilson was an NASL All-Star six times, three of
those were first team selections (1977 Vancouver, 1979 Chicago, and 1984
Toronto). He was a NASL North American All-Star in 1979, '82, '83, and
'84. He was a member of the squad when New York won the NASL
Championship in 1980, and was Runner-Up in both 1983 and 1984 with
Toronto. He was the lone Canadian player elected to the CONCACAF (Confederation of North, Central American and
Caribbean Association Football)
"Team of the Century".

North American
Soccer League
Statistics |