| Clubname: | Miami Toros (1973–76) |
| Fullname: | Miami Gatos / Miami Toros |
| Founded: | (Previously Washington Darts) 1972 Miami Gatos 1973 Miami Toros |
| Dissolved: | 1976 (rebranded Fort Lauderdale Strikers) |
| Stadium: | Miami-Dade North Stadium (1972), Miami Orange Bowl (1973–1975), Tamiami Field (1974, 1976) Miami, Florida |
| Chairman: | John Bilotta (1972–1973) Joe Robbie (1973–1976) |
| League: | NASL |
| American: | true |
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The Miami Toros were a professional soccer team in the North American Soccer League from 1972 to 1976. The club was founded in 1967 as the Washington Darts, and moved to Miami, where they played the 1972 season in the NASL's Southern Division as the Miami Gatos. In 1973, the club rebranded as the Miami Toros. Their home field was at times the Miami Orange Bowl, Tamiami Field and Miami Dade College's North Campus Stadium.[1] [2]
After the 1976 season, the team moved to Fort Lauderdale and became known as the Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later moved to Minnesota and became known as the Minnesota Strikers.[3]
Prominent players included 1973 league MVP Warren Archibald who was from Point Fortin, the smallest borough in Trinidad and Tobago, and 1975 league MVP Juan Carlos Moramarco who was from Rosario, Argentina.
Beginning in 1975, the Toros had a rivalry with the Tampa Bay Rowdies that grew even fiercer after the Toros moved to Ft. Lauderdale and became the Strikers.[4] [5] [6]
| Year | League | W | L | T | Pts | Reg. season | Playoffs | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | NASL | 3 | 8 | 3 | 44 | 4th, Southern Division | did not qualify | 2,112 | |
| 1973 | NASL | 8 | 5 | 6 | 88 | 3rd, Eastern Division | did not qualify | 5,479 | |
| 1974 | NASL | 9 | 5 | 6 | 107 | 1st, Eastern Division | Won Semifinal (Dallas) Lost Championship (Los Angeles Aztecs) | 7,340 | |
| 1975 | NASL indoor | 2 | 0 | — | 4 | 2nd, Region 3 | did not qualify | N/A | |
| 1975 | NASL | 14 | 8 | — | 123 | 2nd, Eastern Division | Won Quarterfinal (Boston) Lost Semifinal (Tampa Bay) | 4,921 | |
| 1976 | NASL indoor | 1 | 1 | — | 2 | 3rd, Eastern Regional | did not qualify | N/A | |
| 1976 | NASL | 6 | 18 | — | 63 | 4th, Atlantic Conference, Eastern Division | did not qualify | 3,070 |
NASL championships[7]
Division titles
League MVP
League scoring champion
League goal scoring champion
Coach of the Year
All-Star first team selections
All-Star second team selections
All-Star honorable mentions
U.S. Soccer Hall of Fame
Sal DeRosa (1972) Dr. Greg Myers (1975–1976)[5]