Caligiuri retires quietly as one of most influential American players ever.

By Robert Wagman
SoccerTimes

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)-- For many younger American soccer fans, Paul Caligiuri was simply a journeyman defender who recently retired from the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. But, of course, he was far more than that.

Quite simply, he was one of the most influential American soccer players of his generation, a group which saw soccer rebound from the disastrous failure of the North American Soccer League to once again begin to stake its claim in the nation’s professional sports universe.

It would not be at all far-fetched to say soccer would not be where it is today were it not for a single moment, provided courtesy of Paul Caligiuri.

That moment came November 19, 1989. In those days, only two nations from CONCACAF, the region of North America, Central America and the Caribbean, qualified for the World Cup. Mexico was barred for its illegal use of youth players in international competition, and Costa Rica, under coach Bora Milutinovic had already qualified.

The United States faced Trinidad & Tobago in Port-of-Spain on the final day of qualifying, needing a victory to advance to Italy ’90. The home side, fully expecting to manage at least a draw was preparing for a national celebration its qualification. With Trinidad defending with all its energy, a scoreless draw loomed when Caligiuri let fly from 30 yards, finding net with what was probably the most important goal in American soccer history. Dubbed the "Goal Heard Round The World," Caligiuri’s rocket qualified the U.S. for the World Cup for the first time in 40 years, setting the table for its role as host of the 1994 Cup and thrusting soccer into the U.S. national consciousness for the first time in a decade.

"That goal put professional soccer in the U.S. in motion," long-time U.S. defender Jeff Agoos remarked recently. "It propelled the sport into the American mainstream. It was, if not the genesis, the catalyst for a lot of the things that have happened since then."

Capped 110 times for the U.S. between 1984 and 1998, Caligiuri was a fixture for the U.S., playing 8,272 minutes, and starting every match for the U.S. in both the 1990 and 1994 Cups. In Italy, it was fitting that he scored against Czechoslovakia, the first U.S. goal in World Cup competition in four decades. It was also fitting that he led the host U.S. into the second round in 1994.

He played for UCLA from 1982-86 and captained the Bruins to a national title in 1985 when he was named U.S. soccer athlete of the year. He was the first American to go to Europe and play at the highest level, for St. Pauli in Germany Bundesliga and also SV Hamburg, SC Feiburg and Hansa Rostock in Germany. In 1989, when he scored his memorable goal in Trinidad & Tobago, he was a midfielder at SV Meppen in the German second division.

"He really opened the door for others," said Sigi Schmid who coached Caligiuri at UCLA and with the Galaxy. "He went to Europe at a time when nobody had gone. He was the first one to go and he ended up making it."

In 1996, he was one of the American stars who returned to help launch MLS. He was the 10th player taken in the start-up draft and played a year for the Columbus Crew before being traded home to Los Angeles where he has played since.

The 37 year-old Caligiuri played his last match Saturday when the Galaxy defeated the New England Revolution 2-1 for the U.S. Open Cup. Having earned his "A" coaching license in 2000, he will become at college coach of both the men and women at California Poly Pomona.

One who saw Caligiuri play his final match on Saturday was Bob Contiguglia, president of the United States Soccer Federation. He clearly lingered a moment when he handed the Galaxy defender his winning medal after the match.

"I was privileged to be in Trinidad & Tobago when Paul scored his historic goal," Contiguglia said. "At that time we celebrated our first modern qualification and could not anticipate its impact. Since then, soccer in the U.S. has been on the rise. Paul's goal launched U.S. credibility on the field and laid the groundwork for the successes of the decade of the 90s. Looking back the goal becomes more and more momentous.

"In his career as an athlete, Paul Caligiuri has been a class act. He was talented on the field and off the field he fought for his beliefs. I know U.S. Soccer joins me in wishing Paul more success in his coaching career."

Another who puts Caligiuri’s accomplishments into perspective is U.S. men’s coach Bruce Arena.

"Paul Caligiuri will always be remembered for his goal against Trinidad. To his peers, he will be remembered as a great pioneer for American players. He tested the waters in Europe and then returned to be a part of a new challenge- MLS. American coaches are appreciative of Paul contributions to the game and how he conducted himself both on and off the field of play. We all wish him the very best in his future endeavors".

After last week’s MLS Cup final, in which the San Jose Earthquakes defeated the Galaxy 2-1 in overtime, Caligiuri walked up to his long-time friend Agoos, the San Jose captain to offer congratulations. "This is your moment," Caligiuri said, shaking Agoos' hand. "No, no," Agoos replied, "This is all possible because of you."

Truer words were never spoken. Like many U.S. fans I will miss seeing Paul Caligiuri on the playing field. But unless I miss my guess, I will be seeing him on an MLS bench again, as a head coach, in the not too distant future.

Senior correspondent Robert Wagman's "It Seems To Me . . . " appears regularly on SoccerTimes. He can be e-mailed at bobwagman@soccertimes.com..