Dave Coskunian

Dave Coskunian — Biography

Dave Coskunian (born Davit Coşkun) was born in Samsun; his birth date is given as January 20, 1948, though some sources have June 1, 1947. He was a Turkish-American footballer of Armenian descent whose family settled in the United States. He died on October 24, 2025.

He began his professional career in 1965 with İstanbulspor in Turkey. On February 7, 1967, he signed with the Los Angeles Toros of the National Professional Soccer League; when the club folded at season's end he stayed in the Los Angeles area and played for various amateur clubs. On April 2, 1974, he joined the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League but was released on May 1, and he spent that season with the San Jose Earthquakes. In the autumn of 1974 he returned to Los Angeles to play for the Los Angeles Armenians of the Greater Los Angeles Soccer League.

He played three games for the U.S. national team: he started a 4-0 loss to Bermuda on March 17, 1973, came on at halftime in a 4-0 loss to Poland on March 20, 1973, and came on in the 84th minute of a 3-1 loss to Mexico on September 5, 1974. He used his birth name in his early years in the US, was known as "Dave" Coşkun by 1974, and played for the national team as Dave Coskunian.