Mike Connell (born 1 November 1956 in Mayfair, Johannesburg, South Africa) is a former professional footballer who spent most of his career as a defender.
He played professionally in his native South Africa as well as in the North American Soccer League (NASL), mostly with the Tampa Bay Rowdies.
Connell earned the nickname "Iron Mike" by starting in an NASL record 179 consecutive regular season matches and appeared in 252 games overall, which was third in league history.
He was forced to miss the entire 1976 outdoor and 1976 indoor seasons while he fulfilled his South African military obligation.
The streak came to an unceremonious end on the last day of the 1984 season, with Connell's somewhat controversial benching by then coach and former teammate, Rodney Marsh, in what was to be the Rowdies final NASL game.
At halftime of a match versus the New York Cosmos on 10 August 2013 the new Tampa Bay Rowdies honoured Connell by retiring his #6 jersey.