Peter Skouras
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Peter N. Skouras | ||
| Date of birth | March 21, 1963 | ||
| Place of birth | New York, New York, United States | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1978–1980 | Brighton & Hove Albion Apprentice Professional | ||
| 1978 | United States Youth National Team U-15 Selection | ||
| 1980 | United States Youth National Team U-20 Selection | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1980 | California Sunshine | ||
| 1980–1984 | San Diego Sockers (NASL) | 71 | |
| 1984–1985 | Olympiacos F.C. | 2 | (0) |
| 1986 | San Jose Earthquakes | 8 | |
| 1986–1987 | PAOK | 2 | (0) |
| 1987–1988 | Diagoras F.C. | 10 | (0) |
| 1988–1989 | Panserraikos F.C. | 13 | |
| 1990 | Los Angeles Heat | 4 | |
| Teams managed | |||
| 1994 | Buffalo Blizzard | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
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Peter N. Skouras (born March 21, 1963) is a retired Greek-American soccer midfielder who was the "First American Born Professional Soccer player to sign a contract in a European First Division." On December 15, 1984 Skouras signed a first team contract with Greek First Division power Olympiakos Piraeus pioneering the way for American professional soccer players to create careers in Europe and around the world.
Skouras' professional career in Europe began with the opportunity and exposure provided by the United States Soccer Federation's Youth National Team programs which began in England as a youth professional with Brighton & Hove Albion of the English First Division. Skouras played professionally in both the United States and Greece for over ten seasons.
In 1978, Skouras was selected by the United States Soccer Federation to participate in the prestigious Montigue, France International (U-15) youth tournament. Coached by Bill Muse and Lothar Osiander and captained by Skouras, the US played two scoreless games against Romania and Portugal before losing 5–0 to France and 1–0 to West Germany.
Upon his return to the United States, Skouras was identified by English 1st Division Club Brighton & Hove Albion, who were on tour in the United States. Brighton manager Alan Mullery offered Skouras a three-month trial at Brighton. After signing "apprentice forms" and spending one season with Brighton & Hove Albion's apprentice professional ranks, Skouras' work permit application was denied by the U.K. Home Office.
Peter Skouras returned to the United States and turned professional at the age of sixteen with the California Sunshine of the American Soccer League, making Skouras the youngest native born American professional soccer player of his time. In the fall of 1980 and at the conclusion of the CONCACAF qualifications of which the United States coached by Walt Chyzowich and assisted by Bob Gansler qualified for the Coca-Cola Youth World Cup in Australia, Skouras was once again the youngster on the United States U-20 squad. At the age of 17, Skouras was signed immediately by Ron Newman and the San Diego Sockers of the North American Soccer League making him the youngest native born North American in a league dominated by foreign international stars. Despite a major reconstruction knee surgery, Skouras survived and played two NASL indoor seasons, four NASL outdoor seasons and one Major Indoor Soccer League season with the Sockers while American players were being released on a daily basis.
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