Tom Galati

Tom Galati is a former U.S. soccer defensive midfielder who five seasons in the North American Soccer League. He also earned one cap with the U.S. national team.

Youth and college

Galati grew up in St. Louis, Missouri where he attended McBride High School from 1966-1970. He then attended Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville where he played on the men’s Division II soccer team from 1970 to 1974. In 1972, SIUE won the Division II national championship. Galati was a second team All American in 1973 and was inducted, along with his team mates from the 1972 team, into the SIUE Athletic Hall of Fame in 2005.

Professional

In 1974, the expansion Philadelphia Atoms of the North American Soccer League (NASL) selected Galati in the first round of the NASL draft. That season, the Atoms won the NASL championship and Galati finished second in balloting for Rookie of the Year. The Atoms folded at the end of the 1976 season and the San Antonio Thunder picked Galati in the dispersal draft. In January 1977, the Washington Diplomats traded Charlie McCully and Chuck Carey, and its first round 1978 draft pick to the San Antonio Thunder for Galati and the Thunder’s first round 1977 draft pick.Diplomats Swap For Top Pick Washington Post, The (DC) - Thursday, January 13, 1977 Galati began the pre-season with the Dips, but was traded to the Las Vegas Quicksilvers in May 1977 in exchange for Art Welch. Galati also played in the 1975...
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