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Michelle Akers

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Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Use American English Template:Infobox football biography

Michelle Anne Akers (formerly Akers-Stahl; born February 1, 1966) is an American former soccer player who starred in the 1991 and 1999 Women's World Cup and 1996 Olympics victories by the United States. At the 1991 World Cup, she won the Golden Shoe as the top scorer, with ten goals.

Akers is regarded as one of the greatest female soccer players in history.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She was named FIFA Female Player of the Century in 2002, an award she shared with China's Sun Wen.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In 2004, Akers and Mia Hamm were the only two women named to the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 greatest living soccer players selected by Pelé and commissioned by FIFA for that organization's 100th anniversary.

Akers is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame, inducted in 2004.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early lifeEdit

Born to Robert and Anne Akers in Santa Clara, California<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> on February 1, 1966, Akers grew up in the Seattle, Washington suburb of Shoreline, where she attended and played soccer for Shorecrest High School.<ref name="greatath">Template:Cite book</ref> Early in her career, she was not sure whether she was willing to do the training necessary to excel. After losing a youth game, she was frustrated and walked off the field in tears. Her father asked her "Did you have fun". Her answer was "yes" which led to the realization that this was the real reason she played, and that helped turn her into the fierce competitor she became.<ref name=":0" /> She was named an All-American three times during her high school career.<ref name="greatath"/> At Template:Convert in height and Template:Convert, Akers had an imposing physical presence on the soccer field and was noted for her aggressive and physical style of play.<ref>Miller, Marla All-American Girls New York: Pocket Books, 1999, pp. 14–15.</ref>

University of Central FloridaEdit

Akers attended the University of Central Florida on a scholarship where she was selected as four-time NCAA All-American.<ref name="greatath"/> She was Central Florida's Athlete of the Year in 1988–89, was the all-time leading scorer in UCF history,<ref name="greatath"/> won the Hermann Trophy in 1988 as the nation's top college soccer player,<ref name="greatath"/> and had her #10 jersey retired by the school.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

International careerEdit

Akers was a member of the 1985 United States women's national soccer team (USWNT) for its first-ever game, at a tournament in Italy in August 1985. Due to an ankle injury, she did not play in the first game. However, in the U.S.'s second-ever international game, she scored the first goal in the history of the program, in a 2–2 tie against Denmark.<ref>"US WNT Flashback – 20th Anniversary of First-Ever Match: Who Scored First?" http://www.ussoccer.com/News/Womens-National-Team/2005/08/U-S-WNT-Flashback-20th-Anniversary-Of-First-Ever-Match-Who-Scored-First.aspx Template:Webarchive, accessed October 3, 2012.</ref>

Akers scored 15 goals in 24 games for the U.S. from 1985 to 1990, before scoring a team-record 39 goals in 26 games in the 1991 season. In 1990 and 1991 she was named the Female Athlete of the Year by the United States Soccer Federation (USSF).<ref name="greatath"/> Akers was also the lead scorer in the inaugural FIFA Women's World Cup in China in 1991, scoring ten goals, including five in one game.<ref name="greatath"/> This led the U.S. women's team to the first women's world championship, defeating Norway 2–1 in the final. Akers scored both U.S. goals in the final.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}Template:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Throughout most of her career, Akers was afflicted by chronic fatigue syndrome, repeatedly considering retirement only to continue playing in some of U.S. Soccer's most significant matches.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After the 1991 World Cup, she shifted from striker to central midfielder, in part to minimize the beatings doled out by opposing defenders. Despite the precautions, Akers suffered a concussion and a knee injury early in the 1995 World Cup, and was hampered by the knee in the U.S.'s semifinal loss to Norway.<ref>Michelle Akers Biography http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-akers-21321911#national-superstar Template:Webarchive</ref><ref>Michelle Akers enjoying life after soccer http://www.cfs-info.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=712&Itemid=79 Template:Webarchive</ref>

In 1996, Akers was again a member of the U.S. women's national team at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, where it won the first gold medal in Olympic Women's Soccer. She played with a torn medial collateral ligament in the holding central midfielder role, anchoring the team's defense, dominating in the air, and playmaking out of the back to maintain possession and generate goal-scoring opportunities. After the tournament her knee required reconstructive surgery for the third time. She was also a member of the gold medal-winning 1998 Goodwill Games team. On June 7, 1998, she was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, FIFA's highest honor in the global game of soccer, for her contributions to the game of soccer on and off the field; she was the first woman ever to receive it. Akers again was a leader and member of the 1999 Women's World Cup team, where the team won their second World Cup championship. Despite playing with a dislocated shoulder, caused by a fan in the quarterfinals,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> she was awarded the Bronze Ball of the tournament by FIFA.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Shortly before the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia, Akers retired from the game due to injuries incurred before and during the 1999 FIFA World Cup. She was the U.S. national team's second all-time leading scorer (behind Mia Hamm) with 105 goals, 37 assists and 247 points.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Coaching careerEdit

