Eric Wynalda
grew up in Westlake Village, California. As a child
his team (the Westlake Wolves, with Eric's father Dave as the head coach) won
the State Championship in AYSO soccer. Eric scored more goals than the entire
division his team played in, 56 goals in 16 games. An instinctual "goal scorer" was born. He later attended Westlake High School with
future US National Team mate Cobi Jones where Eric was a three times All-State selection.
Eric
attended San Diego State University from
1987 to 1989 where he played for the Aztecs, scoring 34 goals and assisting on 25 others during his three
seasons. His freshman year, SDSU went to the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship game where they lost to the Clemson University Tigers.
Eric Wynalda
is the first American to play in the Bundesliga, with Club Saarbrucken. Wynalda was awarded the Bundesliga Best New Comer of The Year Award in
1992, making him the first American-born player to receive an honor of
that magnitude overseas. Wynalda scored 14 goals and had 25 assists in the
1993–1994 season of the 2nd Bundesliga and was named the league's best player;
again making him the first American-born player to receive that type of honor
in a European league.
Wynalda came back
to the States in 1996, signing with Major League Soccer (MLS). As part of
the process of creating the new league, well known players from the WC94 were
distributed throughout the league's new teams. The league assigned Wynalda to the San Jose Clash. On April 6, 1996 Wynalda scored the first
goal in league history in the new league;s inaugural game, as the Clash beat DC United
1–0. Eric was named US Soccer Athlete of The Year 1996.
Eric Wynalda
represented the United States of America in 3 World Cup Championships (1990, 1994, 1998).
Wynalda
retired from the US National Team as
its all-time
leading scorer with 34 goals in 106
appearances.
Wynalda was named the Honda US Player of the Decade for the 1990s, was named to the CONCACAF All-Decade Team of the 1990s and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall Of Fame in 2004. In 2006 Eric was inducted into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.
Wynalda was named the Honda US Player of the Decade for the 1990s, was named to the CONCACAF All-Decade Team of the 1990s and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall Of Fame in 2004. In 2006 Eric was inducted into the Ventura County Sports Hall of Fame.
After stints with Club Leon in Mexico, the Miami Fusion, the New England Revolution and the Chicago Fire, Eric Wynalda retired from professional soccer in 2002 and easily transitioned into broadcast journalism. His wit, humor and honesty in front of the camera has made him a fan favorite worldwide.
Eric Wynalda
can be seen on Fox Soccer Channel as
an analyst during pre-game, half-time, and post-game segments for the UEFA Champions League and other special
broadcast of games and events.
Eric Wynalda
is a Founding
Member of FutbolMasters and an
Ambassador
of Players For Peace. He is an iconic, historical character and personality in the world of football and a significant figure within the fabric of USA Soccer History.
Carlos Alberto Torres, Eric Wynalda, Ambassador Heraldo Munoz
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Elias Figueroa, Teofilo Cubillas
Photo Credit: Steve Leighton