John Harkes

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

John Harkes grew up in the soccer hotbed of Kearny, New Jersey, playing youth and high school soccer with future national team teammates Tony Meola and Tab Ramos. He graduated from Kearny High School in 1985, leading his team to the 1984 Group 4 State Championship with a 24–0 record and earning Parade High School Player of the Year honors. At the University of Virginia, he was named 1st team All-American in 1986 and 1987 and won the Hermann Award in 1987 as the best player in US colleges. His professional career took off in England with Sheffield Wednesday in 1990, where his 35-yard goal against Derby County earned English football's "Goal of the Season" award. He became the first American to play in the English Premier League and the first American to appear in a major English cup final, winning the 1991 League Cup with Sheffield Wednesday. In 1993, he became the only American to score in a League Cup Final, in a 2–1 loss to Arsenal, and also appeared in the FA Cup Final that same season. After a stint with Derby County and a loan to West Ham United, he returned to the U.S. for the launch of MLS in 1996, allocated to D.C. United as the team's first player ever. He led D.C. United to MLS Cup titles in 1996 and 1997, and also helped the club win the U.S. Open Cup, the CONCACAF Champions' Cup, and the Interamerican Cup. In 1999, he was traded to the New England Revolution, where he captained the team and represented them in the 2000 MLS All-Star Game. He finished his MLS career with the Columbus Crew, retiring in 2003 after an injury-plagued 2002 season.

In Their Own Story

The 1994 World Cup on home soil was a defining moment for John Harkes and the U.S. national team. In the group stage, the U.S. upset Colombia 2–1, with Harkes delivering a cross from the left aimed at Earnie Stewart that Colombian defender Andrés Escobar attempted to clear but instead sent past his own goalkeeper. That own goal proved decisive, and the U.S. advanced to the Round of 16. However, Harkes missed that match against Brazil after receiving his second yellow card of the group stage against Romania, earning a one-match suspension. Brazil won 1–0 and went on to win the World Cup. Earlier, Harkes had been part of the 1990 World Cup squad, a team made up mostly of college and semi-professional players that lost all three group matches but formed the core of the U.S. national team for most of the decade. In Copa América 1995, Harkes led the United States as a guest team to a 3–0 upset of defending champion Argentina and a semi-final finish, earning co-Most Valuable Player honors alongside Uruguayan Enzo Francescoli. The 1998 World Cup brought controversy: head coach Steve Sampson had named Harkes "Captain For Life" in 1996, but then left him off the World Cup squad, citing "leadership issues." Harkes later criticized Sampson in his autobiography, *Captain for Life: And Other Temporary Assignments*, writing, "I can't think of one thing that Steve did right in the months leading up to the World Cup."

Reader's Guide

John Harkes played central midfield for the U.S. national team, earning 90 caps and scoring six goals. He made his national team debut on March 23, 1987, against Canada, and was selected for the 1988 Olympics, where the U.S. went 1–1–1 and failed to qualify for the second round. He helped the U.S. qualify for the 1990 World Cup after an improbable 1–0 road victory over Trinidad and Tobago in the final qualification match. At the 1990 World Cup, the U.S. was routed 1–5 by Czechoslovakia, lost 0–1 to host Italy, and fell 1–2 to Austria. At the 1994 World Cup, the U.S. upset Colombia 2–1 to advance to the Round of 16, where Harkes was suspended for the match against Brazil. In Copa América 1995, he led the U.S. to a 3–0 upset of Argentina and a semi-final finish, earning co-MVP honors. In 1996, head coach Steve Sampson named Harkes "Captain For Life," and he responded by leading the team in assists in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup. However, Sampson controversially left Harkes off the 1998 World Cup squad, citing "leadership issues." Harkes ended his national team career with 90 caps and six goals. After retirement, he served as a color commentator for ESPN's coverage of MLS and U.S. international matches, including the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Did You Know?

• John Harkes was the first American to play in the English Premier League, with Sheffield Wednesday.
• He was the first American soccer player to appear in the final of a major English tournament, the 1991 Football League Cup Final.
• Harkes was named co-Most Valuable Player of the 1995 Copa América alongside Uruguayan Enzo Francescoli.
• He was named 'Captain for Life' by head coach Steve Sampson in 1996, but was left off the 1998 World Cup squad.
• Harkes scored the only goal by an American in a League Cup Final, in a 2–1 loss to Arsenal in 1993.