Ranked as:
Not Great
America’s Soccer Pioneers
Hosts
Graham Dunn, Jamie Rooney
Michael Lewis
Guest(s)
In this episode of By Far The Greatest Team, hosts Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by award-winning New York soccer journalist Michael Lewis to revisit one of the forgotten cornerstones of American football history — the Rochester Lancers of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Long before the NASL’s glamorous days of Pelé and Beckenbauer, the Lancers were carving out a professional identity for soccer in America’s industrial heartland. Founded in 1967 and joining the North American Soccer League in 1970, the club embodied both the promise and the peril of early American soccer — passionate fans, ambitious owners, and impossible travel schedules that stretched from coast to coast.
Under coach Don Popovic, the Lancers became known for their physical intensity, flair, and multicultural squad featuring stars such as Mike Stojanović and Carlos Metidieri, the Argentine forward who won back-to-back NASL MVP awards. Their rivalry with Toronto Metro-Croatia became fierce, their spirit unrelenting, and their story symbolic of the sport’s fragile roots in the U.S.
Michael Lewis, who chronicled much of the NASL era firsthand, brings vivid detail to the discussion — from chaotic road trips to the human stories behind the players who helped build American soccer before it was fashionable. The episode also explores the ripple effects of the NASL’s boom-and-bust cycle, the lessons learned ahead of World Cup 2026, and why the Lancers’ passion still matters.
It’s a nostalgic journey into the era that shaped everything that came after — the players, the fans, and the dream of soccer in America.
Style of Play
4-3-3 Formation, Direct Attacking, Physical Pressing, Vertical Transitions, Overlapping Full-Backs, Early NASL Flair
Under Don Popovic, the Rochester Lancers developed a direct yet technically adventurous approach suited to the physical demands of North American soccer. Built around the creativity of Carlos Metidieri and the relentless drive of Mike Stojanović, the Lancers played with a mix of South American flair and Eastern European discipline — an early reflection of the NASL’s international flavour.
Typically lining up in a 4-3-3, the team relied on structured pressing and rapid vertical attacks. Full-backs overlapped aggressively, while Metidieri operated as a roaming inside-forward — drifting between lines, creating overloads, and scoring prolifically. Behind him, a hard-working midfield unit kept shape and tempo, providing defensive balance and the ability to launch swift counters.
Popovic’s methods were ahead of their time: tactical drills, video study, and conditioning sessions borrowed from European standards. Matches were often open and unpredictable — partly due to the league’s experimental rules, including the 35-yard offside line and shoot-outs — yet Rochester adapted better than most.
Their football wasn’t always elegant, but it was effective, brave, and endlessly entertaining. In an era when the sport struggled for relevance in the U.S., the Lancers’ style embodied both professionalism and passion — proving that North American soccer could stand on its own terms.
Main Topics
Iconic Moments
The origins and rise of the Rochester Lancers
The birth and evolution of the NASL
Carlos Metidieri and Mike Stojanović’s impact
Travel, finances, and the challenges of early U.S. soccer
The NASL’s boom, collapse, and enduring legacy
Winning the NASL Championship in 1970
Carlos Metidieri’s consecutive MVP seasons (1970–71)
The fierce rivalry with Toronto Metro-Croatia
Long-haul flights and travel nightmares across North America
Transition from the ASL to NASL professionalism
The early CONCACAF Club Championship participation
Notable Manager
Don Popovic, Alex Perolli
Notable Players
Carlos Metidieri, Mike Stojanović, Jim Pollihan, John Grasser, Charlie Schiano, Frank Odoi, Frank Caccamise, Francisco Escos, Eli Durante, Renato Costa
Rochester Lancers 1967–1971: America’s Forgotten Champions
Before Pelé, before the glamour of the New York Cosmos, there were the Rochester Lancers — a tough, talented, and trailblazing club that helped introduce professional football to America.
Founded in 1967, the Lancers joined the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1970 and stunned the continent by winning the league championship in their very first season. Under coach Don Popovic, they became known for their intensity, work ethic, and blend of international flair — led by stars like Carlos Metidieri, the league’s first back-to-back MVP, and Serbian forward Mike Stojanović.
Based in upstate New York, far from the sport’s big-city spotlight, the Lancers overcame financial strain, endless travel, and a fragile fanbase to become one of the NASL’s defining pioneers. Their rivalry with Toronto Metro-Croatia captured the regional passion of early American soccer, while their participation in the CONCACAF Champions Cup marked one of the first U.S. ventures into continental competition.
Soccer journalist Michael Lewis, who covered the team and the league for decades, recalls the chaos and charisma of that era: the exhausting road trips, the characters who built the sport from nothing, and the dream that professional football could thrive in America.
Though the NASL would later collapse under the weight of over-expansion, the Lancers’ legacy remains — a reminder that the foundations of today’s MLS and U.S. national teams were laid by dreamers in places like Rochester.
The Rochester Lancers didn’t just play football — they pioneered it.
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