John Bocwinski

John Bocwinski (born November 22, 1936 in Buenos Aires, Argentina) was an Argentine-American soccer defender who was a member of the U.S. Olympic soccer team at the 1972 Summer Olympics

Youth

Bocwinski, born in Argentina to immigrant Polish parents, living in Argentina until he was sixteen when he emigrated to the United States with his family. They arrived in February 1953 and settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Bocwinski immediately began playing soccer with local teams, first Polonia S.C. and then Syrena S.C., both located in Hammond, Indiana.

Senior

In 1955, he joined Polonia S.C. in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1959, serving his time in Germany where he was the captain of the U.S. Armed Forces soccer team. In 1961, he was released from the Army. He moved to Chicago, Illinois where he joined the A.A.C. Eagles of the National Soccer League of ChicagoTwo years later, he rejoined Milwaukee Polonia.

U.S. Olympic team

In 1970, he was selected for the U.S. Olympic soccer team as it began qualifications for the 1972 Summer Olympics.In 1971, the team played in the Pan American Games. The U.S. placed second in its first round group, but at the bottom of the standings in the final group. Despite this setback, the team went on to qualify for the Olympic tournament. Bocwinski played the first two U.S. games, a 0-0 tie with Mexico and a 3-0 loss to Malaysia.

In 1983, Bocwinski became the head coach at Carthage College in Kenosha. In his two seasons as coach, he took the team to a 12-21-2 (.371) record.

In addition to playing and coaching soccer, Bocwinski also worked over thirty years for the American Motors Corporation. In 1987, he was inducted into the Wisconsin Soccer Association Hall of Fame.