Mike Windischmann

Captain of the 1990 U.S. World Cup team and Hall of Famer.

Michael Windischmann (born December 6, 1965) is an American retired soccer defender who played in both the Major Indoor Soccer League and the American Soccer League. He earned fifty caps with the U.S. national team and was the captain of the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Quick Facts

Full name: Michael Windischmann
Born: 6 December 1965
Birthplace: Nuremberg, West Germany
Position: Defender

Lore & Background

Windischmann was born in Nuremberg, West Germany, but his family moved to the United States when he was an infant. He attended Thomas Edison High School in New York City. He began playing soccer when he was six years old and developed as a player playing for local New York City clubs including Blau-Weiss Gottschee, S.C. Gjoa and Queens United. He played college soccer at Adelphi University. In 1986, Adelphi University inducted Windischmann into the school's Athletic Hall of Fame.

Reader's Guide

After graduating from Adelphi University in 1986, Windischmann chose an alternate career from most of his peers. He 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. His single season with the Lazers ran the 1988 to 1989 season when the team folded at the end of the season. Windischmann then moved to the Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League for another single season.

Did You Know?

He was chosen as 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 made it to the World Cup since 1950.
He held the national-team record for the most consecutive games played (36) and started (33) when he retired.
He earned 24 caps and scored 4 goals for the United States national futsal team between 1986 and 1992.