Editing Tony Sanneh

{{short description|American soccer player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2013}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Tony Sanneh
| image = Tony Sanneh (13856029753) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Sanneh in 2014
| fullname = Anthony Harry Sanneh
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|6|1}}
| birth_place = [[St. Paul, Minnesota]], United States
| height = {{height|ft=6|in=2}}
| position = [[Defender (association football)|Defender]], [[midfielder]]
| currentclub =
| collegeyears1 = 1990–1993
| college1 = [[Milwaukee Panthers men's soccer|Milwaukee Panthers]]
| years1 = 1994
| clubs1 = [[Milwaukee Rampage]]
| caps1 = 18
| goals1 = 14
| years2 = 1994–1996
| clubs2 = [[Chicago Power]] (indoor)
| caps2 = 43
| goals2 = 31
| years3 = 1995–1996
| clubs3 = [[Minnesota Thunder]]
| caps3 = 24
| goals3 = 18
| years4 = 1995–1996
| clubs4 = [[Milwaukee Wave]] (indoor)
| caps4 = 16
| goals4 = 6
| years5 = 1996–1998
| clubs5 = [[D.C. United]]
| caps5 = 86
| goals5 = 20
| years6 = 1999–2001
| clubs6 = [[Hertha BSC]]
| caps6 = 31
| goals6 = 1
| years7 = 2001–2004
| clubs7 = [[1. FC Nürnberg]]
| caps7 = 52
| goals7 = 5
| years8 = 2004
| clubs8 = [[Columbus Crew]]
| caps8 = 8
| goals8 = 2
| years9 = 2005–2006
| clubs9 = [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]]
| caps9 = 31
| goals9 = 0
| years10 = 2007
| clubs10 = [[Minnesota Thunder]]
| caps10 = 2
| goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2007
| clubs11 = [[Colorado Rapids]]
| caps11 = 9
| goals11 = 0
| years12 = 2009
| clubs12 = [[Los Angeles Galaxy]]
| caps12 = 13
| goals12 = 0
| totalcaps = 333
| totalgoals = 97
| nationalyears1 = 1997–2005
| nationalteam1 = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1 = 43
| nationalgoals1 = 3
| medaltemplates = 
{{Medal|Country|{{USA}}}} 
{{Medal|W|[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]]|[[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005]]}}
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Soccer]]}}
}}

'''Anthony Sanneh''' (born June 1, 1971) is an American former professional [[association football|soccer]] player who played as a [[defender (association football)|defender]] or [[midfielder]].

==Club career==

===Youth and college===
Tony Sanneh was born in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota]] to an African father from [[The Gambia|Gambia]] and an American mother from [[Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/138235014.html | title = Q&A with C.J.: Tony Sanneh, coaching, dancing, looking for wife | work=Star Tribune | accessdate = 3 August 2013}}</ref> He attended the [[St. Paul Academy and Summit School]] and played for the local soccer team, St. Paul Blackhawks. He graduated in 1990 having been selected twice to the All State team. He went on to play [[College soccer in the United States|college soccer]] for the [[NCAA]] Division I [[Milwaukee Panthers]], where, as a [[Striker (association football)|striker]], he became the school's all-time scoring leader, with 53 goals and 32 assists from 1990 to 1993. He was named an NCAA Second-Team All-American in 1993.

===Professional===
In 1994, his first year out of college, Sanneh played with [[USISL]]'s [[Milwaukee Rampage]], where he scored 14 goals and 14 assists while teaming up with [[Brian McBride]]. His partnership with McBride was highlighted by a goal that the latter scored during the opening [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] match against Portugal, which originated from a cross by Sanneh. During the winter 1994 season, Sanneh joined the indoor soccer [[Chicago Power]] of the [[National Professional Soccer League II|National Professional Soccer League]] (NPSL). He played 34 games, scoring 27 goals in the 1994–95 season. He also played [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] in four games for a total of 79:15 minutes.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://members.toast.net/pudgym30a/stats95.html | title = Chicago POWER 1994-95 Statistics | publisher = members.toast.net | accessdate = 3 August 2013 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120207170523/http://members.toast.net/pudgym30a/stats95.html | archivedate = February 7, 2012 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> In the 1995–96 indoor season, he played in only nine games, scoring four goals, but also played 4:19 minutes as a goalkeeper.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://members.toast.net/pudgym30a/stats96.html | title = Chicago POWER 1995-96 Statistics | publisher = members.toast.net | accessdate = 3 August 2013 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20120207170528/http://members.toast.net/pudgym30a/stats96.html | archivedate = February 7, 2012 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> In 1995, he played with a former [[Milwaukee Panthers]] teammate, [[Manny Lagos]], on the [[Minnesota Thunder]], amassing 18 goals and 22 assists with the team. He also played the 1995–96 indoor season with the [[Milwaukee Wave]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://milwaukeewave.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Statistics/Wave_Media_Guide.pdf |title=Milwaukee Wave Media Guide |publisher=milwaukeewave.com.ismmedia.com |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101116232954/http://milwaukeewave.com.ismmedia.com/ISM3/std-content/repos/Top/Statistics/Wave_Media_Guide.pdf |archivedate=November 16, 2010 }}</ref> In 1996, midway through the inaugural MLS season, Sanneh was signed by [[D.C. United]]. Originally a forward, Tony played a variety of positions for United, mostly at right midfield. He went on to score goals in the first two [[MLS Cup]]s, leading D.C. to consecutive titles. Sanneh ended his original MLS stay after the 1998 season, signing with [[Bundesliga]] club [[Hertha BSC]] in January 1999.

