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Erik Bradley Imler (born June 1, 1971, in Silver Spring, Maryland) is an American soccer coach and former player. He won national championships while playing at the University of Virginia before becoming part of the US team that competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He is currently an assistant coach for Stumptown AC in the National Independent Soccer Association.

Youth and college

Imler grew up in Maryland, attending Bowie High School in Bowie, Maryland. In 1989, his senior year, he was named a Parade Magazine high school All-American soccer player. After high school, he attended the University of Virginia where he played as a defender and defensive midfielder on the men's soccer team from 1989 to 1992. During his four season at Virginia, the Cavaliers took the NCAA title twice (1991 and 1992) and were co-champions once (1989). In 1992, he was the team captain as a senior. Imler was a two-time second-team All-American. While at Virginia, he majored in sports medicine. In 2000, SoccerAmerica magazine named Imler to its College Team of the Century.

Professional

In 1994, Imler played for the Delaware Wizards of USISL. In 1995, he moved to the Raleigh Flyers. In February 1996, D.C. United of Major League Soccer (MLS) drafted Imler in the third round (30th overall) in the 1996 MLS Inaugural Player Draft. He spent the 1996 season in central defense with United, playing in nineteen games as the team took both the 1996 MLS Cup and 1996 U.S. Open Cup titles. United released Imler in 1997 and he signed with the Worcester Wildfire of USISL. At the same time, he pursued a return to MLS and had a two-week try out with the New England Revolution. On May 7, 1997, the Revs signed Imler as a Discovery Player after impressing the coaches during his trial. The Revs waived Imler on November 10, 1997. In 1998, he signed with the Charleston Battery, but tore his anterior cruciate ligament during a pre-season game which led to his losing the entire 1998 season. In 1999, Imler played one game, twelve minutes total, for the Charleston Battery. The Battery then released him and he finished the season, and his career, with the Lehigh Valley Steam.

National and Olympic teams

Imler was a member of the U.S. team at the 1987 U-16 World Cup in Canada. He then went on to play with the U.S. U-20 national team, but was not a member of the team at any cups. In 1991, Imler was part of the U.S. gold winning soccer team at the Pan American Games.

He then continued to play for the U-23 national team leading up to the 1992 Summer Olympics. Imler started all six games as the U.S. qualified for the tournament. He was then named to the U.S. soccer team for the games. At the Olympics, the U.S. went 1-1-1 and did not qualify for the second round.

On March 23, 1993, Imler earned his only caps with the U.S. national team in a 2–2 tie with El Salvador. However, in the 43d minute, he tore ligaments in his right knee during the game and was replaced by Yari Allnutt who scored a goal. Imler never appeared again for the senior national team.

Coach

Since retiring from playing professionally, Imler has held several positions as a youth soccer coach. He was a Director of Coaching and team coach with Charlotte Soccer Academy in North Carolina. In May 2008, Imler became the head coach of the Belmont Abbey College women's soccer coach. He took the team to a 17-3-3 record in his only season as head coach. He resigned on July 8, 2009. In September 2010, Imler became an assistant coach with the United States men's national under-17 soccer. In March 2021, he joined National Independent Soccer Association side Stumptown AC as an assistant coach.

References

1. ^ "Player register". Archived from the original on April 4, 2007.
2. "5 Locals on Parade Soccer Team". The Washington Post. February 11, 1989. Archived from the original on 2012-11-04.
3. "Battery Plagued by Injuries". Archived from the original on September 19, 2002.
4. Charlotte Soccer Academy, archived from the original on 16 Nov 2014
5. "Erik Imler Named Women's Soccer Coach at Belmont Abbey College". Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
6. "Abbey women's soccer coach steps down".
7. "Stumptown AC Adds Former US Olympian Erik Imler as Assistant Coach". stumptownac.com. Retrieved 26 March 2021.

External links

• Erik Imler at Major League Soccer
• Erik Imler – FIFA competition record (archived)

v t e United States soccer squad – 1992 Summer Olympics
1 Friedel 2 Rast (c) 3 Lalas 4 Burns 5 Imler 6 Brose 7 Washington 8 Lapper 9 Snow 10 Reyna 11 Allnutt 12 Dayak 13 Moore 14 Jones 15 Ibsen 16 Lagos 17 Huwiler 18 Feuer 19 Henderson 20 Onalfo Coach: Osiander

• 1971 births
• American soccer coaches
• American men's soccer players
• D.C. United players
• Delaware Wizards players
• Charleston Battery players
• Footballers at the 1992 Summer Olympics
• Lehigh Valley Steam players
• Living people
• Major League Soccer players
• New England Revolution players
• Olympic soccer players for the United States
• Parade High School All-Americans (boys' soccer)
• Sportspeople from Bowie, Maryland
• Soccer players from Maryland
• Raleigh Express players
• United States men's international soccer players
• Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer players
• Worcester Wildfire players
• United States men's youth international soccer players
• United States men's under-20 international soccer players
• United States men's under-23 international soccer players
• Men's association football defenders
• Footballers at the 1991 Pan American Games
• Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games
• Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in football
• Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer coaches
• The Citadel Bulldogs men's soccer coaches
• Belmont Abbey Crusaders
• National Independent Soccer Association coaches
• College women's soccer coaches in the United States
• 20th-century American sportsmen