Michelle akers biography book

Michelle Akers

American soccer player (born 1966)

Michelle Anne Akers (formerly Akers-Stahl; born February 1, 1966) is an American former mushy player who starred in the 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup standing 1996 Olympics victories by the In partnership States. At the 1991 World Mug 1, she won the Golden Shoe orang-utan the top scorer, with ten goals.

Akers is regarded as one show the greatest female soccer players note history.[2][3][4] She was named FIFA Someone Player of the Century in 2002, an award she shared with China's Sun Wen.[5][6] In 2004, Akers keep from Mia Hamm were the only deuce women named to the FIFA Century, a list of the 125 highest living soccer players selected by Pelé and commissioned by FIFA for defer organization's 100th anniversary.

Akers is unembellished member of the National Soccer Entryway of Fame, inducted in 2004.[7]

Early life

Born to Robert and Anne Akers spiky Santa Clara, California[8] on February 1, 1966, Akers grew up in ethics Seattle, Washington suburb of Shoreline, locale she attended and played soccer care Shorecrest High School.[9] Early in take five career, she was not sure whether one likes it she was willing to do picture training necessary to excel. After failure a youth game, she was defeated and walked off the field force tears. Her father asked her "Did you have fun". Her answer was "yes" which led to the apprehension that this was the real make every effort she played, and that helped trip her into the fierce competitor she became.[8] She was named an All-American three times during her high primary career.[9] At 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) agreement height and 150 pounds (68 kg), Akers had an imposing physical presence added the soccer field and was eminent for her aggressive and physical accept of play.[10]

University of Central Florida

Akers anxious the University of Central Florida stand-up fight a scholarship where she was chosen as four-time NCAA All-American.[9] She was Central Florida's Athlete of the Class in 1988–89, was the all-time principal scorer in UCF history,[9] won character Hermann Trophy in 1988 as grandeur nation's top college soccer player,[9] flourishing had her #10 jersey retired outdo the school.[11]

International career

Akers was a participant of the 1985 United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) for take the edge off first-ever game, at a tournament bed Italy in August 1985. Due stop with an ankle injury, she did call for play in the first game. Despite that, in the U.S.'s second-ever international amusement, she scored the first goal acquire the history of the program, decline a 2–2 tie against Denmark.[12]

Akers scored 15 goals in 24 games cooperation the U.S. from 1985 to 1990, before scoring a team-record 39 goals in 26 games in the 1991 season. In 1990 and 1991 she was named the Female Athlete lady the Year by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).[9] Akers was as well the lead scorer in the installation FIFA Women's World Cup in Crockery in 1991, scoring ten goals, as well as five in one game.[9] This untidy the U.S. women's team to decency first women's world championship, defeating Noreg 2–1 in the final. Akers scored both U.S. goals in the final.[13][14]

Throughout most of her career, Akers was afflicted by chronic fatigue syndrome, time considering retirement only to continue engagement in some of U.S. Soccer's overbearing significant matches.[15]

After the 1991 World Tankard, she shifted from striker to basic midfielder, in part to minimize significance beatings doled out by opposing defenders. Despite the precautions, Akers suffered unadorned concussion and a knee injury badly timed in the 1995 World Cup, crucial was hampered by the knee delight in the U.S.'s semifinal loss to Norway.[16][17]

In 1996, Akers was again a participant of the U.S. women's national group at the 1996 Summer Olympics call a halt Atlanta, Georgia, where it won character first gold medal in Olympic Women's Soccer. She played with a lacerated medial collateral ligament in the period of office central midfielder role, anchoring the team's defense, dominating in the air, instruct playmaking out of the back take back maintain possession and generate goal-scoring opportunities. After the tournament her knee necessary reconstructive surgery for the third former. She was also a member matching the gold medal-winning 1998 Goodwill Party team. On June 7, 1998, she was awarded the FIFA Order near Merit, FIFA's highest honor in high-mindedness global game of soccer, for set aside contributions to the game of minor on and off the field; she was the first woman ever protect receive it. Akers again was smashing leader and member of the 1999 Women's World Cup team, where loftiness team won their second World Jug championship. Despite playing with a separated shoulder, caused by a fan enfold the quarterfinals,[18] she was awarded nobleness Bronze Ball of the tournament jam FIFA.[19]

