Miro Rys

Miro Rys (July 18, 1957 – September 1977) was a Czech American soccer forward who played professionally in the North American Soccer League. Rys earned three caps, scoring one goal, with the U.S. national team. He died in Germany soon after signing with Hertha Berlin.

Club career

Although born in Czechoslovakia, Rys grew up in Cicero, Illinois where he played high school soccer at Morton East High School. Following his graduation in 1976, Rys elected to forego college and instead signed with the Chicago Sting of the North American Soccer League. Rys played seventeen games and scored four goals for Chicago Sting that season. Rys then transferred to the Los Angeles Aztecs during the 1977 season. He played in two games, scoring two goals for the Aztecs before signing with German club Hertha Berlin. Rys died in a car accident in Germany, however, before he played for Hertha.

International career

Rys earned three caps with the U.S. national team in 1976. His first game came in a World Cup qualifier against Canada in Seattle on October 20, 1976. Rys scored in that game, a 2-0 victory, making him one of a handful of U.S. players who have scored in their debut match. Rys then played in two scoreless ties with Haiti. He remains the youngest U.S. player to appear in a World Cup qualifying game.

The Illinois High School Soccer Association (IHSSCA) awards an annual Miro Rys Sportsmanship Award.