Born in Yugoslavia, Roth emigrated to the United States at age eight,[1] going on to become a rising star in American soccer through the 1960s.
He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, playing on the varsity squad from 1962 to 1966, and captaining the team in his senior year.
[2] Additionally, he studied architecture at the Pratt Institute, and played for the German-Hungarians in the German American Soccer League.
[3] One of the few Americans on a star-studded New York Cosmos side (i.e. Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer), Roth played with the club seven years, and helped it to Soccer Bowl titles in 1972, 1977 and 1978.
[4] In 2005, having been living in Brooklyn and Long Island for decades, Roth became engaged to soap opera actress Robin Mattson.