Eddie Pope facts for kids
Pope in 2008
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | George Edward Pope | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | December 24, 1973 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | High Point, North Carolina, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Defender | ||||||||||||||||||
| College career | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1992–1995 | North Carolina Tar Heels | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2002 | D.C. United | 143 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | MetroStars | 42 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Real Salt Lake | 69 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||
| Total | 254 | (10) | |||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2006 | United States | 82 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of October 19, 2007 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of August 3, 2006 |
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George Edward Pope, born on December 24, 1973, is a famous American former soccer player. He was a strong defender for the United States men's national soccer team for eleven years. He also played for several professional teams, spending most of his career with D.C. United. Eddie Pope is so well-known that he is now a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Contents
Early Life and College Soccer
Eddie Pope grew up in High Point, North Carolina. He went to Southwest Guilford High School. Later, he played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels. He was very successful there. In 1994, he was named an All-American, which means he was one of the best college players in the country.
Playing Professional Soccer
Starting with D.C. United
In 1996, Eddie Pope was chosen by D.C. United in the MLS College Draft. This was a big step into professional soccer. His first year was busy, as he also played for the U.S. Olympic team. Even so, he helped D.C. United win their first-ever MLS Cup title. He even scored a special "golden goal" in that final game. That same year, he played his first game for the U.S. national team.
Winning Championships
In 1997, Pope became a star in the MLS. He was named the MLS Defender of the Year. He also helped D.C. United win their second MLS title. In 1998, he helped his team win two more big trophies. These were the CONCACAF Champions Cup and the InterAmerican Cup. D.C. United was the first MLS team to win these important international awards. Pope even scored the winning goal in the InterAmerican Cup final.
Dealing with Injuries
From 1999 to 2002, Eddie Pope faced many injuries. These injuries sometimes limited how much he could play. However, he still managed to play in many games. He was also chosen for the MLS All-Star Game several times. Despite his injuries, he played a key role in helping the U.S. national team qualify for the World Cup.
Moving to New Teams
In 2003, Pope moved to the MetroStars team. He quickly became their captain. He helped the team have a very strong defense. He was recognized as one of the best defenders in the league again. In 2005, he joined Real Salt Lake, a new team in the league. He brought his experience and leadership to the team.
Retirement from Soccer
Eddie Pope played three seasons with Real Salt Lake. In 2007, he decided to retire from professional soccer. He explained that his body was often in pain from playing. Over his ten years in MLS, he scored nine goals and made ten assists. He was also named to the MLS All-Time Best XI team in 2005. In 2011, he was honored by being chosen for the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Playing for the U.S. National Team
World Cup Appearances
Eddie Pope started playing for the United States men's national soccer team in 1996. He quickly became a regular player. He helped the U.S. team surprise many by beating Brazil and reaching the finals of the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He played in two games at the 1998 FIFA World Cup. In 2002, he played in all five U.S. matches at the World Cup. He was a big part of the team's unexpected success in that tournament.
In 2006, Pope was part of the U.S. team again for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. In a game against Italy, he received a red card. This meant he missed the next game against Ghana, which was the team's last game in the tournament.
Ending His International Career
Eddie Pope started every game he played for the national team. He retired from international soccer on August 3, 2006. He played 82 games for the U.S. team and scored 8 goals over eleven years.
After Playing Soccer
After retiring from playing, Eddie Pope continued to work in soccer. He was the director of player relations for the MLS Players Union. This group helps soccer players. In 2015, he started working for a sports agency called Octagon. In 2022, Eddie Pope became the sporting director for a new soccer club. This club, called Carolina Core FC, is based in his hometown of High Point, North Carolina. They will start playing in 2024.
Career Achievements
Eddie Pope earned many awards and honors during his career:
- With D.C. United:
- MLS Cup: 1996, 1997, 1999
- Supporters' Shield: 1997, 1999
- U.S. Open Cup: 1996
- CONCACAF Champions League: 1998
- Copa Interamericana: 1998
- With the United States National Team:
- CONCACAF Gold Cup: 2005
- Individual Awards:
- MLS All-Star: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
- MLS Best XI: 1997, 1998, 2003, 2004
- MLS Defender of the Year: 1997
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI: 1998
- MLS Fair Play Award: 2004
- National Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee: 2011
- MLS 10th Anniversary Team
See also
In Spanish: Eddie Pope para niños