On January 19, 2022, the Orlando Pride announced Akers as an assistant coach for the 2022 season, serving under head coach Amanda Cromwell. She also served in a player development and mentorship role, and assisted with community outreach.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal lifeEdit

From 1990 to 1994, she was married and was known as Michelle Akers-Stahl.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Later she married again (2003–2007) and had a son in Orlando, Florida.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> She has had several horses since 1996 and runs a horse rescue ranch on Template:Convert in Powder Springs, Georgia, with her son Cody.<ref name="Times-Foals">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Wahl, Grant, "Green Acres", Sports Illustrated, July 4, 2011, pp. 98–101.</ref>

Since her retirement from the USWNT in 2000, she has also continued to promote the game of soccer as a spokesperson, advocate, and leader on various platforms.<ref>Cardenas, Natalia. Michelle Akers. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 10, 2018.</ref><ref>Scavuzzo, Diane. (June 12, 2015). Women in Soccer: Michelle Akers. Template:Webarchive Goal Nation. Retrieved June 10, 2018.</ref>

Career statisticsEdit

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
United States<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation CitationClass=web

}}</ref>

1985 2 2
1986 5 0
1987 9 3
1988 2 0
1990 6 9
1991 26 39
1993 12 6
1994 12 11
1995 20 17
1996 17 7
1997 2 1
1998 15 5
1999 20 6
2000 7 1
Total 155 107

International goalsEdit

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. August 21, 1985 Jesolo, Italy Template:Fbw 1–? 2–2 Friendly
2. August 23, 1985 Caorle, Italy Template:Fbw 1–? 1–3
3. December 16, 1987 Taipei, Taiwan Template:Fbw 2–0 6–0
4. December 19, 1987 Template:Fbw 1–0 4–0
5. ?–0
6. July 25, 1990 Winnipeg, Canada Template:Fbw 2–0 4–0
7. July 29, 1990 Template:Fbw 2–2 4–2
8. August 5, 1990 Blaine, United States Template:Fbw ?–0 8–0
9. ?–0
10. ?–0
11. August 9, 1990 Template:Fbw 1–0 3–0
12. ?–0
13. August 11, 1990 Template:Fbw ?–0 3–0
14. ?–0
15. April 1, 1991 Varna, Bulgaria Template:Fbw ?–0 8–0
16. ?–0
17. ?–0
18. April 2, 1991 Template:Fbw 3–0 3–0
19. April 5, 1991 Template:Fbw 2–0 2–0
20. April 7, 1991 Template:Fbw 3–0 5–0
21. 4–0
22. 5–0
23. April 18, 1991 Port-au-Prince, Haiti Template:Fbw 2–0 12–0 1991 CONCACAF Women's Championship
24. 4–0
25. April 20, 1991 Template:Fbw ?–0 12–0
26. ?–0
27. April 22, 1991 Template:Fbw ?–0 10–0
28. ?–0
29. April 25, 1991 Template:Fbw ?–0 10–0
30. ?–0
31. April 28, 1991 Template:Fbw 1–0 5–0
32. 2–0
33. 5–0
34. May 18, 1991 Lyon, France Template:Fbw ?–0 4–0 Friendly
35. May 25, 1991 Hirson, France Template:Fbw 2–? 3–1
36. May 30, 1991 Kaiserslautern, Germany Template:Fbw 2–0 4–2
37. 4–2
38. August 4, 1991 Changchun, China Template:Fbw 1–? 1–2
39. August 8, 1991 Yanji, China Template:Fbw 2–? 2–2
40. August 10, 1991 Anshan, China Template:Fbw 1–0 3–0
41. 2–0
42. 3–0
43. October 12, 1991 Fairfax, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 2–0
44. November 19, 1991 Guangzhou, China Template:Fbw 4–0 5–0 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup
45. November 21, 1991 Foshan, China Template:Fbw 1–0 3–0
46. 2–0
47. November 24, 1991 Template:Fbw 1–0 7–0
48. 2–0
49. 3–0
50. 5–0
51. 6–0
52. November 30, 1991 Guangzhou, China Template:Fbw 1–0 2–1
53. 2–1
54. March 11, 1993 Agia, Cyprus Template:Fbw 2–0 2–0 Friendly
55. June 12, 1993 Cincinnati, United States Template:Fbw 6–0 7–0
56. 7–0
57. June 21, 1993 Pontiac, United States Template:Fbw 3–0 3–0
58. August 6, 1993 New Hyde Park, United States Template:Fbw ?–0 9–0 1993 CONCACAF Women's Invitational Tournament
59. ?–0
60. April 14, 1994 San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago Template:Fbw 1–0 4–1 Friendly
61. 2–0
62. April 17, 1994 Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago Template:Fbw 2–0 3–0
63. July 31, 1994 Fairfax, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 2–1
64. August 7, 1994 Worcester, United States Template:Fbw ?–? 4–1
65. August 13, 1994 Montreal, Canada Template:Fbw ?–0 9–0 1994 CONCACAF Women's Championship
66. ?–0
67. August 17, 1994 Template:Fbw ?–1 11–1
68. August 19, 1994 Template:Fbw ?–0 10–0
69. ?–0
70. August 21, 1994 Template:Fbw 6–0 6–0
71. January 20, 1995 Phoenix, United States Template:Fbw ?–0 5–0 Friendly
72. January 23, 1995 Template:Fbw ?–? 4–1
73. February 24, 1995 Orlando, United States Template:Fbw ?–0 7–0
74. ?–0
75. ?–0
76. March 19, 1995 Quarteira, Portugal Template:Fbw 1–0 3–3 Template:Aet (2–4 p) 1995 Algarve Cup
77. April 11, 1995 Poissy, France Template:Fbw 1–0 3–0 Friendly
78. April 12, 1995 Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France Template:Fbw 2–0 5–0
79. April 28, 1995 Decatur, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 2–0
80. April 30, 1995 Davidson, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 6–0
81. May 14, 1995 Portland, United States Template:Fbw ?–? 4–1
82. ?–?
83. May 19, 1995 Dallas, United States Template:Fbw 3–0 9–1
84. 4–1
85. July 30, 1995 New Britain, United States Template:Fbw 7–0 9–0 1995 Women's U.S. Cup
86. 9–0
87. August 3, 1995 Piscataway, United States Template:Fbw ?–? 4–2
88. January 13, 1996 Campinas, Brazil Template:Fbw 2–0 8–1 Friendly
89. February 2, 1996 Tampa, United States Template:Fbw 2–1 3–2
90. April 20, 1996 Fullerton, United States Template:Fbw 6–0 6–0
91. April 26, 1996 St. Louis, United States Template:Fbw 1–0 4–1
92. April 28, 1996 Indianapolis, United States Template:Fbw 6–0 8–2
93. May 18, 1996 Washington, D.C., United States Template:Fbw 1–0 1–0 1996 Women's U.S. Cup
94. July 28, 1996 Athens, United States Template:Fbw 1–1 2–1 Template:Aet 1996 Summer Olympics
95. November 1, 1997 Chattanooga, United States Template:Fbw 3–0 3–1 Friendly
96. March 15, 1998 Olhão, Portugal Template:Fbw 1–0 2–0 1998 Algarve Cup
97. April 24, 1998 Fullerton, United States Template:Fbw 3–1 8–1 Friendly
98. April 26, 1998 San Jose, United States Template:Fbw 3–0 7–0
99. July 25, 1998 Hempstead, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 5–0 1998 Goodwill Games
100. September 20, 1998 Richmond, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 3–0 1998 Women's U.S. Cup
101. January 27, 1999 Orlando, United States Template:Fbw 3–0 7–0 Friendly
102. January 30, 1999 Fort Lauderdale, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 6–0
103. April 22, 1999 Hershey, United States Template:Fbw 1–0 2–1
104. April 29, 1999 Charlotte, United States Template:Fbw 1–0 9–0
105. 2–0
106. June 24, 1999 Chicago, United States Template:Fbw 5–1 7–1 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
107. July 4, 1999 Stanford, United States Template:Fbw 2–0 2–0
108. August 13, 2000 Annapolis, United States Template:Fbw 4–1 7–1 Friendly

