CROATIAN EAGLES SOCCER CLUB HISTORY

A Century of Heritage and Soccer: The Croatian Eagles Story

Driven by a deep desire to preserve and celebrate their roots, Croatian immigrants throughout the free world established social, religious, and political organizations—and Milwaukee was no exception. In 1922, the founding of the Croatian Eagles Soccer Club gave local immigrants a vibrant community to share their dual passions: their rich Croatian heritage and the game of

soccer.

What is in a Name?

For decades, the origin of the "Croatian Eagles" name was shrouded in mystery, giving rise to a couple of popular urban legends:

● The Patriotic Theory: Some believed the founders chose the eagle to honor their proud new identity as Americans.

● The Lost-in-Translation Theory: Others thought the original name was Hrvatski Sokol (Croatian Falcon) and was simply mistranslated into English.

The Real History:

The name actually traces back to the roots of the club’s founder, Father Charles Jesih. He belonged to a Croatian fraternal order called Hrvatski Orlovi, which literally translates to Croatian Eagles.

The Pioneers and Early Success:

As the founding president, Rev. Charles Jesih was the driving force behind the club’s organization and rapid growth. Managed by Steven Weber, the club’s very first major soccer team featured a dedicated roster of pioneering players.

First Major Team:

Otto Gerhart, Julius Horvath, John Kohler, Mike Markotic, George Mayer, John Nagy, John Newmann, Paul Rechnitger, Peter Roder, Andrija Tajmer, Frank Weber, Steven Weber(Manager).

First Reserve Team:

Peter Adamovic, Frank Harsh, Joe Kezman, Joe Kovacevic, Frank Markus, John Martinovic,

Westley Spencer, Frank Trich, Joe Trich.

By 1928, the club had already expanded to field two senior teams and one junior team.

The Golden Era and WWII:

The 1930s and early 40s marked a dominant competitive stretch for the Eagles. The club captured league championships in 1930, 1932, 1933, 1935, 1936, 1937, and 1943, alongside winning the prestigious US Midwest Amateur Cup in 1943.

This initial golden era came to a poignant halt with the onset of World War II. Soccer operations were paused as 23 Eagles players stepped up to serve in the US Armed Forces.

The Post-WWII Era (1945–1985): Finding a Home

Following the war, the Croatian Eagles entered a new chapter defined by major milestones and structural growth:

● A Permanent Home (1956): The Federation of Croatian Societies (which the Eagles joined in 1934) purchased land in Franklin, Wisconsin. Named Croatian Park, this beautiful space has served as the permanent home of the Eagles ever since.

● The Labor Day Tradition (1964): Following the formation of the Croatian National Soccer Federation of the USA and Canada, the first Annual Labor Day weekend tournament was launched to unite Croatian member clubs. The Eagles have competed every single year

and proudly hosted the tournament in 1967, 1985, 2001, and 2017.

Pioneering Youth Sports:

As youth soccer began to explode across the United States, the Eagles were at the forefront of the movement. Beyond establishing boys competitive teams, they were true trailblazers in the 1970s as one of the very first clubs to sponsor a dedicated girls’ soccer program.

CROATIAN EAGLES SOCCER CLUB HISTORY

The Modern Era 1985 - Present

The last two decades have seen the Croatian Eagles grow into one of the area's premier soccer clubs. Our youth program has grown to 40 teams (boys and girls) consisting of 550 players ranging in age from 4 to 18 yrs. Over 400 families are a part of the club. Our Croatian Eagles Youth Tournament draws 110 teams, nearly 2000 kids entailing 186 games at three different locations. Under the direction and leadership of a quality coaching staff, Eagles teams have won numerous league and tournament championships and in 2005 our U15 boys became our 1st State Cup Champions. Many former and current Eagles youth players have gone on to play college and professional soccer.

Currently our Croatian Eagles Soccer Club Adult Program has a Men’s and Women’s Major's Team, a Men’s Reserve Team as well as two recreational Over 30 Men's and one Women's teams, and two U-23 teams. Our Major's Team is the 2012 US National Open Cup Champions and Wisconsin League Champions while our U-23 team was the Finalist in the 2012 US National Open Cup Championship.

The following members of the Croatian Eagles have earned their place in the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame:

Charles Kezele, Stan Kezele, George Panich, John Petek, Julius Horvath, Fred Kezele, Tony Franjic, Aldo Santaga, Steve Botic, Ivo Jugovic, Zdravko Novak, Viktor Zorc, Boris Kuzmanovic, Zdravko Ropac, Steve Bartolic, Zvonko Vujic, Luka Gale and Greg Santaga, Scott Santaga, Steve Sendelbach, Franjo Vukovic, Petar Markovic, Andrija Hampel, Scott Surprise, Joe Schauer, & Jason Willan.

As an inclusive organization, the Croatian Eagles have provided opportunities for building soccer skills, and team sportsmanship to players of various ethnic and racial backgrounds, thus reflecting the diversity of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and the United States.

CROATIAN EAGLES SOCCER CLUB TIMELINE