Ernő Schwarz facts for kids
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 7 March 1902 | ||
| Place of birth | Budapest, Hungary | ||
| Date of death | 19 June 1977 (aged 75) | ||
| Place of death | Queens, New York, United States | ||
| Playing position | Wing Forward | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1922–1923 | Ferencváros | ||
| 1923 | Makkabi Brno | ||
| 1923–1926 | Hakoah Vienna | ||
| 1926–1928 | New York Giants | 77 | (20) |
| 1928–1929 | New York Hakoah | ||
| 1929–1931 | → Hakoah All-Stars | 56 | (10) |
| 1931–1936 | New York Americans | ||
| National team | |||
| 1922 | Hungary | 2 | (2) |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1931– | New York Americans | ||
| 1953–1955 | United States | ||
| 1957 | New York Americans | ||
|
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Ernő Schwarz (born March 7, 1902 – died June 19, 1977) was a famous Hungarian American soccer player, coach, and promoter. He even coached the United States men's national soccer team! Ernő played soccer professionally in Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Austria, and the United States. He also played two games for the Hungarian national team, scoring two goals.
Schwarz was also the person who started, owned, and managed the New York Americans soccer team. He played for this team in two different American Soccer Leagues. He also held important leadership roles in the American Soccer League and the International Soccer League.
Contents
Ernő Schwarz: A Soccer Journey
Starting as a Player
Ernő Schwarz began his professional soccer career when he was just seventeen years old. He played as a forward for Ferencvárosi TC in Hungary. In 1922, his team, Ferencvárosi, won the Hungarian Cup, which was a big achievement.
Later that year, Schwarz moved to a club in Czechoslovakia called Makkabi Brno. In 1923, Makkabi played an exhibition game against SK Rapid Wien. Makkabi won 4-1, and Ernő Schwarz scored two of those goals!
His great performance caught the eye of Hakoah Vienna, a team in Austria. They signed him in December 1923. He played twelve games for them, scoring nine goals in the 1923–1924 season.
In the spring of 1926, Hakoah Vienna went on a tour to the United States. After the tour, Schwarz and some of his teammates decided they wanted to move to the U.S. But first, he went back to Austria. There, Hakoah Vienna won the league championship.
Moving to America
In the summer of 1926, Ernő Schwarz moved to the United States for good. He joined the New York Giants team, which was part of the American Soccer League (ASL).
Around 1928, there was a big disagreement in U.S. soccer. It was called the "Soccer War." This disagreement caused problems for the ASL. Because of this, Schwarz tried to join Rangers F.C. in Great Britain, but he couldn't due to work rules.
After that, Schwarz helped create a new team called New York Hakoah. This team played in a different league. New York Hakoah finished third in their league. However, they won the 1929 National Challenge Cup, a very important tournament. Schwarz even scored a goal in their 3-0 victory in the final game.
Starting His Own Team
In 1929, the "Soccer War" ended, and the leagues merged. New York Hakoah joined with another team to form the Hakoah All-Stars.
Then, in 1931, Ernő Schwarz started his very own team, the New York Americans. He was both a player and the coach for this team. In 1933, his team lost in the final of the 1933 National Challenge Cup.
The Americans later won the 1937 National Challenge Cup. However, Schwarz couldn't play in that final game because he had broken his leg earlier that year. He continued to play a few games for the Americans until at least 1951.
Playing for Hungary
Ernő Schwarz played two official games for the Hungarian national team. He scored two goals in these games. Both matches happened in July 1922. The first was against Germany. A few days later, he played against Finland. In that game, Hungary won 5–1, and Schwarz scored two goals. He never played for the national team again after that.
Coaching and Team Ownership
When Ernő Schwarz started the New York Americans in 1931, he became their coach. He managed the team for more than twenty years. He later took a break from coaching but returned to lead the Americans again in 1956.
Schwarz was also chosen to coach the United States men's national soccer team from 1953 to 1955. During this time, the U.S. team did not qualify for the 1958 FIFA World Cup.
As the owner of the New York Americans, Schwarz led his team through the final years of the first American Soccer League. When that league ended in 1933, Schwarz was very important in creating a second American Soccer League. He continued to own the Americans for many years.
Helping Grow Soccer in America
Ernő Schwarz was a key figure in helping soccer become more popular in the United States. After the first American Soccer League ended in 1933, he was crucial in starting the second league. He worked tirelessly, selling tickets and promoting his team. He even sold snacks at halftime!
Over the years, Schwarz became one of the most important leaders in the American Soccer League. In 1947, he became the league's vice president. In 1957, he served as the ASL Business Manager. In 1960, he also became the vice president and general manager of the International Soccer League.
During World War II, Schwarz encouraged American soldiers in Britain to play soccer. He hoped this would help the sport grow back home. He also organized tours for top European soccer clubs to visit the U.S. This helped increase soccer's popularity. He wasn't just interested in outdoor soccer; in 1960, he organized one of the first big indoor soccer tournaments at Madison Square Garden.
Legacy
Ernő Schwarz was recognized for his important contributions to soccer. He was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1951. He passed away on June 19, 1977, in Queens, New York.
