Croatian Eagles Soccer Club
win Wisconsin State Major Division Championship
The long and colorful history of the Croatian Eagles soccer club finally culminated in achampionship as the Eagles defeated archrivals the United Serbians 4-2 in the final of the
Wisconsin Soccer Association Major Division on Sunday, July 14, 2002 at Croatian Park in Franklin, Wisconsin.This is the first official championship since 1963 for the Eagles, a team founded in 1922 and theoldest soccer club in existence in North America. The Croats, who have reached the finals severaltimes in the interim, finally grabbed the championship trophy on their home field in front of 1500spectators.
American and Croatian flags flew side by side in a blue, cloudless sky as the teams took to the
field at 4 p.m. The Eagles never trailed but went ahead for good breaking a 2-2 tie in the 50th
minute. The Eagles dominated play the entire game, although the Serbs played a hard game and
never gave up. With several good chances, the Croats could have scored another two or three goals.Hundreds of fans cheered after the final whistle while several hundred United Serbians fans left thepark almost immediately.
The team is comprised of over 1/2 second and third generation Croatian Americans and is
coached by Pero Markovic, a Croatian immigrant. The Wisconsin Soccer Association has honored many CroatianEagles as inductees to the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame. Some of the more recent inductees includethe late Toni Franjic, Ivica Jugovic, Viktor Zorc, Boris Kuzmanovic, Stjepan Bartolic and ZdravkoNovak. One of the more well known inductees is Bob Gansler, former U.S. National team coach.
Postal Address:
Croatian Eagles Soccer Club
Franjo VUKOVIC
4312 West Sherwood Drive
Franklin, WI 53132
United States
Phone number:
+1 414 4238902
Fax number:
+1 414 4238902
E-mail:
croatianeagles@worldfootballclubs.org
Full name: Croatian Eagles Soccer Club
Founded: 01.03.1922
Location: Milwaukee (Wisconsin)
Contact person: Franjo VUKOVIC
www.worldfootballclubs.org/croatianeagles/ history.html
History of the Croatian Eagles Soccer Club
1960 Wisconsin state runners-up
Established on March 1, 1922, the Croatian Eagles Soccer Club was founded with the desire to give Croatian immigrants in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a place to foster and perpetuate their Croatian heritage. The founding president of the club was Reverend Charles Jesih. He provided Croatian immigrants the opportunity to share the love of soccer and pride of their heritage. Also known as "Hrvatski Orlovi", Croatian for "Croatian Eagles", the Eagles are members of the Wisconsin Soccer Association, Croatian National Soccer Federation of the U.S. & Canada, Croatian American Congress and Croatian World Congress.
Over the years the Eagles have made significant contributions to soccer in the Milwaukee area as well as throughout the USA. In 1998 the Eagles were awarded the Mike Kabanica Award by the Wisconsin Soccer Association for the contributions made to soccer in Wisconsin over the years. The Eagles have provided opportunities for building soccer skills, sportsmanship and pride for players of all ethnic and racial backgrounds. As one of the oldest soccer clubs in the United States and the oldest Croatian soccer club in the world outside of Croatia, the Eagles have been a pioneer of youth and adult soccer. Teams have ranged from all age levels including "old timers" and girls' teams. The Eagles have seen much success over the years at all levels.
Until 1956, the Eagles played on various city fields that were administered by the Milwaukee
Public Schools. In 1956 a new home was established called Croatian Park located in Franklin,
Wisconsin, owned by the Federation of Croatian Societies. Croatian Park has a picnic area that hosts the annual "Croatian Days" festival held every July, which attracts people from all over the Midwest. The park has five regulation size soccer fields, two youth fields and a clubhouse that house the offices, locker room and meeting spaces of the Croatian Eagles.
Hard work and love for the game of soccer is what has kept the Eagles alive. With this
determination the Eagles look forward to many more years of existence and success for future
generations to enjoy.
Croatian Eagles accomplishments:
1930 Milwaukee City Champions
1932 Milwaukee City Champions
1933 Milwaukee City Champions
1935 Milwaukee City Champions
1936 Milwaukee City Champions
1937 Milwaukee City Champions
1943 Milwaukee City Champions
1943 Midwest Amateur Cup Champions
1960 Wisconsin State Runners-Up
1988 Wisconsin State Runners-Up
1987 Wisconsin State Reserves Champions
1997 Wisconsin State Reserves Champions
1998 Milwaukee City Champions
1998 Wisconsin State Runners-Up
1999 Midwest Amateur Cup Regional Finalists
Croatian Eagles in the Wisconsin Hall of Fame:
1977 Charles Kezele
1984 Steve Kezele
1985 George Panich
1985 John Petek
1987 Julius Horvath
1987 Fred Kezele
1988 Tony Franjic
1989 Aldo Santaga
1990 Steve Botic
1991 Ivo Jugovic
1993 Zdravko Novak
1994 Viktor Zorc
1995 Boris Kuzmanovic
1996 Zdravko Ropac
1997 Steve Bartolic