Our captain turns 35 today, so to celebrate we put together a list of special events that took place as he entered the world.
David Villa was born on a Thursday in Langreo, Spain and was nicknamed El Guaje (The Kid in Asturian) because as a kid he used to play soccer with children much older than him.
Meanwhile in the US, Ronald Reagan was president and Pacman-mania started sweeping the country…
Top at the Box Office
Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, starring Harrison Ford, was the number one movie of the week.
Top of the Music Charts
- Olivia Newton-John – Physical
- Foreigner – Waiting for A Girl Like You
- The Police – Every Little Thing She Does is Magic
- Commodores – Oh No
- Air Supply – Here I Am (Just When I Thought I Was Over You)
Famous Birthdays
Also born on December 3, 1981 was Greek footballer Ioannis Amanatidis and actor Brian Bonsall who starred in Family Ties and Star Trek: The Next Generation. Villa also shares his birthday with singer Ozzy Osbourne and actor Brendan Fraser.
US Soccer News
In 1981, it was the 14th season of the North American Soccer League which was the top-level major professional soccer league in the US before folding in 1984. The New York Cosmos were atop the Eastern Division of the NASL League Standings, while the Atlanta Chiefs won the Southern Division, Chicago Sting won the Central Division, the San Diego Sockers won the Western Division, and the Vancouver Whitecaps won the Northwest Division.
The senior US National Team was inactive this year as Coach Walter Chyzowych decided to focus his activities in developing the youth team to prepare for the World Youth Cup of 1981.
