Tony Sanneh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tony Sanneh

Sanneh in 2014
Personal information
Full name	Anthony Harry Sanneh
Date of birth	(1971-06-01) June 1, 1971 (age 54)
Place of birth	St. Paul, Minnesota, United States
Height	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Position(s)	Defender, midfielder
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1990–1993	Milwaukee Panthers
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)
International career
1997–2005	United States	43	(3)
Medal record Representing  United States Winner CONCACAF Gold Cup 2005 Men's Soccer
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Anthony "Tony" Sanneh (born June 1, 1971) is an American former professional soccer player. He played as a defender or midfielder.

Tony Sanneh's Soccer Journey

Early Life and College Soccer

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 played for a local soccer team called St. Paul Blackhawks. He was chosen for the All-State team twice before he graduated in 1990.

After high school, Tony played college soccer for the NCAA Division I Milwaukee Panthers. He was a striker and became the school's top scorer. From 1990 to 1993, he scored 53 goals and made 32 assists. In 1993, he was named an NCAA Second-Team All-American.

Starting Professional Soccer

In 1994, Tony Sanneh began his professional career with the USISL team Milwaukee Rampage. He scored 14 goals and had 14 assists. He played alongside Brian McBride, who later scored a goal in the 2002 World Cup thanks to a pass from Sanneh.

During the winter of 1994, Tony joined the indoor soccer team Chicago Power in the NPSL. He played 34 games and scored 27 goals in the 1994–95 season. He even played as a goalkeeper for a short time in four games. In 1995, he also played with the Minnesota Thunder, scoring 18 goals and making 22 assists. He also played indoor soccer for the Milwaukee Wave.

Playing in Major League Soccer (MLS)

In 1996, Tony Sanneh joined D.C. United during the first MLS season. He started as a forward but played many different positions, often as a right midfielder. He scored goals in the first two MLS Cup finals, helping D.C. United win two championships in a row. Tony left MLS after the 1998 season.

Playing in Germany

In January 1999, Tony Sanneh moved to Germany to play for Bundesliga club Hertha BSC. He was a regular starter when he was healthy. Injuries and national team duties sometimes limited his playing time. He scored one goal in the league. He is also remembered for helping Ali Daei score his first UEFA Champions League goal against Chelsea.

In 2001, Tony moved to 1. FC Nürnberg. He played almost every game for a year and a half. Then, he got a back injury that kept him from playing for 13 months. While he was injured, Nürnberg was moved down to the second league. When he returned, Tony played in the last seven games. He helped Nürnberg win five games in a row, which led to their promotion back to the top league. He scored a total of five goals for the team.

Returning to MLS

In 2004, Tony Sanneh came back to MLS and signed with the Columbus Crew. He played with his long-time friend and college teammate, Manny Lagos. The Crew had a great season, with a 19-game unbeaten streak. However, they lost in the playoffs.

After the season, Tony was traded to the Chicago Fire. He played for the Fire until the end of the 2006 season. He helped the Fire win the Open Cup by assisting on a goal in their 3–1 victory over the L.A. Galaxy. In total, Tony scored 16 goals and made 27 assists in MLS league games.

After 2006, Tony and the Chicago Fire could not agree on a new contract. On July 24, 2007, the USL First Division team Minnesota Thunder signed him. Later, the Colorado Rapids got his rights. He played his first game for the Rapids on August 16, 2007. He played in 10 of their last 12 games that season.

After not playing in 2008, Tony signed with Los Angeles Galaxy in February 2009. He played 13 games for the Galaxy, who won the Western Conference. However, he had injuries later in the season and did not return for the 2010 training camp.

Playing for the United States National Team

Tony Sanneh first played for the United States national team on January 29, 1997. This was in a 2–1 loss to China. However, he did not make the final team for the 1998 FIFA World Cup.

After that, Tony had several strong seasons. This impressed the new U.S. coach, Bruce Arena. Tony scored his first international goal in a surprising 3–0 win against Germany. He became a very important player for the team by the time the 2002 FIFA World Cup arrived. He was one of the best U.S. players in the tournament, playing every minute of every game.

In the first game of the 2002 World Cup, the U.S. team upset Portugal 3–2. Tony's accurate pass from the right side helped Brian McBride score a goal. Tony also played a key role in defense and offense during the U.S. team's close 1–0 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals. He almost scored a tying goal twice in that game.

After the 2002 World Cup, Tony was chosen less often for the national team. This was due to injuries and many talented young players joining the team. However, after playing well for the Columbus Crew and Chicago Fire in MLS, he was called back for the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup. He started in group games against Cuba and Costa Rica. The U.S. team later won the tournament by beating Panama in the final. After this tournament, Tony was not called back to the national team. He finished his career for the U.S. national team with three goals in 43 games.

International Goals for the USA

Tony Sanneh scored three goals for the United States national team:

List of international goals scored by Tony Sanneh

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

Tony Sanneh's Work After Playing Soccer

After retiring from playing, Tony Sanneh started his own soccer camp system. These camps are in the Midwest and the U.S. Virgin Islands. He also coaches and advises the club soccer team Minneapolis United.

Tony is the founder and leader of his own charity, The Sanneh Foundation. It is based in St. Paul, Minnesota. This foundation helps young people in cities and also supports 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, Bolivia, Cyprus, Haiti, and Malaysia. In these places, he held soccer clinics and events for over 3000 young people from areas that need help. Tony helps promote understanding and growth through sports.

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 added to the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) Hall of Fame. In February 2018, he received the Community Advocate for Change Award from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Awards and Honors

• CONCACAF Gold Cup Champions: 2005 (with the United States national team)
• Inducted into the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) Hall of Fame on October 21, 2017.

See also

In Spanish: Tony Sanneh para niños