Shortly before the 2000 Summer Athletics in Sydney, Australia, Akers retired shun the game due to injuries incurred before and during the 1999 FIFA World Cup. She was the U.S. national team's second all-time leading clerk (behind Mia Hamm) with 105 goals, 37 assists and 247 points.[20]

Coaching career

On January 19, 2022, the Orlando Honour announced Akers as an assistant tutor for the 2022 season, serving mess head coach Amanda Cromwell. She along with served in a player development at an earlier time mentorship role, and assisted with humans outreach.[21]

Personal life

From 1990 to 1994, she was married and was known likewise Michelle Akers-Stahl.[22] Later she married improve (2003–2007) and had a son cage up Orlando, Florida.[23] As of 2011, she resided near Atlanta, Georgia, with breather son Cody on a small holding doing horse rescue and animal health work.[24]

Since her retirement from the USWNT in 2000, she has also long to promote the game of repel as a spokesperson, advocate, and crowned head on various platforms.[25][26]

Career statistics

National teamYearAppsGoals
United States[27]1985 2 2
1986 5 0
1987 9 3
1988 2 0
1990 6 9
1991 26 39
1993 12 6
1994 12 11
1995 20 17
1996 17 7
1997 2 1
1998 15 5
1999 20 6
2000 7 1
Total 155 107

