{ "title": "Class of 2009: Mike Stojanovic", "modified_at": "2026-05-05 17:21:17", "published_at": "2009-06-06 11:00:00", "url": "https://news.canadasoccer.com/class-of-2009-mike-stojanovic", "short_url": "http://prez.ly/EwFd", "culture": "en", "language": "EN", "subtitle": "Listen to Mike Stojanovic Mike Stojanovic may have been an unknown when he first arrived in Canada, but it didn\u2019t take long for him to prove he was a step ahead of everyone else on the pitch. In his first season with the Toronto White Eagles in the National Soccer League, he scored an impressive 52 \u2026", "slug": "class-of-2009-mike-stojanovic", "body": "

Listen to Mike Stojanovic
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\u200bMike Stojanovic may have been an unknown when he first arrived in Canada, but it didn’t take long for him to prove he was a step ahead of everyone else on the pitch. In his first season with the Toronto White Eagles in the National Soccer League, he scored an impressive 52 goals and led his club to a regular-season championship.
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\u200b“I was strong, very quick,” says Stojanovic. “You give me half a step and I’m gone.”
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\u200bAfter a brief stint in Toronto, Stojanovic was gone to the North American Soccer League where he again answered the question, “who is Mike Stojanovic?” He played five seasons for the Rochester Lancers (1976-1980) and was named an NASL Second Team All Star in 1977. He then played two seasons with a stronger San Diego Sockers side (1981-82) and won NASL Player of the Year honours in 1981.
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\u200bBy the time he was finished (including a brief stint with the Golden Bay Earthquakes in 1982), he ranked ninth on the league’s all-time goal-scoring list.
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\u200b“I was like a thunderstorm from the centre,” says Stojanovic. “When I came into the box, I was like a hurricane.”
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\u200bIn 1980, Stojanovic got the chance to represent Canada in FIFA World Cup\u0099 Qualifiers. Over two seasons, he helped Canada post six wins, six draws and just two losses as the team came within a goal of qualifying for the 1982 FIFA World Cup\u0099 in Spain. He scored three goals in nine official qualification matches.
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\u200b“For one goal didn’t qualify to go to Spain,” says Stojanovic. “Even today, I am dreaming of why we didn’t go to Spain.”
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\u200bToday, Stojanovic takes his place amongst Canada’s legends as a distinguished member of The Soccer Hall of Fame.
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\u200b“This is something very special to any person who is inducted into the Hall of Fame,” says Stojanovic. “This is worth more than any money (and) any gold – this is something that lives forever.”

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\n Paulo Senra\n Chief Communications & Content Officer | Chef des communications et du contenu, Canada Soccer\n \n
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", "contacts": [ { "name": "Paulo Senra", "company": "Canada Soccer", "description": "Chief Communications & Content Officer | Chef des communications et du contenu", "email": "psenra@canadasoccer.com", "website": null, "address": null, "telephone": null, "mobile": "(416)\u00a0882-7919", "twitter": null, "facebook": null } ], "author": { "first_name": "Integration", "last_name": "Integration" }, "format_version": 5 }