John Harkes

John Harkes, a National Soccer Hall of Famer, made a significant impact across both English and American football leagues before transitioning to a successful coaching and media career. After earning first-team All-American honors in 1986 and 1987 and the Hermann Award in 1987 as the best player in U.S. colleges, Harkes made a pivotal move to English football in 1990, joining Sheffield Wednesday. He became the first American to play in the English Premier League and earned English football’s ‘Goal of the Season’ award in 1990 for a remarkable 35-yard strike against Derby County.

He further distinguished himself as the second American to play at Wembley Stadium when Sheffield Wednesday reached the 1991 League Cup final, defeating Manchester United. Harkes holds the distinction of being the only American to score in a League Cup Final in 1993, during a match against Arsenal, and also played in the FA Cup Final that same year. Following his impactful tenure in England with Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, and a loan spell with West Ham United, Harkes returned to the United States to join Major League Soccer (MLS) in 1996. He was allocated as D.C.

United’s inaugural player, where he promptly led the team to consecutive MLS Cup titles in 1996 and 1997, along with a U.S. Open Cup title in 1996. His leadership continued, securing the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup and the Interamerican Cup for D.C. United in 1998.

His extensive career, marked by pioneering achievements as a player and significant success as a coach, solidifies his legacy as a prominent figure in American and international soccer.