Tony Meola

Antonio Michael "Tony" Meola (born February 21, 1969) is an American former professional soccer player who played as a goalkeeper.

He learned his love for the game from his father, Vincenzo, who played for Italian second division club Avellino before immigrating to the U.S. Meola was All-State both as a goalkeeper (1985) and a forward (1986).

He had a part in 41 clean sheets and scored 42 goals during his high school career.

He was the captain of the school's basketball team and was named an All-State baseball player in 1987.

The New York Yankees drafted him out of high school, though Meola did not sign a contract with them.

Meola attended the University of Virginia on a soccer/baseball athletic scholarship.

While at Virginia, he played under coach Bruce Arena.

By the time he was playing for the Cavaliers, he had already begun to make a name for himself on the international scene.

In October 1987, he backstopped the U.S. U-20 national team at the 1987 FIFA World Youth Championship.

He earned first team All American honors both his freshman and sophomore years.

He also won the Hermann Trophy as a freshman in 1988 and the MAC Award as a sophomore in 1989.

Cavaliers baseball team his freshman year of 1988 as a third baseman.

On December 15, 1989 he announced that he was leaving U.Va.

to pursue a career with the U.S. national team.

Meola also lettered for the U.Va.

He represented the United States national team at the 1990, 1994, and 2002 World Cups.

Meola had signed with the U.S. Soccer Federation before the 1990 FIFA World Cup.

Following the cup, Meola signed on loan with English second division club Brighton & Hove Albion where he played eleven games; only two were league games.

He gained his first start when he replaced the injured Perry Digweed and promptly won man of the match honors.

On September 14, 1990, Meola was transferred to second division club Watford before moving back to the U.S., which he did when he was unable to renew his work permit due to his inability to gain first team time with Watford.

In 1991, Meola played for the Fort Lauderdale Strikers of the American Professional Soccer League.

He shared the goal with Arnie Mausser.

Meola attempted to become a placekicker with NFL's New York Jets in July 1994 but didn't pass the try-outs and was cut.

Although Meola signed with the Buffalo Blizzard of the NPSL on December 14, 1994 for the 1994–95 indoor season and became the team's starting keeper, he left in mid-February 1995, as he had taken a lead role in the off-Broadway play Tony and Tina's Wedding and needed to join the cast.

In February 1995, Meola joined the Long Island Rough Riders for its upcoming 1995 USISL season.

That year the Rough Riders claimed the USISL championship.

From 1996 to 2006, he played in Major League Soccer, the U.S. top soccer division, where he obtained multiple honors.

Meola is currently a radio host on SiriusXM FC.

Meola was born in Belleville, New Jersey.

He grew up in Kearny.

He played boys' soccer for Kearny High School.

Meola spent three weeks in February 1996 training with Italian club Parma.

Upon the creation of Major League Soccer, he was allocated to the NY/NJ MetroStars, for whom he played between 1996 and 1998, starting almost every game.

During his time with the MetroStars, he set a league record with nine shutouts in 1996.

He did not win the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Award, however; the honor went to Mark Dodd.

In 1999, Meola was named by The Star-Ledger as one of the top ten New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1980s.

Meola not only excelled at soccer, he was a three-sport varsity letterman.

Meola was traded to the Kansas City Wizards (with Alexi Lalas for Mark Chung and Mike Ammann) in 1999, but missed most of his first year in the midwest due to injury.

Chris Snitko and David Winner backstopped during Meola's absence.

The team struggled for results and wins with both Winner and Snitko.