15 Facts About Mike Ivanow

Mike Ivanow spent eight seasons in the North American Soccer League and was a member of the US soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics.

Mike Ivanow earned ten caps with the US national team between 1973 and 1975.

In 1967, Mike Ivanow played both Olympic qualifying matches against Bermuda.

Mike Ivanow made it to the Olympics five years later when he was a member of the US team at the 1972 Munich games.

Mike Ivanow played the first two games, but Shep Messing replaced him in goal for the third game, against host West Germany.

Mike Ivanow went on to play another seven games that year and one in 1974.

In 1974, Mike Ivanow became the San Jose Earthquakes starting goalkeeper.

In 1975, Mike Ivanow played much of the season injured which dropped his GAA from the 1974 1.53 to 2.15.

Mike Ivanow was transferred to the Seattle Sounders after six games.

In 1977, Mike Ivanow continued to back up Chursky, but came on for Chursky 17 minutes into the Sounders first post-season game, a victory over Vancouver.

In 1978, Mike Ivanow never made a game-day squad, However, in January 1979, the Sounders traded Chursky to the California Surf for Al Trost.

That year, Mike Ivanow came alive, playing 28 games and finishing the season ranked fourth in the league.

Mike Ivanow played 15 of the team's 18 games and sixth in the goalkeeper standings.

Mike Ivanow's weight was increasing, decreasing his mobility and he found competition from Paul Hammond who was taking over in goal.

Besides playing soccer, Mike Ivanow has been involved in numerous businesses including co-founding and managing a credit union in San Francisco during his time playing with the Earthquakes.