Paul Caligiuri

Paul was one of the most significant players in American soccer history for a variety of reasons. He was a pioneer in the movement of American-born players playing professional soccer overseas, and had a remarkable career with the United States Men's National Team.

Caligiuri earned his first international cap for the United States against El Salvador in 1984, while he was still playing at UCLA. Caligiuri went onto play 110 times for the Men's National Team and scored five goals. None of those five goals was as important and as significant to American soccer history as the goal he scored against Trinidad & Tobago on November 19, 1989. That goal sent the United States to their first FIFA World Cup in 40 years and is now known as the "Goal Heard Round the World".

Caligiuri was the key figure in the United States midfield during the 1986 World Cup qualifiers as well as the 1988 Olympic games. Caligiuri played in two World Cup for the Men's National Team - the 1990 and 1994 World Cups - which he started in all 7 matches and sat out only 29 of the possible 630 minutes.

Paul also played a vital role in the success of the United States Men's National Team at the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 1995 Copa America.

Caligiuri became the first American-born player to play in the topflight division in Germany when he started playing professionally in East Germany in 1990. He started his professional career with the Bundesliga 2nd Division side Meppen from 1987 to 1989. He then moved onto play in East Germany during the 1990-91 season and played for FC Hanna Rostock which won the East German title that year. After that season, he transferred to FC Freiburg, in the now united German Bundesliga, later playing at Hamburg, and St. Pauli before returning to play professional soccer in the United States.

In 1996, Caligiuri joined the newly formed Major League Soccer and was allocated to the Columbus Crew. He played one season with the Crew before being assigned to the Los Angeles Galaxy. He finished his professional career with the Galaxy and in his final professional game he won the 2001 U.S. Open Cup.

In 1985, Caligiuri captained the UCLA Bruins to the NCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Title and was a two-time NSCAA All-American. The following year, in 1986 Caligiuri was named the United States Soccer Athlete of the Year.

In 2002, Paul was enshrined into American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) Hall of Fame. Also in 2002, Paul was named the head coach of the Cal Poly Ponoma Broncos men's and women's soccer programs. He has turned the program around in just a short time. His success as a player has been mirrored in the growing success of these collegiate programs.

Where Are They Now: Paul is truly a pioneer in the contemporary age of American soccer - he was the first American-born player to land a major playing contract overseas in the professional European leagues and also was a major force on the 1990 and 1994 World Cup teams. more>

U.S. National Team Statistics

Major League Soccer Statistics