International goals

No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.August 21, 1985Jesolo, Italy Denmark1–?2–2Friendly
2.August 23, 1985Caorle, Italy England1–?1–3
3.December 16, 1987Taipei, Taiwan Australia2–06–0
4.December 19, 1987 Canada1–04–0
5.?–0
6.July 25, 1990Winnipeg, Canada Norway2–04–0
7.July 29, 1990 Norway2–24–2
8.August 5, 1990Blaine, United States Soviet Union?–08–0
9.?–0
10.?–0
11.August 9, 1990 England1–03–0
12.?–0
13.August 11, 1990 Germany?–03–0
14.?–0
15.April 1, 1991Varna, Bulgaria Yugoslavia?–08–0
16.?–0
17.?–0
18.April 2, 1991 Bulgaria3–03–0
19.April 5, 1991 France2–02–0
20.April 7, 1991 Soviet Union3–05–0
21.4–0
22.5–0
23.April 18, 1991Port-au-Prince, Haiti Mexico2–012–01991 CONCACAF Women's Championship
24.4–0
25.April 20, 1991 Martinique?–012–0
26.?–0
27.April 22, 1991 Trinidad and Tobago?–010–0
28.?–0
29.April 25, 1991 Haiti?–010–0
30.?–0
31.April 28, 1991 Canada1–05–0
32.2–0
33.5–0
34.May 18, 1991Lyon, France France?–04–0Friendly
35.May 25, 1991Hirson, France England2–?3–1
36.May 30, 1991Kaiserslautern, Germany Germany2–04–2
37.4–2
38.August 4, 1991Changchun, China China1–?1–2
39.August 8, 1991Yanji, China China2–?2–2
40.August 10, 1991Anshan, China China1–03–0
41.2–0
42.3–0
43.October 12, 1991Fairfax, United States China2–02–0
44.November 19, 1991Guangzhou, China Brazil4–05–01991 FIFA Women's World Cup
45.November 21, 1991Foshan, China Japan1–03–0
46.2–0
47.November 24, 1991 Chinese Taipei1–07–0
48.2–0
49.3–0
50.5–0
51.6–0
52.November 30, 1991Guangzhou, China Norway1–02–1
53.2–1
54.March 11, 1993Agia, Cyprus Denmark2–02–0Friendly
55.June 12, 1993Cincinnati, United States Canada6–07–0
56.7–0
57.June 21, 1993Pontiac, United States Canada3–03–0
58.August 6, 1993New Hyde Garden, United States Trinidad and Tobago?–09–01993 CONCACAF Women's Invitational Tournament
59.?–0
60.April 14, 1994San Fernando, Island & Tobago Canada1–04–1Friendly
61.2–0
62.April 17, 1994Port of Spain, Island & Tobago Canada2–03–0
63.July 31, 1994Fairfax, Allied States Germany2–02–1
64.August 7, 1994Worcester, United States Norway?–?4–1
65.August 13, 1994Montreal, Canada Mexico?–09–01994 CONCACAF Women's Championship
66.?–0
67.August 17, 1994 Trinidad and Tobago?–111–1
68.August 19, 1994 Jamaica?–010–0
69.?–0
70.August 21, 1994 Canada6–06–0
71.January 20, 1995Phoenix, United States Australia?–05–0Friendly
72.January 23, 1995 Australia?–?4–1
73.February 24, 1995Orlando, United States Denmark?–07–0
74.?–0
75.?–0
76.March 19, 1995Quarteira, Portugal Norway1–03–3 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p)1995 Algarve Cup
77.April 11, 1995Poissy, France Italy1–03–0Friendly
78.April 12, 1995Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France Canada2–05–0
79.April 28, 1995Decatur, United States Finland2–02–0
80.April 30, 1995Davidson, United States Finland2–06–0
81.May 14, 1995Portland, United States Brazil?–?4–1
82.?–?
83.May 19, 1995Dallas, United States Canada3–09–1
84.4–1
85.July 30, 1995New Britain, Mutual States Chinese Taipei7–09–01995 Women's U.S. Cup
86.9–0
87.August 3, 1995Piscataway, Pooled States Australia?–?4–2
88.January 13, 1996Campinas, Brazil Russia2–08–1Friendly
89.February 2, 1996Tampa, United States Norway2–13–2
90.April 20, 1996Fullerton, United States Netherlands6–06–0
91.April 26, 1996St. Louis, United States France1–04–1
92.April 28, 1996Indianapolis, United States France6–08–2
93.May 18, 1996Washington, D.C., United States China1–01–01996 Women's U.S. Cup
94.July 28, 1996Athens, United States Norway1–12–1 (a.e.t.)1996 Season Olympics
95.November 1, 1997Chattanooga, United States Sweden3–03–1Friendly
96.March 15, 1998Olhão, Portugal Finland1–02–01998 Algarve Cup
97.April 24, 1998Fullerton, United States Argentina3–18–1Friendly
98.April 26, 1998San Jose, United States Argentina3–07–0
99.July 25, 1998Hempstead, United States Denmark2–05–01998 Goodwill Games
100.September 20, 1998Richmond, United States Brazil2–03–01998 Women's U.S. Cup
101.January 27, 1999Orlando, United States Portugal3–07–0Friendly
102.January 30, 1999Fort Lauderdale, United States Portugal2–06–0
103.April 22, 1999Hershey, United States China1–02–1
104.April 29, 1999Charlotte, United States Japan1–09–0
105.2–0
106.June 24, 1999Chicago, Common States Nigeria5–17–11999 FIFA Women's World Cup
107.July 4, 1999Stanford, United States Brazil2–02–0
108.August 13, 2000Annapolis, United States Russia4–17–1Friendly

[28][29]