<ref>Some scorelines in the goal log above are courtesy of RSSSF: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}, others via Canada Soccer archive e.g.: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> <ref>Sources disagree on whether Akers scored vs Hungary on April 3, 1991, or whether Wendy Gebauer got 2 that day. Compare {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} (credits Gebauer), vs RSSSF: {{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }} (credits Akers-Stahl)</ref>

See alsoEdit

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ReferencesEdit

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Match reports

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Further readingEdit

  • Grainey, Timothy (2012), Beyond Bend It Like Beckham: The Global Phenomenon of Women's Soccer, University of Nebraska Press, Template:ISBN
  • Kassouf, Jeff (2011), Girls Play to Win Soccer, Norwood House Press, Template:ISBN
  • LaFontaine, P.; Valutis, E.; Griffin, C.; Weisman, L. (2001), Companions in Courage: Triumphant Tales of Heroic Athletes, Hatchette Digital Inc., Template:ISBN
  • Lisi, Clemente A. (2010), The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story, Scarecrow Press, Template:ISBN
  • Longman, Jere (2009), The Girls of Summer: The U.S. Women's Soccer Team and How it Changed the World, HarperCollins, Template:ISBN
  • Mitchell, N.; Ennis, L. (2007) Encyclopedia of Title IX and Sports, Greenwood Publishing Group, Template:ISBN
  • Rutledge, Rachel (2000), The Best of the Best in Soccer, First Avenue Editions, Template:ISBN
  • Silverman, Al (2004), It's Not Over 'til it's Over, Penguin, Template:ISBN

External linksEdit

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