Kim Røntved (born 9 May 1960), known as "the Rocket", is a Danish former professional soccer player and head coach. A 17-time all-star in various leagues, and a fan favorite with the Wichita Wings, he was inducted into the Indoor Soccer Hall of Fame in February 2014.[1][2]

Kim Røntved
Personal information
Date of birth (1960-05-09) 9 May 1960 (age 64)
Place of birth Copenhagen, Denmark
Height 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1978–1979 Brønshøj BK 36 (4)
1979–1980 Randers Freja FC
1980–1987 Wichita Wings (indoor) 282 (183)
1982 Tulsa Roughnecks 16 (0)
1983 Dallas Americans
1987–1991 Kansas City Comets (indoor) 168 (57)
1991–1998 Wichita Wings (indoor) 252 (126)
1992–1995 Colorado Foxes
1998–1999 Kansas City Attack (indoor) 29 (14)
2015 Wichita B-52s (indoor) 1
Managerial career
1991–1994 Wichita Wings (assistant)
1994–1998 Wichita Wings
2010–2014 Kansas City Comets
2014–2015 Wichita B-52s
2017–2019 Kansas City Comets
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

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Born in Copenhagen, Røntved is the younger brother of Per Røntved. He started his career in Brønshøj BK[3] before turning out for Randers Freja. In 1980, the Wichita Wings of the Major Indoor Soccer League purchased Røntved's contract. He spent seven seasons in Wichita. In 1982, he played outdoor soccer with the Tulsa Roughnecks of the North American Soccer League. In 1983, he played for the Dallas Americans of the American Soccer League.[4] In 1987, financial difficulties led the Wings to release Røntved and several other veteran players. On 8 July 1987, he signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Comets.[5] When the Comets folded in the summer of 1991, Rontved became a free agent. In September 1991, he signed as a player-assistant coach with the Wings.[6] He was the 1993 NPSL Defender of the Year.[7] On 5 July 1992, he signed with the Colorado Foxes of the American Professional Soccer League.[8][9] In 1992, the Wichita Wings moved to the National Professional Soccer League. In 1998, the Wings came under new ownership and they released Rontved, who then signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Attack.[10][11]

Røntved served as the head coach of the Missouri Comets from 16 August 2010, to 29 August 2013. In October 2014, he was named Director of Operations for the Wichita B-52s; two months later, he became head coach. On 8 February 2015, he and Missouri Comets head coach Vlatko Andonovski came out of retirement to play against each other in a regular season game.

Honours

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  • MISL Defender of the Year: 1983–84, 1985–86
  • NPSL Defender of the Year: 1992–93[12]
  • Member of the Indoor Stars of the Century Team[13]

References

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  1. ^ "B-52s will honor legends against Dallas". The Wichita Eagle. 9 February 2014. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  2. ^ Tipton, Lionel (9 February 2014). "B-52s honor Wichita soccer legend Roentved". The Wichita Eagle. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 6 April 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Americans Nip Slickers in Two OTs" The Daily Oklahoman Sunday, 29 May 1983
  5. ^ "DEALS" THE SEATTLE TIMES Wednesday, 8 July 1987
  6. ^ "ROENTVED RETURNS AS PLAYER-COACH" Wichita Eagle Saturday, 7 September 1991
  7. ^ "The Year in American Soc cer – 1993". Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2010.
  8. ^ "WELZ WINS THIRD STRAIGHT" Rocky Mountain News (CO) Friday, 5 June 1992
  9. ^ 1992 Colorado Foxes
  10. ^ "Indoor star Roentved about to join Attack" The Kansas City Star Wednesday, 7 October 1998
  11. ^ NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL SOCCER LEAGUE FINAL OFFICIAL STATISTICS -- 1998–1999 Archived 28 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "The Year in American Soccer, 1993". Archived from the original on 3 March 2009.
  13. ^ http://www.soccertimes.com/proleagues/indoor/1999/feb04.htm
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