Sanneh spent the next three years with Hertha, where he was a starter when healthy. His playing time was limited at times due to many injuries and a national team tug of war. He scored just one goal in league play, and is remembered for assisting on [[Ali Daei]]'s first [[UEFA Champions League]] goal in a 2–1 victory over [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/champions_league/454002.stm |title=Chelsea crash in Berlin |work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=21 September 1999|accessdate=2 October 2018}}</ref> He transferred to [[1. FC Nürnberg]] in 2001, where he played nearly every game the first year and a half leading the back line until he sustained a back injury that kept him out of action for 13 months. During his injury layoff Nürnberg was demoted to the second league. Upon his return Sanneh started the last seven games, winning five in a row, to give Nürnberg promotion and the second Bundesliga crown. He tallied a total of five goals. In 2004, he came back to MLS, signing with the [[Columbus Crew]], to play alongside long-time friend, college and Thunder teammate [[Manny Lagos]]. The crew finished the season with the league's best record and a 19-game unbeaten streak but lost in the playoffs after they missed two penalty kicks, one of which marred Sanneh's time there. Sanneh was traded following the end of the season to the [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]], in exchange for [[Ante Razov]] and part of an [[allocation (MLS)|allocation]]. He played out the 2006 season assisting on the final goal of the Fire's 3–1 Open Cup win over the L.A. Galaxy. Sanneh's MLS league totals stand at 16 goals and 27 assists.

However, following the 2006 season, Sanneh and the Fire failed to reach a new agreement on his contract, prompting his release from the team. On July 24, 2007, [[USL First Division]] team [[Minnesota Thunder]] announced that they had signed Sanneh. The [[Colorado Rapids]] then acquired his rights from the Fire. He made his debut for the Rapids on August 16, 2007, against the [[New England Revolution]] at [[Dick's Sporting Goods Park]]. He played in 10 out of their final 12 games but did not agree to terms the following season.

After sitting out the 2008 season, he signed with [[Los Angeles Galaxy]] in February 2009. He made 13 appearances with the Western Conference champions (including five starts) but struggled with injuries the latter half of the season and was not invited to 2010's training camp.

==International career==
Sanneh made his debut for the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States national team]] on January 29, 1997, in a 2–1 loss to [[China national football team|China]] but failed to make [[Steve Sampson]]'s final squad and was left out of the [[1998 FIFA World Cup]] in France.

Sanneh then had very good seasons from there on out, enough to impress new U.S. coach [[Bruce Arena]] scoring his first international goal in a shock 3–0 win over Germany. Eventually, he became an important part of the team by the time the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]] came around and was one of the US best players in the tournament, playing every minute of every game. In the US first game of the tournament, a 3–2 upset of [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], his precise cross from the right side of the field provided an assist to [[Brian McBride]]'s goal. He was also instrumental, both defensively and offensively, in the US narrow 1–0 loss to Germany in the quarterfinals, barely missing an equalizing goal on two occasions in the 47th and 89th minute.

After the [[2002 FIFA World Cup]], Sanneh was rarely picked due to injury and an influx of young talent into the national team pool. However, after playing impressively for the [[Columbus Crew]] and [[Chicago Fire Soccer Club|Chicago Fire]] in MLS, he was recalled for the [[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup]], starting in group games against Cuba and Costa Rica. The US later won the tournament upon beating Panama in the final. Following the tournament he was never called back into the national team and Sanneh finished his career for the US national team with three goals in 43 appearances.

===International goals===
:''Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Sanneh goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Tony Sanneh
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
|align="center"|1
|February 6, 1999
|[[Alltel Stadium]], [[Jacksonville, Florida|Jacksonville]], United States
|{{fb|Germany}}
|align="center"|2–0
|align="center"|3–0
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|-
|align="center"|2
|May 12, 2002
|[[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|RFK Memorial Stadium]], Washington, D.C., United States
|{{fb|Uruguay}}
|align="center"|1–0
|align="center"|2–1
|Friendly
|-
|align="center"|3
|June 2, 2004
|[[Gillette Stadium]], [[Foxborough, Massachusetts|Foxboro]], United States
|{{fb|Honduras}}
|align="center"|4–0
|align="center"|4–0
|Friendly
|}

==Post-playing career==
Sanneh operates his own soccer camp system in the Midwest and U.S. Virgin Islands. He also is a coach and consultant for the club soccer team Minneapolis United. In addition to overseeing youth development, he is the founder and executive director of his own charitable foundation headquartered in St. Paul (www.thesannehfoundation.org) which, among other initiatives, aims to help urban youth and also assists in recovery efforts in Haiti.

