Antonio Michael Meola, was born on Feb. 21, 1969 in Belleville, NJ. His father
Vincent and his mother Maria moved to Kearny, NJ from Avellino, Italy. At
Kearny High, he was an All-American goalkeeper with 43 shutouts. In his senior
year, he played forward and scored 33 goals.
He attended the University of Virginia on a soccer/baseball scholarship. Here
he won the MAC (Missouri Athletic Club) Player of the Year for leading UVA to
its first NCAA soccer championship in 1989. In 1987, he starred for the US in
the U-20 World Cup in Chile. In his sophomore year in college, he dropped out
to get a spot on the 1990 World Cup Team.
Only days before he was in goal for the US's 1-0 victory in Trinidad & Tobago,
which qualified them for their first World Cup in 40 years, he was named winner
of the Hermann Trophy (given to the top college player in the States). He
played in all three games of the '90 World Cup and all four in '94 as well as
being the '94 team's captain.
After the world cup, Tony tried out as a placekicker for the NY Jets, but was
cut. In the winter of '95 he played with an indoor league team, the Buffalo
Blizzards. In '95 he played his first and last season with the Long Island
Rough Riders where they won their league championship. He has 89 full
international appearances, and is one of the most recognizable soccer players
in the United States.
On Feb. 6th, 1996 he received the Thurman Munson Award, which honors sports
figures for humanitarian work, in recognition of his involvement with various
children's charities.
Tony has co-starred in an off-Broadway play called "Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding,"
and has appeared in ads for Buick, Adidas, Champs Sport, Nobody Beats the Wiz,
and Khan's Hot Dogs.
He is currently playing for the New York Red Bull of the MLS.
