| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1957-01-06)January 6, 1957 (age 68) | ||
| Place of birth | Ulcinj,PR Montenegro,Yugoslavia | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Red Star Belgrade | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1979–1980 | Detroit Express(indoor) | 10 | (0) |
| 1980 | Detroit Express | 2 | (0) |
| 1981 | New York Eagles | 25 | (7) |
| 1982 | Oklahoma City Slickers | ||
| 1983 | Pennsylvania Stoners | ||
| 1984 | Houston Dynamos | ||
| 1984–1986 | Columbus Capitals(indoor) | 79 | (88) |
| 1986–1987 | Toledo Pride(indoor) | 17 | (9) |
| 1987–1988 | Canton Invaders(indoor) | ||
| 1988–1989 | Dayton Dynamo(indoor) | ||
| Managerial career | |||
| 1986 | Columbus Capitals(interim) | ||
| 1998– | Ohio Dominican University(assistant) | ||
| 2003–2004 | Columbus Shooting Stars | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Lesh Shkreli (born January 6, 1957)[1] is a retired Montenegrin-Americansoccerforward who played in Yugoslavia, Greece and the United States. He led theAmerican Indoor Soccer Association in scoring in 1984-1985, earning MVP honors.
Shkreli isAlbanian ethnic origin, more precisely of theShkreli subgroup ofAlbanians who are a minority in coastalMontenegro.
Shkreli began his career in theRed Star Belgrade youth system. At some point in his career he played in the Greek First Division. In 1980, Shkreli signed with theDetroit Express in theNorth American Soccer League (NASL).[2] The Express was sold at the end of the 1980-1981 indoor season and moved toWashington D.C. where it became theWashington Diplomats. Shkreli did not make the move. In 1982, Shkreli played for theOklahoma City Slickers in theAmerican Soccer League.[3] In the summer of 1984, he played for theHouston Dynamos in theUnited Soccer League. In 1984, he signed with theColumbus Capitals of theAmerican Indoor Soccer Association (AISA). He led the league in scoring with fifty-nine goals in forty games, earning first team All Star and league MVP recognition. The Capitals folded at the end of the 1985-1986 season and theToledo Pride picked up Shkreli in the dispersal draft. He played only seventeen games with the Pride before his contract was purchased by theCanton Invaders on January 15, 1987.[4] Shkreli moved to theDayton Dynamo for the 1988-1989 season. On September 19, 1989, the Dynamo traded him to theChicago Power in exchange for Victor Quni. Shkreli declined to sign with the Power and retired.[5]
Shkreli was actively involved in coaching even as a player. In 1986, he served as an interim head coach for theColumbus Capitals for three games. In 1998, he became the assistant coach atOhio Dominican University. In 2003, Shkreli became the first head coach of theColumbus Shooting Stars of the fourth divisionPremier Development League. Blast FC, a premier soccer club, was started in 1986 by Lesh Shkreli. It has been in existence for over 20 years and is presently the longest running soccer club in central Ohio. Lesh Shkreli is the full-time Director of Coaching at Blast F.C. He has led teams to the National League as well as the US Youth Soccer National Championships. Numerous teams of his compete at the Midwest Regional League (MRL) level.