Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Tabare "Tab" Ramos (born September 21, 1966 in
Montevideo, Uruguay) is an American soccer
midfielder, considered one of the most skillful
players to ever wear the US jersey. Ramos was the
first player to sign with Major League Soccer,
where he played seven years with the MetroStars.

Born in Uruguay, Ramos emigration|emigrated to the
United States and New Jersey at the age of 11. He
went to college at North Carolina State
University|NC State and got his first cap for the
United States men's national soccer team|US
National Team on January 10, 1988 against
Guatemala national football team|Guatemala, and
also played in the 1988 Summer Olympics. After
playing for the US in the Football World Cup
1990|1990 World Cup, he was named U.S. Soccer
Athlete of the Year in 1990. That year, Ramos
signed with a Spanish team UE Figueres|Figueres,
and then moved to Real Betis in 1992. In 1994, Tab
once again played in the Football World Cup
1994|World Cup, but his tournament was ended
prematurely after a vicious elbow to the head by
Brazilian midfielder Leonardo Nascimento de
Araujo|Leonardo. 

On January 3, 1995 Ramos became the first player
signed with MLS, allocated to the future New
York/New Jersey franchise, which became the
MetroStars. For that year, the league loaned him
out to Mexico|Mexican club UANL Tigres|Tigres. On
September 7, 1997, Ramos scored one of the most
important goals in US history, against Costa Rica
national football team|Costa Rica in a 1-0 World
Cup qualifier win. In 1998, he played in his third
Football World Cup 1998|World Cup, becoming one of
the first three US players (Eric Wynalda, Marcelo
Balboa) to do so. With coach Bruce Arena looking
for veteran leadership for a must-win qualifier
against Barbados national football team|Barbados,
Ramos made his last appearance in a 4-0 US win on
November 15, 2000. He would end up with 81 caps
and eight goals in his career.

Ramos retired from soccer after seven years with
the MetroStars (1996-2002) as the last original
member of the team. Unfortunately, his flashes of
brilliance were interrupted by long injury spells,
as he never lived up to his potential in a Metro
jersey. Tab totaled just eight goals and 36
assists in MLS play (ten goals and 39 assists in
all competitions).

Ramos was elected to the National Soccer Hall of
Fame on the first ballot, in 2005.