# Juli Veee

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Former soccer player (born 1950)

Juli Veee Veee in 2005 Personal information Full name Gyula Visnyei Date of birth (1950-02-22) February 22, 1950 (age 76) Place of birth Budapest, Hungary Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) Position Forward Youth career 0000–1969 Vasas Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1975 Los Angeles Aztecs 20 (6) 1976 San Jose Earthquakes (NASL indoor) 4 (8) 1976 San Jose Earthquakes 13 (0) 1976–1977 Lierse 28 (8) 1977–1978 Standard Liège 19 (5) 1978–1982 San Diego Sockers 164 (33) 1979–1980 New York Arrows (MISL) 26 (29) 1981–1982 San Diego Sockers (NASL indoor) 18 (51) 1982–1983 San Diego Sockers (MISL) 37 (57) 1983–1984 San Diego Sockers (NASL indoor) 28 (45) 1984–1985 Las Vegas Americans (MISL) 39 (50) 1985–1988 San Diego Sockers (MISL) 115 (101) International career Hungary U-21 1976–1982 United States 4 (2) Managerial career 2005– La Costa Canyon High School * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Juli Veee** (born **Gyula Visnyei**; February 22, 1950) is a former professional [soccer](/source/Soccer) player who played as a [forward](/source/Forward_(association_football)). Announced as "Double-deuce, triple-E, the one and only Juli Veee",[1] Veee experienced his greatest success as an [indoor player](/source/Indoor_soccer) with the [San Diego Sockers](/source/San_Diego_Sockers_(NASL)).[2][3] Born in Hungary, he earned four [caps](/source/Cap_(sports)), scoring two goals, with the [United States national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team).

## Early life

Veee grew up impoverished in Budapest, Hungary. The [communist](/source/Communist) government controlled nearly every aspect of a [Hungarian](/source/People's_Republic_of_Hungary)'s life and when Veee turned fifteen he was given a choice, pursue a career in [table tennis](/source/Table_tennis) or soccer. He chose soccer. Chafing under the restrictions of his homeland under a [totalitarian](/source/Totalitarian) regime, Veee defected when he was eighteen years old while on a tour of Western Europe with the Hungarian U-21 national team. He began his professional career in France before moving to the United States.

## Club career

### NASL

In 1975, Veee moved to the U.S. where he signed with the [Los Angeles Aztecs](/source/Los_Angeles_Aztecs) of the [North American Soccer League](/source/North_American_Soccer_League_(1968%E2%80%931984)). That season, he played in nineteen games, scoring six goals. He was traded to the [San Jose Earthquakes](/source/San_Jose_Earthquakes_(NASL_team)) for the 1976 season.

At the completion of the 1976 NASL season, Veee moved to Belgium where he signed with First Division club Lierse. He spent one season with Lierse before moving to Standard Liège for the 1977–78 season. Veee returned to the NASL to play for the San Diego Sockers from 1978 to 1982. Veee was a fan favorite for the Sockers.

### NASL indoor

Veee played for San Jose during the [1976 indoor tournament](/source/1976_NASL_Indoor_tournament) and led the competition with eight goals.[4] A few years later the NASL started an indoor league, in which the Sockers participated in 1980–81, 1981–82, 1983–84. San Diego won the championship in the [1981–82](/source/1981%E2%80%9382_NASL_Indoor_season) and [1983–84](/source/1983%E2%80%9384_NASL_Indoor_season) seasons. Juli Veee was their star. He went on to play with the Sockers in the MISL. Overall, the Sockers won 10 indoor soccer championships (two in the NASL, and eight more in the MISL). Veee finished his career with the Sockers with 254 goals and 214 assists.

Veee was described in a 1984 [Sports Illustrated](/source/Sports_Illustrated) article as a player "who would find it tough to hold a place on a European third-division side, [and who] recognizes that the simplistic indoor version suits his talents better than the grown-ups' game." In the same article Veee was quoted as stating, "tell the rest of the world to go on playing in the mud and rain...we'll get rich while staying clean. The future of American soccer is indoors."[5]

### MISL

Veee began his career in the [Major Indoor Soccer League](/source/Major_Soccer_League) (MISL) with the [New York Arrows](/source/New_York_Arrows). His greatest achievement in soccer probably came as he led the [San Diego Sockers](/source/San_Diego_Sockers_(NASL)) to five championships. He was MVP three times. He was the 1982–83 championship series MVP. At the end of the 1984 season, the Sockers traded Veee to the [Las Vegas Americans](/source/Las_Vegas_Americans) for whom he played a single season. In 1985, he returned to the Sockers and finished his career with them in 1988.

