Tony Sanneh facts for kids
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Sanneh in 2014
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||
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| Full name | Anthony Harry Sanneh | ||||||||||||
| Date of birth | June 1, 1971 | ||||||||||||
| Place of birth | St. Paul, Minnesota, United States | ||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Playing position | Defender, midfielder | ||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||
| 1994 | Milwaukee Rampage | 18 | (14) | ||||||||||
| 1994–1996 | Chicago Power (indoor) | 43 | (31) | ||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Minnesota Thunder | 24 | (18) | ||||||||||
| 1995–1996 | Milwaukee Wave (indoor) | 16 | (6) | ||||||||||
| 1996–1998 | D.C. United | 86 | (20) | ||||||||||
| 1999–2001 | Hertha BSC | 31 | (1) | ||||||||||
| 2001–2004 | 1. FC Nürnberg | 52 | (5) | ||||||||||
| 2004 | Columbus Crew | 8 | (2) | ||||||||||
| 2005–2006 | Chicago Fire | 31 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2007 | Minnesota Thunder | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2007 | Colorado Rapids | 9 | (0) | ||||||||||
| 2009 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 13 | (0) | ||||||||||
| Total | 333 | (97) | |||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||
| 1997–2005 | United States | 43 | (3) | ||||||||||
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Honours
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Anthony "Tony" Sanneh (born June 1, 1971) is a former American professional soccer player. He played as a defender or midfielder. Tony Sanneh is known for his time with D.C. United and for representing the U.S. national team in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
Contents
Tony Sanneh's Soccer Journey
Early Life and College Years
Tony Sanneh was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota. His father was from The Gambia, and his mother was from Wisconsin. Tony went to the St. Paul Academy and Summit School. He also played for a local soccer team called St. Paul Blackhawks.
After high school, Tony played college soccer for the Milwaukee Panthers. This team was part of the NCAA Division I, which is a top level for college sports. He played as a striker (a forward who scores goals). From 1990 to 1993, he became the school's all-time leading scorer. He scored 53 goals and made 32 assists. In 1993, he was named an NCAA Second-Team All-American. This means he was recognized as one of the best college players in the country.
Professional Club Career
Tony Sanneh started his professional career in 1994 with the Milwaukee Rampage in the USISL (a soccer league in the U.S.). He scored 14 goals and made 14 assists. He played alongside Brian McBride, who later became a famous U.S. national team player.
During the winter of 1994, Tony played indoor soccer for the Chicago Power in the NPSL. He played 34 games and scored 27 goals. He even played as a goalkeeper in a few games! In 1995, he also played for the Minnesota Thunder, scoring 18 goals.
In 1996, Tony joined D.C. United in the new MLS. He started as a forward but played many different positions, often as a right midfielder. He scored goals in the first two MLS Cups, helping D.C. United win two championships in a row.
After the 1998 MLS season, Tony moved to Germany to play for Bundesliga club Hertha BSC. The Bundesliga is Germany's top soccer league. He played for three years there. He scored one league goal and helped set up a famous goal for Ali Daei in a UEFA Champions League game against Chelsea.
In 2001, Tony moved to another German club, 1. FC Nürnberg. He played almost every game for a year and a half. He helped lead their defense. After an injury, his team was moved down to the second league. When he returned, he helped Nürnberg win promotion back to the top league. He scored five goals for the club.
Tony returned to MLS in 2004, joining the Columbus Crew. He played with his old friend Manny Lagos. The Crew had a great season, but lost in the playoffs. After that season, Tony was traded to the Chicago Fire. He helped the Fire win the U.S. Open Cup in 2006.
In 2007, Tony briefly played for the Minnesota Thunder again, and then for the Colorado Rapids. After taking a break in 2008, he signed with the Los Angeles Galaxy in 2009. He played 13 games for the Galaxy before injuries ended his playing career.
Tony Sanneh's International Career
Playing for the United States
Tony Sanneh first played for the U.S. national team in 1997. However, he was not chosen for the 1998 FIFA World Cup team.
Later, he impressed the new U.S. coach, Bruce Arena. Tony scored his first international goal in a big 3–0 win against Germany. He became a very important player for the U.S. team by the time of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He played every minute of every game in that tournament.
In the first game of the 2002 World Cup, the U.S. upset Portugal 3–2. Tony made a perfect cross that led to Brian McBride's goal. He also played a key role in the quarter-final match against Germany. The U.S. lost 1–0, but Tony almost scored two equalizing goals.
After the 2002 World Cup, Tony played less for the national team due to injuries and new young players joining the team. However, he was called back for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. The CONCACAF Gold Cup is a major soccer tournament for teams in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. The U.S. won the tournament that year. Tony Sanneh finished his career for the U.S. national team with three goals in 43 games.
International Goals
Tony Sanneh scored three goals for the United States national team:
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | February 6, 1999 | Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, United States |  Germany |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | May 12, 2002 | RFK Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States |  Uruguay |
1–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 3 | June 2, 2004 | Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, United States |  Honduras |
4–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
Life After Playing Soccer
Coaching and Community Work
After retiring from playing, Tony Sanneh started his own soccer camps. These camps are held in the Midwest and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also works as a coach and consultant for the Minneapolis United soccer club.
Tony is the founder and leader of The Sanneh Foundation. This charity is based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It helps young people in cities and also assists with recovery efforts in Haiti.
Tony has also been part of the Sports Diplomacy Sports Envoy program for the U.S. Department of State. Through this program, he has traveled to countries like Bahrain, Bangladesh, and Haiti. He leads soccer clinics and events that help thousands of young people. This work helps promote understanding and growth through sports.
Awards and Recognition
In November 2014, Tony Sanneh received the Athletes in Excellence Award. This award recognized his community service and his work with young people.
In 2017, Tony was inducted into the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) Hall of Fame. This honor recognizes his contributions to soccer.
In February 2018, he received the Community Advocate for Change Award from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.
Honors
- United States
- CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions: 2005
United States: On October 21, 2017, Sanneh was inducted into the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) Hall of Fame.
See also
In Spanish: Tony Sanneh para niños