As of 2013, Sanneh has been playing with Brits Pub FC a local recreational team in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In the summer of 2013, Sanneh formed a Minnesota Thunder Legends team for a match against the [[Stegman's Soccer Club|Stegman's Old Boys of Minneapolis]] in partnership with The Free Beer Movement to help raise money for The Sanneh Foundation.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreebeermovement.com/blog/entry/fbm-in-action-stegmans-old-boys-fc-3rd-annual-free-beer-night-august-17th/|title=FBM in Action - Stegman's Old Boys FC 3rd Annual Free Beer Night (August 17th)|publisher=The Free Beer Movement|accessdate=December 12, 2017}}</ref>

Sanneh has also been an active participant in the [[SportsUnited|Sports Diplomacy]] Sports Envoy program for the [[Department of State|U.S. Department of State]]. In this function, he has traveled to Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Cyprus, Haiti, and Malaysia, where he worked with to conduct soccer clinics and events that reached more than 3000 youth from underserved areas. In so doing, Sanneh helped contribute to Sports Diplomacy's mission to reach out to youth populations in order to promote growth and a mutual understanding through sports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://eca.state.gov/video/former-us-mens-national-soccer-team-members-travel-cyprus|title=Former U.S. Men's National Soccer Team Members Travel to Cyprus |website=Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs |access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.state.gov/stories/2012/03/14/promoting-understanding-and-empowering-women-through-soccer-malaysia|title=Promoting Understanding and Empowering Women Through Soccer in Malaysia|website=DipNote|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/usembassykl/photos/a.139452784846.109816.72081519846/10153145918339847/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/72081519846/10153145918339847 |archive-date=2022-02-26 |url-access=limited|title=The U.S. Embassy concluded its Sports... – U.S. Embassy Kuala Lumpur |via=Facebook|access-date=2016-06-03}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://thedailynewnation.com/news/2515/us-footballers-to-play-exhibition-matches-at-bff-turf-today.html|title=US footballers to play exhibition matches at BFF turf today|work=The New Nation|access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://bolivia.usembassy.gov/soccer-envoy3.html|title=Sports Diplomacy Delights Bolivian Youth and Media on National Soccer Envoy Tour |website=Embassy of the United States, La Paz, Bolivia |access-date=2016-06-03}}</ref>

In November 2014, Sanneh received the Athletes in Excellence Award from [[The Foundation for Global Sports Development]], in recognition of his community service efforts and work with youth.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.teamusa.org/News/2014/November/21/Eight-Olympians-Paralympians-Named-Athletes-in-Excellence|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141212101140/http://www.teamusa.org/News/2014/November/21/Eight-Olympians-Paralympians-Named-Athletes-in-Excellence|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 12, 2014|title=Eight Olympians, Paralympians Named Athletes In Excellence|newspaper=Team USA|access-date=2017-02-08}}</ref>

In 2017, Sanneh was inducted into the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web |title=2017 USASA Hall of Fame Class Announced |url=https://www.usadultsoccer.com/news_article/show/798092-2017-usasa-hall-of-fame-class-announced |publisher=United States Adult Soccer Association |access-date=15 December 2020 |language=en-us |date=30 May 2017}}</ref>

In February 2018, Sanneh received the Community Advocate for Change Award from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

==Honors==

;United States
*[[CONCACAF Gold Cup]] Champions: [[2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup|2005]]

United States:
On October 21, 2017, Sanneh was inducted into the United States Amateur Soccer Association (USASA) Hall of Fame.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thesannehfoundation.org The Sanneh Foundation]
* [http://uwmpanthers.cstv.com/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/060102aaa.html Interview with Tony Sanneh]
* {{NFT player|pid=8673}}

{{Summit League Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}
{{United States squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sanneh, Tony}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:African-American soccer players]]
[[Category:American expatriate men's soccer players]]
[[Category:American expatriate men's soccer players in Germany]]
[[Category:American men's soccer players]]
[[Category:Soccer players from Saint Paul, Minnesota]]
[[Category:Chicago Fire FC players]]
[[Category:Chicago Power players]]
[[Category:Colorado Rapids players]]
[[Category:Columbus Crew players]]
[[Category:D.C. United players]]
[[Category:Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:2. Bundesliga players]]
[[Category:Hertha BSC players]]
[[Category:1. FC Nürnberg players]]
[[Category:LA Galaxy players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Wave players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Rampage players]]
[[Category:Minnesota Thunder players]]
[[Category:National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) players]]
[[Category:2002 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup players]]
[[Category:CONCACAF Gold Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Major League Soccer players]]
[[Category:USISL players]]
[[Category:USL First Division players]]
[[Category:Milwaukee Panthers men's soccer players]]
[[Category:United States men's international soccer players]]
[[Category:Men's association football defenders]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:American people of Gambian descent]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American sportsmen]]