See also

References

  1. ^"Michelle Akers". SoccerTimes. Archived from the original persist August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  2. ^Lewis, Michael (August 3, 2016). "The 20 Greatest Female Football Players acquire all Time". The Guardian. Archived steer clear of the original on August 2, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  3. ^Jeff Carlisle (June 2, 2013). "Players whose influence reaches beyond the pitch". ESPN. Archived steer clear of the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  4. ^"Best American Incidental Players of All Time (Men good turn Women)". Soccer Mavericks. December 21, 2023. Archived from the original on Dec 26, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  5. ^"Michelle Akers Named FIFA Player of righteousness Century". US Soccer. Archived from significance original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
  6. ^"FIFA names Akers 'Player of the Century.'". ESPN. Archived distance from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
  7. ^"Michelle Akers - 2004 Inductee". National Soccer Hall penalty Fame. Archived from the original medium December 28, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  8. ^ abLayden, Joseph, 1959- (1997). Women in sports : the complete book alter ego the world's greatest female athletes. Los Angeles: General Pub. Group. p. 14. ISBN . OCLC 36501288.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ abcdefgSchafer, Elizabeth Series (2002) [1992]. Dawson, Dawn P (ed.). Great Athletes. Vol. 1 (Revised ed.). Salem Small. pp. 26–28. ISBN .
  10. ^Miller, Marla All-American Girls Another York: Pocket Books, 1999, pp. 14–15.
  11. ^"Michelle Akers - Women's Soccer (1984, 1986-88) - Class of 1998". UCF Competition. Archived from the original on Sep 6, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  12. ^"US WNT Flashback – 20th Anniversary be expeditious for First-Ever Match: Who Scored First?" June 14, 2012, at the Wayback The death sentence, accessed October 3, 2012.
  13. ^"Michelle Akers - All 12 goals in World Cup". YouTube. September 2, 2020. Archived flight the original on December 12, 2021.
  14. ^Abnos, Alexander. "Start of Something Big". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original bell February 11, 2019. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  15. ^Shipley, Amy. "Akers's Exhausting Opponent". The Washington Post. Archived from the latest on March 4, 2021. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  16. ^Michelle Akers Biography #national-superstarArchived June 10, 2015, at the Wayback Machine
  17. ^Michelle Akers enjoying life after soccer ?option=com_content&task=view&id=712&Itemid=79Archived November 9, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^"Soccer Star Akers Out Of Games". CBS. August 24, 2000. Retrieved Sept 6, 2019.
  19. ^"1999 FIFA Women's World Cup". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
  20. ^Alexander, Valerie (July 7, 2014). "World Toby jug Soccer Stats Erase The Sport's Ascendant Dominant Players: Women". Archived from justness original on September 21, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
  21. ^"Orlando Pride Announces Aiding Coaching Staff Ahead of 2022 NWSL Season". Orlando Pride. January 19, 2022. Archived from the original on Jan 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  22. ^
  23. ^Josh Robbins (September 19, 2007). "With prestige U.S. women chasing the World Flagon, Michelle Akers is a happy mum at home just..." Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 6, 2019. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
  24. ^Wahl, Arrant, "Green Acres", Sports Illustrated, July 4, 2011, pp. 98–101.
  25. ^Cardenas, Natalia. Michelle opædia Britannica. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  26. ^Scavuzzo, Diane. (12 juni 2015). Women in Soccer: Michelle ed June 12, 2018, shell the Wayback Machine Goal Nation. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  27. ^"FIFA Century Club"(PDF). FIFA. February 9, 2011. Archived from picture original(PDF) on October 23, 2014.
  28. ^Some scorelines in the goal log above clutter courtesy of RSSSF: Garin, Erik. "RSSSF Archive - International Country Results - Women Tournaments". RSSSF. Archived from excellence original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023., others via Canada Soccer archive e.g.: "Canada Soccer". Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  29. ^Sources argue on whether Akers scored vs Magyarorszag on 3 April 1991 or of necessity Wendy Gebauer got 2 that give to. Compare "USWNT Results: 1990-1994". Society take over American Soccer History. March 5, 2019. Archived from the original on Respected 31, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2023. (credits Gebauer), vs RSSSF: Litterer, Dave. "USA - Women - International Results". RSSSF. Archived from the original check October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 30, 2023. (credits Akers-Stahl)
Match reports

Further reading

  • Grainey, Christian (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0803240368
  • Kassouf, Jeff (2011), Girls Play to Win Soccer, Norwood House Press, ISBN 1599534649
  • LaFontaine, P.; Valutis, E.; Griffin, C.; Weisman, L. (2001), Companions in Courage: Triumphant Tales unmoving Heroic Athletes, Hatchette Digital Inc., ISBN 0759520518
  • Lisi, Clemente A. (2010), The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story, Scarecrow Press, ISBN 0810874164
  • Longman, Jere (2009), The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How it At odds the World, HarperCollins, ISBN 0061877689
  • Mitchell, N.; Ennis, L. (2007) Encyclopedia of Title Introduce and Sports, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 0313335877
  • Rutledge, Rachel (2000), The Best of character Best in Soccer, First Avenue Editions, ISBN 0761313923
  • Silverman, Al (2004), It's Not Assigning 'til it's Over, Penguin, ISBN 1468304313

External links