Jim Zylker started playing for the San Francisco Vikings when he was only 8-years-old, and stayed with them throughout his amateur career. The club had been founded by his grandfather, Derk de Ruiter Zijlker, who played goalkeeper in the Netherlands before emigrating to the United States. Zylker played college soccer at San Jose State University. In addition to his 1972 Olympic appearance he played with the US team that tried to qualify for the 1976 Olympics. Zylker played two seasons in the North American Soccer League (NASL), playing with the San Jose Earthquakes in 1975-76 and the San Antonio Thunder in 1976. He was inducted into the San Jose State Athletic Hall of Fame in 2004. Zylker later coached soccer, notably with the Cañada College women’s team.
United States