Desmond Armstrong facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Desmond Kevin Armstrong | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | November 2, 1964 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Washington, D.C., U.S. | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender, right-back | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1985 | Maryland Terrapins | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||
| 1986–1988 | Cleveland Force (indoor) | 93 | (14) | |||||||||||||
| 1988–1989 | Baltimore Blast (indoor) | 19 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| 1991 | Santos | |||||||||||||||
| 1991 | Maryland Bays | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1995 | Washington Warthogs (indoor) | 1 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1996 | Charlotte Eagles | |||||||||||||||
| Total | 117 | (19) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1987–1994 | United States | 81 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2006 | Montreat College | |||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Desmond Kevin Armstrong (born November 2, 1964) is an American former soccer player. He was a strong defender and midfielder. Desmond was a key player for the U.S. national team from 1987 to 1994.
He played for several teams during his career. These included indoor soccer leagues and even a team in Brazil. Today, he helps lead FC Columbus as their technical director. His son, Ezra, also played soccer professionally.
Contents
Desmond Armstrong: A Soccer Star
Early Life and Youth Soccer
Desmond Armstrong grew up in Washington, D.C. Until he was 11, basketball was his main sport. He had not played much soccer at all. After an event on the basketball court, a youth soccer coach invited him to try out. From that moment, soccer became his passion.
He attended Howard High School in Maryland. Later, he played college soccer at the University of Maryland. He was a top player there from 1983 to 1985. He played 78 games, scoring 24 goals and making 18 assists. In 1986, his club team, the Fairfax Spartans, won the National Amateur Cup.
Professional Soccer Career
Armstrong started his professional career in indoor soccer. He played for the Cleveland Force from 1986 to 1988. Then he joined the Baltimore Blast. In 1989, he broke his leg, which was a tough setback.
In 1991, Desmond made history. He signed with Santos in Brazil. This made him the first American to play professional soccer in Brazil. After his time there, he returned to the U.S. and played for the Maryland Bays. He also played for the Washington Warthogs and the Charlotte Eagles. He retired from playing soccer at age 31.
Playing for the U.S. National Team
Desmond Armstrong first played for the U.S. national team in 1987. He also played in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea. His strong play helped him become a regular on the national team.
He played in all three of the team's games at the 1990 FIFA World Cup. This was a huge achievement for him. In total, he played 81 games for the national team. He was also the first U.S.-born African American player to play in a World Cup.
Life After Playing: Coaching and Broadcasting
Coaching and Community Work
After retiring from playing, Desmond stayed involved in soccer. He focused on coaching and helping his community. He worked with Christian Ministries programs like Soccer Beats. He also owns a team called Legacy Heros FC.
From 1999 to 2006, he was the head coach for the Montreat College Cavaliers. He also coached youth teams, like the '85 HFC Vipers. He later became the head coach and technical director for Heroes FA in Maryland. He also helps with recruiting for Premier Soccer Academies. In 2009, he became the technical director for Rocket City United. In 2012, he started the Heroes Soccer Club in Nashville, Tennessee. As of 2022, this youth club has 550 players.
Soccer Commentary
Desmond Armstrong has also worked as a sports broadcaster. He provided commentary for ABC Sports. During the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he was an analyst for ESPN. He also gave commentary for Cleveland City Stars home games. These games were shown on SportsTime Ohio.
Awards and Recognition
Desmond Armstrong has received special honors for his soccer career.
- On May 11, 2007, he was inducted into the Maryland Soccer Hall of Fame.
- On February 29, 2012, he was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Desmond Armstrong para niños
