Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Tony Meola (born February 21, 1969 in Belleville,
New Jersey|Belleville, New Jersey) is an American
goalkeeper, who became one of the most famous
soccer players in the United States after his play
in the Wc|1994.

Meola made his United States men's national soccer
team|US National Team debut on June 10, 1988,
against Ecuador national football team|Ecuador.
After playing in college for the University of
Virginia (where he won the Hermann Trophy in 1988
and the MAC Award in 1989), he played every minute
in goal for the US in the Wc|1990. He repeated
that in the 1994 World Cup, when his play and
ponytail made him a recognizable face around the
country. After a long gap away from the national
team in the late 1990s, Meola's return vaulted him
to 99 caps, the most for a US goalie. He was a
third-stringer to Brad Friedel and Kasey Keller at
the Wc|2002.

In the early 1990s, Meola began his professional
career playing for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of
the USL First Division|A-League.  He also breifly
played indoor soccer for the Buffalo Blizzard of
the Major Indoor Soccer League|NPSL.  In 1995,
Meola played for the Long Island Rough Riders,
leading them to the United Soccer Leagues|USISL
championship. Upon the creation of Major League
Soccer, he was allocated to the MetroStars, for
whom he played between 1996 and 1998, starting
almost every game. Meola was on top of the game
during his time there, setting a league record
with nine shutouts in 1996. He did not win the MLS
Goalkeeper of the Year Award, however, the honor
going to Mark Dodd (it has been said that league
politics had a lot to do with that selection). 

Meola was traded to the Kansas City Wizards (with
Alexi Lalas for Mark Chung and Mike Ammann) in
1999, but missed most his first year in the
midwest due to injury. In 2000, Tony had an
amazing season, being named Major League Soccer
MVP|League MVP, MLS Goalkeeper of the
Year|Goalkeeper of the Year, and MLS Cup MVP as he
lead Kansas City to the MLS Cup|championship. He
shattered the league record by recording 16
shutouts. Meola played for the Wizards through the
2004 MLS season.  That year, an injury forced him
out of contention. Bo Oshoniyi took over the
goalkeeping position, and Meola soon left the
team. He was then re-acquired by the MetroStars in
June 2005.

Meola's non-soccer ventures include trying out as
a placekicker with National Football League|NFL's
New York Jets in 1994, appearing Off-Broadway in
Tony and Tina's Wedding in 1995, and running his
own mortgage firm.

==See also==
*List of current MLS players