## International career

Veee earned four [caps](/source/Cap_(sports)) with the [United States national team](/source/United_States_men's_national_soccer_team) after he became a U.S. citizen. His first game with the national team came in an October 15, 1976 loss to [Mexico](/source/Mexico_national_football_team). He scored his first national team goal five days later in a victory over [Canada](/source/Canada_men's_national_soccer_team). He played one more game in 1976, then did not earn another cap until his last one. That came in the only game the U.S. played in 1982, a 2–1 victory over [Trinidad](/source/Trinidad_and_Tobago_national_football_team) on March 21, 1982. Veee also scored his second national team goal in that game.

Veee was also a member of the United States team which qualified for the [1980 Summer Olympics](/source/1980_Summer_Olympics). While Veee scored a goal in the U.S. tie with [Suriname](/source/Suriname_national_football_team) which led to the U.S. qualifying for the games, [President Carter](/source/Jimmy_Carter) canceled the U.S. participation in those games as punishment for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Because [FIFA](/source/FIFA) does not recognize Olympic and Olympic qualifying matches as full internationals, these games are not included in Veee's national team statistics.

## Post-playing career

After retiring in 1988, he became an artist and book collector,[6] although these did not provide enough income at the time for him to make a living. A local youth coach who knew Veee asked him to help out with the coach's team. In need of income, he agreed and quickly discovered that he loved second career as a coach. His coaching jobs began with club teams, including three years with the SDSC Surf club and two years with the Pegasus club [*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*].

Veee would eventually become Director of Coaching for the Encinitas Soccer League. In 2005, became the head coach of the [La Costa Canyon High School](/source/La_Costa_Canyon_High_School) girls' soccer team. He decided to become a high school coach due to dissatisfaction with regression his club players experienced during the high school season. Veee concluded that the low quality of high school soccer hurt his club and decided the best way to raise that quality was through his personal attention.[7]

In 1994, he was commissioned to be the artist for the 1994 World Cup hosted by multiple cities across the United States. An exhibition including Veee's work titled "Soccerfest, A Magical World" was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center July 8–17, 1994.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

As an artist, Veee has produced hundreds of works, including a commissioned portrait of former California Governor and San Diego Mayor [Pete Wilson](/source/Pete_Wilson).[8]

In 1997, the San Diego Breitbard Hall of Fame inducted Veee, the first soccer player so honored.[9] He was also selected as an inaugural member of the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011.[10]

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Playful Juli Veee is Sockers' greatest](http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/Feb/17/sd-52-juli-veee-sockers)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Union-Tribune, Tom Krasovic | The San Diego (June 1, 2024). ["There's nothing quite like watching soccer with San Diego legend Juli Veee"](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/06/01/theres-nothing-quite-like-watching-soccer-with-san-diego-legend-juli-veee/). *San Diego Union-Tribune*. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Brents, Phillip (April 14, 2022). ["Sockers of old inspire championship memories, new Socks catching up"](https://www.thestarnews.com/sockers-of-old-inspire-championship-memories-new-socks-catching-up/). *www.thestarnews.com*. Retrieved January 20, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Players. Juli Veee"](https://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/V/Veee.Julie.htm). *nasljerseys.com*. Retrieved April 9, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Gammon, Clive ["The NASL: It's Alive But On Death Row"](https://www.si.com/vault/1984/05/07/626590/the-nasl-its-alive-but-on-death-row), "Sports Illustrated", May 7, 1984. Retrieved on March 16, 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-artist_6-0)** Gary Hyvonen (May 21, 2004). ["Veee melds athletic past with artistic bent"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231227180612/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-veee-melds-athletic-past-with-artistic-bent-2004may21-story.html). *San Diego Union Tribune*. Archived from [the original](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-veee-melds-athletic-past-with-artistic-bent-2004may21-story.html) on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-lcc_7-0)** Scott Bair (October 20, 2005). ["Sockers legend Veee to coach LCC"](https://web.archive.org/web/20231227174345/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-sockers-legend-veee-to-coach-lcc-2005oct20-story.html). *San Diego Union-Tribune*. Archived from [the original](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-sockers-legend-veee-to-coach-lcc-2005oct20-story.html) on December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-playful_8-0)** Tod Leonard (September 5, 2016). ["Playful Juli Veee is Sockers' greatest"](https://web.archive.org/web/20230524144912/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/the-52/sdut-sd-52-juli-veee-sockers-2014feb17-htmlstory.html). *San Diego Union Tribune*. Archived from [the original](https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/the-52/sdut-sd-52-juli-veee-sockers-2014feb17-htmlstory.html) on May 24, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["San Diego Hall of Champions"](https://web.archive.org/web/20140416182450/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/sports/champs.htm). Archived from [the original](http://www.sandiegohistory.org/collections/sports/champs.htm) on April 16, 2014. Retrieved April 9, 2023.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Staff REPORT (October 28, 2011). ["Popovic's success earns Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame nod"](https://www.stltoday.com/sports/other/popovics-success-earns-indoor-soccer-hall-of-fame-nod/article_db621736-01ae-11e1-b3ec-001a4bcf6878.html). *STLtoday.com*. Retrieved April 9, 2023.

