Eric Wynalda

Eric cites his beginnings in soccer as a youth player in AYSO Region 5 in Westlake, CA. He went on to be a three-time All-State high school player, Athlete of the Year as a freshman at San Diego State and a professional player for 12 years in the APSL, Europe and MLS. He has the distinction of scoring Major League Soccer’s first goal and earning 111 points in 110 MLS matches. Eric experienced three World Cups playing for the USA and in 2000 was Honda’s Player of the Decade. After his retirement, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004. He is currently serving as a color commentator for ABC/ESPN and is known for his outspoken and unvarnished opinions of the games.

Eric’s role as dad of three has brought him full circle back to AYSO with his oldest daughter a current U-6 player in Region 343 in Moorpark, CA. His wife, Amy, is the assistant coach of the Rain Girls - their daughter’s spring season team!  Eric attends the weekly practices, where he says that many of the dads are former youth and high school soccer players who he teamed both with and against. Each practice is like a reunion with old friends – and he loves the cycle that AYSO has created in their lives. Eric has also contributed volunteer time to AYSO as a clinic trainer and presenter at the annual Apricot Jam Tournament. “Soccer has done a great job of producing great people,” he says, “and I am proud to be a part of it.”