Barry Barto

Barto grew up in Philadelphia where he began playing soccer when eleven years old. He attended Philadelphia Textile where he played on the school's soccer team from 1969 to 1972. He was a two time second team All-American. He graduated with a degree in marketing. That year the North American Soccer League (NASL) held its first college draft and the Montreal Olympique selected Barto in the third round. Despite his low standing in the draft, Barto finished second to Mike Winter for Rookie of the Year.

At the end of the season, the Philadelphia Atoms, an NASL expansion franchise, traded for Barto as part of its efforts to create a team dominated by American, and preferably local, players. In 1973, the Atoms took the NASL championship and Barto was selected as an All Star Honorable Mention (third team). Barto remained with the Atoms through the 1976 season, the Atoms last. He then moved to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers where he played in only one game as a defender in 1977. At the end of the season, he retired from playing. By that time, he had already begun his second career, coaching.

Barto earned sixteen caps with the U.S. national team between 1972 and 1975. He was the captain for most of his games in 1974 and 1975. His first game with the national team came in a 3–2 loss to Canada on August 20, 1972. He became a regular through 1973 and played both U.S. games in 1974. His last cap came in the first U.S. game of 1975, a 7–0 loss to Poland on March 26, 1975.[1]