## External links

- [Artist profile](https://web.archive.org/web/20150711032207/http://www.sdvag.net/V_W/JuliV.htm)

- [Article about Veee's coaching](http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2006/02/07/sports/highschool/2606190831.txt)

- [NASL and MISL stats](http://www.nasljerseys.com/Players/V/Veee.Julie.htm)

v t e 1980–81 NASL Indoor All-Stars All-North Team GK: Bruce Grobbelaar MF: Gerry Gray FW: Carl Valentine FW: Kai Haaskivi FW: Drew Ferguson FW: Juan Carlos Molina FW: Bobby Prentice All-East Team GK: Tino Lettieri DF: Björn Nordqvist FW: Steve Wegerle FW: Pato Margetic FW: Keith Furphy FW: Karl-Heinz Granitza All-West Team GK: Mike Hewitt DF: Mihalj Keri MF: Alan Hudson FW: Stuart Lee FW: George Best FW: Juli Veee FW: Chris Dangerfield

v t e 1981 NASL All-Stars First Team GK: Van Beveren DF: Mathieu DF: Rijsbergen DF: Nogly DF: Gorman MF: Steffenhagen MF: Bogićević MF: Cubillas FW: Kidd FW: Hill FW: Chinaglia Second Team GK: Birkenmeier DF: Wallace DF: Bond DF: Keri DF: O'Leary MF: Hudson MF: Best MF: Lorimer FW: Granitza FW: Cabañas FW: Gerber Honorable Mention GK: Groß DF: Rohmann DF: Iarusci DF: Huson DF: Carlos Alberto MF: Veee MF: Sono MF: McKenzie FW: Stojanović FW: Margetic FW: Green FW Wegerle

v t e 1981–82 NASL Indoor All-Stars Pacific Conference GK: Volkmar Gross DF: Alan Hudson DF: Martin Donnelly FW: Jan Goossens FW: Kai Haaskivi FW: Juli Veee Atlantic Conference GK: Jürgen Stars DF: Barry Wallace DF: Mike Connell FW: Tatu FW: Karl-Heinz Granitza FW: Gordon Hill

v t e 1982 NASL All-Stars First Team GK: Birkenmeier DF: Mathieu DF: Cho DF: Nogly DF: Eskandarian MF: Bogićević MF: Ntsoelengoe MF: Steffenhagen FW: Chinaglia FW: Ward FW: Alonso Second Team GK: Van Beveren DF: Wallace DF: Durgan DF: Carlos Alberto DF: Evans MF: Daley MF: Neeskens MF: Cubillas FW: Hunt FW: Granitza FW: Margetic Honorable Mention GK: Möller DF: Wilson DF: Connell DF: Wile DF: Lenarduzzi MF: Hilaire MF: Hudson MF: Veee FW: Šegota FW: Byrne FW: Abrahams FW: Ingram FW: Valentine

v t e 1983–84 NASL Indoor All-Stars First Team GK: Victor Nogueira DF: Fernando Clavijo DF: Gert Wieczorkowski FW: Kaz Deyna FW: Steve Žungul FW: Karl-Heinz Granitza Second Team GK: David Brcic DF: Dan Canter DF: Martin Donnelly FW: Juli Veee FW: Carl Valentine FW: Pato Margetic FW: Stanisław Terlecki 1984 NASL All-Star Game selections Starters GK: Alan Mayer (injured) DF: Barry Wallace DF: Fernando Clavijo FW: Steve Žungul FW: Kaz Deyna FW: Juli Veee Reserves GK: David Brcic GK: Tino Lettieri *(injury replacement) DF: Angelo DiBernardo DF: Frantz Mathieu DF: Mike Connell DF: Gert Wieczorkowski FW: Carl Valentine FW: Stanisław Terlecki (injured) FW: Jean Willrich FW: Zequinha *(injury replacement) FW: Peter Ward

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Juli Veee](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juli_Veee) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juli_Veee?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.