John Harkes

John Harkes played soccer at the University of Virginia, where he was named Hermann Award winner in 1987, as the best player in US colleges. He played in high school in his hometown of Kearny, New Jersey where he was named the 1984 Parade High School of the Year. In 1989 Harkes began his professional career in the US with the Albany Capitals of the American Soccer League. He moved to England in 1990, playing with Sheffield Wednesday from 1990-93. In 1992, Harkes became the first American to play in the FA Cup Final since 1873. He later played in England with Derby Forest, West Ham United, and Nottingham Forest, playing there through 1999. In 1996 he returned to professional play in the US, joining DC United, and later playing in America for the Columbus Crew and New England Revolution, before ending his playing career in 2002.

Harkes was on the US National team from 1987-2000, earning 90 caps. He played at the 1988 Olympics, and the FIFA World Cup in 1990 and 1994. At the 1995 Copa América he led the US to the semi-finals, and was named co-MVP of the tournament. In early 1998 Harkes was named “Captain for Life” by US National coach Steve Sampson, but was later controversially omitted from the 1998 FIFA World Cup team, with no reasons given. This led to the title of Harkes autobiography, entitled Captain for Life: and Other Temporary Assignments. In 2010 Sampson and teammate Eric Wynalda revealed that Harkes was dropped from the World Cup team due to an affair Harkes had had with Wynalda’s wife.

When he finished playing, Harkes worked in various fields. He did color commentary on televised soccer broadcasts, was director of youth development for DC United, and was briefly an assistant coach for the New York Red Bulls. Harkes was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2015 Harkes was introduced as the head coach of the newly formed FC Cincinnati, which began play in the United Soccer League in 2016.