MICHELLE AKERS
****Michelle Akers announced on August 24th that she would not play on the 200 Olympoic team, She is retiring because of continual shoulder problems and her ongoing battle with chronic fatigue syndrom. She has been on the national team since it began in 1985-15 years. She promised herself after the 1996 olympics that she would never again play in the condition she was in during those olympic games.
***WE'LL MISS HER
**She will however play in teh WUSA for Orlando after taking a long break and cheering the US Team on in the Olympics.
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-10 Weight: 150
Born: Feb.1, 1966, in Santa Clara, California.
Hometown: Orlando, Florida.
College: University of Central Florida
WNT
*Just started playing in WNT games again after having surgery on her right shoulder.
* She plans to end her storied career after the 2000 Olympics in Sydney 1999: The all-time
leading scorer in Women's World Cup history with 12 goals, she played a key role in the
USA's 1999 Women's World Cup victory, scoring the clinching goal in the semifinal against
Brazil and exhibiting inspiring play throughout the tournament that earned her the Bronze
Ball as the third most valuable player mamed to the 1999 Women's World Cup All-Star
Team.
* Named U.S. Soccer's Chevrolet Female Athlete of the Year for 1999, the third time she has
been so honored, but first since 1991.
* Played in 20 matches for the USA in 1999, starting 18, while scoring six goals with one
assist.
* Became just the fourth player in the history of international soccer to score 100 career
goals when she tallied against Portugal on Jan. 30, 1999.
* Started 15 matches in 1998 and scored five goals with three assist in her return to the
national team after taking most of 1997 off.
* Helped USA to first-ever Goodwill Games gold medal in Summer of '98, scoring in semifinal
victory over Denmark.
* Received FIFA's highest honor, the FIFA Order of Merit, on June 7, 1998, at the XVth FIFA
Congress in Paris, just prior to the start of the 1998 World Cup, for her positive
contributions to the game.
* One of only two women named to a special FIFA Commission by President Sepp Blatter to
help shape initiatives for the future of soccer.
* Also on the commission are Pelé, Franz Beckenbauer, Sir Bobby Charlton and Michel
Platini.
* Member of the Gold Medal winning U.S. Women's National Team at the 1996 Olympic
games.
* The U.S. Women's National Team's all-time leading scorer with 93 goals in 111
international matches through the end of 1997.
* Took a break from the national team after the Olympics Final on August 1, 1996, to recover
from knee surgery and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and did not play a full international
game for the USA until Oct. 30, 1997, against Sweden.
* After taking a year off, she made her comeback in an exhibition against the Rochester
Ravens and then at U.S. Soccer Festival '97 in August, scoring twice in a 2-0 victory over
the East.
* Started all five matches in the Olympics, scoring a crucial tying goal on a penalty kick in the
USA's 2-1 semifinal victory over Norway.
* Most valuable player at U.S. Women's Cup '96 after scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 defeat
of China.
* Was injured in the opening game of the 1995 FIFA world championship in Sweden and did
not play again until semifinal loss to Norway.
* MVP of the 1994 CONCACAF Qualifying Championship in Montreal where she was tied
with Mia Hamm as the tournament's second-leading goal scorer with six and helped the
USA qualify for the 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden.
* Leading goal scorer in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in 1991 in China with 10
goals, including five in one game, to win the Golden Boot Award while leading the USA to
U.S. Soccer's first-ever world championship.
* She also received the Silver Ball Award given to the world championship's second-best
player.
* U.S. Soccer's Female Athlete of the Year in 1990 and '91.
* Scored 15 goals in 24 games for the USA from 1985-90 before exploding for 36 goals in 26
games in 1991.
* A 13-year veteran of the U.S. National Team, she has been there from the inception of the
program, playing in the USA's second-ever full international, a game in which she scored.
COLLEGE
* Four-time All-American from the University of Central Florida
in Orlando where she won the first Hermann Trophy.
* Central Florida's Athlete of the Year in 1988-89, and
offensive MVP in the 1987 NCAA Final Four.
HIGH SCHOOL
* Three-time All-American from Shorecrest High School in
Seattle.
PERSONAL
* Full name Michelle Anne Akers.
* Author of several books, including Standing Fast, which chronicles her battle with
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and her overcoming of incredible obstacles to win a gold
medal.
* Her latest book, The Game and the Glory, came out in April of 2000.
* Founder of Soccer Outreach International, an organization that helps to create
movements and resources for individuals, agencies and churches to teach people
around the world how to integrate faith and sport into their daily lives.
* Has own web page at www.michelleakers.com.
* There is a soccer scholarship in her name endowed at Central Florida.
* Graduated from Central Florida with a degree in Liberal Studies and Health.
* The first female American soccer player to sign a shoe endorsement deal back in
1991.
First Appearance: Aug. 21, 1985, vs. Denmark
First Goal: Aug. 21, 1985, vs. Denmark
