John Harkes, Midfielder
Growing up in the soccer hotbed of Kearny, N.J., Harkes learned the game and honed his skills along with fellow Italia 90 participants Tab Ramos and Tony Meola. Born on March 8, 1967 to Scottish immigrants in Kearny, he was the team's midfield engine during qualifying (performing in all eight matches in 1989) and the World Cup.
While 1984 can sound ominous to some people, it was a very good year for Harkes as he led Kearny high School to the New Jersey state championship with a 24-0-0 record. He also was named the Parade High School Player of the Year. After a standout career under head coach Bruce Arena at the University of Virginia, Harkes earned the Missouri Athletic Club Award as the top player in the country and decided to skip his senior season to play for the USMNT and in the 1988 Olympics.
A two-time World Cup veteran, Harkes made 90 appearances and scored six times. After making history at Sheffield Wednesday as the first American to play in the English Premier League and the second American to score at Wembley Stadium, he went on to play with Derby County and West Ham United. He returned home for MLS's inaugural season to help D.C. United two league championships before finishing his career with the New England Revolution and Columbus. Harkes was a New York Red Bulls assistant coach in 2006-07 and directed FC Cincinnati (USL Championship). A member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, Harkes is head coach of the Greenville Triumph (USL League One).