Otto Orf
FullnameOtto E. Orf II
Birth dateNovember 4, 1963 (age 62)
Birth placeElma, New York, U.S.
Height6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
PositionGoalkeeper
Youthyears 11981–1983
Youthclubs 1SUNY Buffalo
Years 11984
Clubs 1Buffalo Storm
Years 21985–1986
Clubs 2Columbus Capitals (indoor)
Caps 28
Goals 20
Years 31986–1989
Clubs 3Fort Wayne Flames (indoor)
Caps 359
Goals 31
Years 41987–1988
Clubs 4Toronto Blizzard
Caps 43
Goals 40
Years 51987
Clubs 5Toronto Italia
Years 61989
Clubs 6San Diego Sockers (indoor)
Caps 63
Goals 60
Years 71989
Clubs 7San Diego Nomads
Caps 71
Goals 70
Years 81989–2004
Clubs 8Cleveland Crunch/Force (indoor)
Caps 8344
Goals 87
Years 91990
Clubs 9Orlando Lions
Nationalyears 11996–2000
Nationalteam 1US Futsal
Nationalcaps 18
Nationalgoals 10
Manageryears 12004
Managerclubs 1Cleveland Force (interim)

Otto E. Orf II (born November 4, 1963) is an American retired soccer goalkeeper who played professionally in the United Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League and National Professional Soccer League. He played one game for the U.S. at the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship.

Playing career

Orf first played soccer his sophomore year at Iroquois Central High School, trying out for goalkeeper because nobody else was interested in that position. By his senior season, he was the team MVP.[1] Orf attended SUNY Buffalo where he played both baseball and soccer. His baseball career ended with an elbow injury his sophomore season. In 1984, he left SUNY Buffalo before his senior season to turn professional with the Buffalo Storm of the United Soccer League. The release by the Storm of their starting goalkeeper following financial difficulties brought about Orf signing on for $50 per week. In 1986, Orf signed with the Columbus Capitals of the American Indoor Soccer Association. After one season in Columbus, he moved to the Fort Wayne Flames for three seasons. He finished his Flames’ career with fifty-nine appearances and one goal.[2] In addition to playing for the Flames, Orf backstopped the Toronto Blizzard of the Canadian Soccer League in 1987 and 1988. He also played in the National Soccer League in 1987 with Toronto Italia and later with Toronto Croatia.[3][4] In April 1989, the San Diego Sockers of the Major Indoor Soccer League signed Orf. The AISA season had just ended and the Sockers were looking for a backup to Victor Nogueira after Zoltán Tóth went out injured.[5] In 1989, Orf spent the summer playing for the San Diego Nomads of the Western Soccer League.[6] In 1990, he played one last outdoor season, this time with the Orlando Lions of the American Professional Soccer League.[7] In the fall of 1989, Orf signed with the Cleveland Crunch of the MISL. In 1992, the MISL collapsed and the Crunch moved to the National Professional Soccer League. In 2001, that league collapsed and the Crunch moved to the second Major Indoor Soccer League. In 2002, the Crunch became the Cleveland Force when it came under new team ownership. Orf played for Cleveland through all these changes in leagues and name before retiring in 2004.

Futsal career

Orf earned eight caps with the United States national futsal team between 1996 and 2000.[8] He played one game for the U.S. at the 1996 FIFA Futsal World Championship.

Coaching career

In November and December 2004, Orf served as an interim coach for the Force when Omid Namazi was suspended for three games.

References

  1. ^ "They're Nuts Over Their Job : Socker Goalies Agree a Little Craziness Helps Them Survive". Los Angeles Times. 10 May 1989.
  2. ^ "Fort Wayne Flames". enotes.com
  3. ^ "Local Scene". The Buffalo News. November 22, 1989. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  4. ^ Da Costa, Norman (November 2, 1987). "Italia leads the way". Toronto Star. p. D8.
  5. ^ "Sockers' Toth Has Foot Surgery; Goalkeeper Signed". Los Angeles Times. 5 April 1989.
  6. ^ "1989 San Diego Nomads". a-leaguearchive.tripod.com
  7. ^ "1990 Orlando Lions". a-leaguearchive.tripod.com
  8. ^ "Futsal Planet: Otto Orf". futsalplanet.com[dead link]