Tony Meola

Tony Meola
Personnel
Surname	Antonio Michael Meola
birthday	February 21, 1969
place of birth	Belleville , New Jersey ,  United States
size	1.85 m
position	goalkeeper
Juniors
Years	station
1988-1989	Virginia Cavaliers
Men's
Years	station	Games (goals) 1
1990	→  Brighton & Hove Albion  (loan)	2 (0)
1990	→  Watford FC  (loan)	0 (0)
1991	→  Fort Lauderdale Strikers  (loan)	7 (0)
1994-1995	Buffalo Blizzard (indoor)	12 (0)
1995	Long Island Rough Riders	14 (0)
1996-1998	MetroStars	90 (0)
1999-2004	Kansas City Wizards	125 (0)
2005-2006	New York Red Bulls	35 (0)
2007-2008	New Jersey Ironmen (indoor)	24 (0)
National team
Years	selection	Games (goals)
1988-2006	United States	100 (0)
Stations as a trainer
Years	station
2016–	Jacksonville Armada FC
1 Only league games are given.

Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola (born February 21, 1969 in Belleville , New Jersey ) is a former American football goalkeeper and current coach.

Meola was in the US squad at the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and was active in Major League Soccer from 1996 to 2006 . During this time he received several awards.

In addition to playing soccer, he was successful as a baseball and basketball player in his youth.

Career as a football player

Youth and college

Meola grew up in Kearny, New Jersey . There he attended Kearny High School and played for the school's soccer team. His father, Vincent Meola, was a footballer in Italy before emigrating to the United States. He played for the then second division AS Avellino in 1912 . Tony was appointed to the All-State national team in 1985 and 1986, but in 1986 as a striker. In total, he completed 41 clean sheets as a goalkeeper and scored 42 goals as a striker during his high school years.

Meola received an athletic scholarship in baseball and soccer from the University of Virginia . During his time in college, he was a. a. trained by Bruce Arena . In October 1987 he was in the US squad for the 1987 World Youth Championship in Chile . At that time he was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the country. He has been nominated several times to the NCAA's Division I First-Team All-American selection. In 1988 he won the Hermann Trophy and in 1989 he received the Missouri Athletic Club Award. Both are high honors in US college football . On December 15, 1989, he left college to play with the US national team.

In addition to soccer, he was also active on the University of Virginia baseball team.

England

Before the 1990 World Cup , he signed a contract with the United States Soccer Federation . After the World Cup he was loaned to the English club Brighton & Hove Albion . There he was on the field eleven times, two of them in a league game. In his first game instead of the injured goalkeeper Perry Digweed, he was named player of the game. On September 14, 1990 he was awarded to Watford FC . He then returned to the USA.

Back to the USA

In 1991 he played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers in the American Professional Soccer League. There he shared the gate with Arnie Mausser . After one season, he moved back to the national team to prepare for the 1994 World Cup.

After the World Cup, Meola signed on December 14, 1994 with the Buffalo Blizzard, who played in the National Professional Soccer League , an indoor soccer league. He was the team's regular goalkeeper, but had to quit because of an engagement on Broadway. He starred in the play Tony n 'Tina's Wedding.

He then moved in February 1995 to the Long Island Rough Riders for the USISL season 1995. With the Rough Riders, he was able to win the championship that season.

Major League Soccer

In the course of the establishment of Major League Soccer, he was signed by the MetroStars . From 1996 to 1998 he played almost every game there.

For the 1999 season, he joined the Kansas City Wizards with Alexi Lalas . Due to an injury, he had to sit out most of the season. Meola won the MLS Cup with the Wizards in the 2000 season and was awarded the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award as the best goalkeeper in the league. He was also the best player in the MLS Cup Final and the best player in the MLS. He stayed with the Wizards until the 2004 season, when he was only able to play partially due to an injury. Bo Oshoniyi took over his regular seat and Meola's contract was not renewed.

In June 2005 he was committed again by the MetroStars. After this season was selected in the MLS All-Time Best XI selection. He is one of the eleven best players who played Major League Soccer in the first few years. At the end of 2006, it was no longer needed by the team, which has now been renamed New York Red Bulls.

His last position was on August 14, 2007 with the New Jersey Ironmen indoor soccer team. The team played in the Major Indoor Soccer League.

National team

On June 10, 1988, the then 19-year-old Meola made his debut for the US national team against Ecuador . His second mission was a year against Peru .

In the summer of 1989 the USA played several games against Italian clubs. The actual goalkeeper David Vanole had problems with his body weight during that time. For this reason Meola got his chance, but injured himself in his first game against AS Roma . There he injured himself and was replaced by Vanole. But this could not prevent three goals. The USA won 4: 3, but Venola was not considered afterwards. Meola thus became the team's new goalkeeper and also completed the remaining qualifying games for the 1990 World Cup. At the World Cup, he was on the field at every game in the USA.

He kept this regular place in his own country until the 1994 World Cup. He was in the squad for the CONCACAF Gold Cup 1991 , the King Fahd Cup in 1992 and the Copa America in 1993 .

During the World Cup he became the face of the national team. After losing to Brazil in the round of 16, he informed the then coach Bora Milutinović that he was aiming for a career as a professional placekicker in American football. Milutinović has not nominated Meola since then.

He only returned to the national team in 1999, but was unable to regain his regular position. At the 2002 World Cup , he was the team's third goalkeeper behind Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel . In 2006 he played his last and 100th game for the USA.

Coaching career

On November 24, 2015, Meola took over the coaching position at the North American Soccer League franchise Jacksonville Armada FC . In addition to his work as a trainer, he is also the club's technical director.

Outside of football

• Meola was also a baseball player during his time in high school. He was drafted by the New York Yankees and later played on their farm teams. He was also the captain of the school basketball team.
• In 1994 he completed a trial training with the American football team New York Jets .
• In 1995 he starred in the off-Broadway play Tony n 'Tina's Wedding and started a mortgage loan company.
• Meola was the drummer for the cover band "MUSHMOUTH". He still performs with the band from time to time. The last concert with him was on November 11, 2011 in Seaside Heights, NJ.
• In 1993, a SNES video game named Tony Meola's Sidekick Soccer was released.
• Today he coaches the U-12s at a local club in Toms River, NJ. His son plays in this team.
• Meola's son Jon played soccer in high school and is a baseball player for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos .

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Curry, Jack. 'The Goalie With No Nerves; Meola's Calm Helps Keep US in World Cup play " , The New York Times in 1990. January 3, Accessed on September 15, 2008." Just 18 months removed from Kearny High School, Meola has startling confidence to go with his considerable talent. "
2. ^ New York Times
3. ↑ Legendary US Soccer Hall of Fame Goalkeeper Tony Meola Hired As Armada FC Head Coach to Technical Director . In: ArmadaFC.com .
4. ↑ Tony Meola. They talk hall of fame, current MLS, * Meola's son choosing baseball over soccer, and where Meola is now.
5. ↑ Tony Meola's son commits to play baseball at Virginia

See also

• List of football players with at least 100 international matches