This week the United Soccer Association is celebrating the 66th birthday of our Board Member Mike Connell. The lanky South African defender spent his entire NASL career with the Tampa Bay Rowdies (1975, 1977-84), becoming a Fannie favorite while making 252 appearances — 3rd-most in NASL history — and earning the nickname “Iron Mike” by playing in an NASL-record 179 consecutive games. The current Club Director and DOC of the FC Tampa Rangers in Lutz helped the legendary Rowdies win Soccer Bowl ’75 and reach the Soccer Bowl final in 1978 and 1979, winning the 1980 NASL Indoor title and the 1983 NASL Grand Prix of Soccer championship, earning 3 all-NASL selections and serving as captain of the Rowdies from 1981-84. Love you Mike!
