Michelle Akers facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Michelle Akers

Personal information
Full name	Michelle Anne Akers
Date of birth	(1966-02-01) February 1, 1966 (age 59)
Place of birth	Santa Clara, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder, forward
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1985–1989	UCF Knights
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990	Tyresö FF	18	(8)
1992	Tyresö FF
1992	Orlando Lions Women	29	(8)
1994	Tyresö FF	19	(3)
International career
1985–2000	United States	155	(107)
Managerial career
2022	Orlando Pride (assistant)
Medal record Women's soccer Representing  United States Olympic Games Gold 1996 Atlanta Team competition FIFA Women's World Cup Gold 1991 China Team competition Gold 1999 USA Team competition Bronze 1995 Sweden Team competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michelle Anne Akers (born February 1, 1966) is an American former soccer player. She was a star player for the United States. Michelle helped her team win the 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup. She also won a gold medal at the 1996 Olympics.

In the 1991 World Cup, Michelle Akers was the top scorer. She won the Golden Shoe award for scoring ten goals. Many people think she is one of the best female soccer players ever. In 2002, she was named FIFA Female Player of the Century. She shared this award with Sun Wen from China.

In 2004, Michelle Akers and Mia Hamm were the only two women chosen for the FIFA 100. This list included 125 of the greatest living soccer players. Pelé picked the players for FIFA's 100th birthday. Michelle Akers is also a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame. She was added to the Hall of Fame in 2004.

Early Life and High School Soccer

Michelle Akers was born in Santa Clara, California, on February 1, 1966. She grew up in Shoreline, near Seattle. Michelle played soccer for Shorecrest High School. She was a very strong player, standing 5 feet 10 inches tall. She was known for her tough and physical style of play.

Early in her career, Michelle learned an important lesson. After losing a game, she was upset and cried. Her father asked her if she had fun playing. When she said yes, she realized that having fun was the real reason she played. This helped her become the fierce player she was known to be. She was named an All-American three times during her high school years.

College Soccer at UCF

Michelle Akers went to the University of Central Florida (UCF) on a scholarship. She was chosen as an NCAA All-American four times. In 1988–89, she was named UCF's Athlete of the Year. She scored more goals than anyone else in UCF history. In 1988, she won the Hermann Trophy. This award goes to the best college soccer player in the country. UCF even retired her number 10 jersey to honor her.

Playing for the United States National Team

Michelle Akers was part of the 1985 United States women's national soccer team (USWNT). This was the team's very first game, played in Italy in August 1985. She had an ankle injury and could not play in the first game. But in the second game, she scored the first goal in the team's history. This goal came in a 2–2 tie against Denmark.

From 1985 to 1990, Michelle scored 15 goals in 24 games for the U.S. team. In 1991, she set a team record by scoring 39 goals in 26 games. The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) named her the Female Athlete of the Year in both 1990 and 1991.

Winning the First World Cup

Michelle was the top scorer in the first-ever 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup in China. She scored ten goals, including five goals in just one game! Her amazing play helped the U.S. women's team win their first world championship. They beat Norway 2–1 in the final game. Michelle scored both of the U.S. goals in that final match.

Throughout much of her career, Michelle Akers dealt with chronic fatigue syndrome. This made her think about stopping soccer many times. But she kept playing in some of the most important games for U.S. Soccer.

After the 1991 World Cup, she changed her position from striker to central midfielder. This was partly to avoid getting hit so much by opposing players. Even with this change, she got a concussion and a knee injury in the 1995 World Cup. Her knee injury affected her in the U.S. team's loss to Norway in the semifinals.

Olympic Gold and Second World Cup

In 1996, Michelle Akers was on the U.S. women's national team again. They played in the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. The team won the first gold medal ever in Olympic Women's Soccer. Michelle played with a torn knee ligament. She played as a holding central midfielder. In this role, she helped defend, won balls in the air, and helped the team keep the ball. After the Olympics, she needed surgery on her knee for the third time.

She also won a gold medal with the team at the 1998 Goodwill Games. On June 7, 1998, she received the FIFA Order of Merit. This is FIFA's highest honor in soccer. Michelle was the first woman ever to get this award.

Michelle Akers was a leader on the 1999 Women's World Cup team. The team won their second World Cup championship. She even played with a dislocated shoulder during the tournament. FIFA gave her the Bronze Ball of the tournament award.

Michelle retired from soccer just before the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia. She retired because of injuries she had before and during the 1999 World Cup. She was the U.S. national team's second all-time leading scorer. She scored 105 goals and had 37 assists.

Coaching Career

On January 19, 2022, the Orlando Pride soccer team announced Michelle Akers as an assistant coach. She worked under head coach Amanda Cromwell for the 2022 season. She also helped players improve their skills and worked with the community.

Personal Life

Michelle Akers was married from 1990 to 1994 and was known as Michelle Akers-Stahl. She married again in 2003 and had a son in Orlando, Florida. She has owned several horses since 1996. Michelle runs a horse rescue ranch on 8 acres in Powder Springs, Georgia, with her son Cody.

Since she stopped playing for the U.S. team in 2000, she has continued to support soccer. She works as a spokesperson and leader to promote the game.

Career Statistics

See also

In Spanish: Michelle Akers para niños

• List of women's footballers with 100 or more international goals
• List of Olympic medalists in football
• List of 1996 Summer Olympics medal winners
• List of players with the most goals in an association football game
• List of University of Central Florida alumni