Michelle Akers: Difference between revisions

Michelle Akers
Personal information
Full name	Michelle Anne Akers
Date of birth	February 1, 1966 (age 58)
Place of birth	Santa Clara, California, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Position(s)	Midfielder, forward
College career
Years	Team
1985–1988	UCF Knights
Senior career*
Years	Team
1990	Tyresö FF
1992	Tyresö FF
1992	Orlando Lions Women
1994	Tyresö FF
International career
1985–2000	Vereinigte Staaten
Managerial career
2022	Orlando Pride (assistant)
Medal record
Women's soccer
Representing Vereinigte Staaten
Olympic Games
FIFA Women's World Cup
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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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.^[2]^[3]^[4] She was named FIFA Female Player of the Century in 2002, an award she shared with China's Sun Wen.^[5]^[6] 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.^[7]

Early life

Born to Robert and Anne Akers in Santa Clara, California^[8] on February 1, 1966, Akers grew up in the Seattle, Washington suburb of Shoreline, where she attended and played soccer for Shorecrest High School.^[9] 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.^[8] She was named an All-American three times during her high school career.^[9] At 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm) in height and 150 pounds (68 kg), Akers had an imposing physical presence on the soccer field and was noted for her aggressive and physical style of play.^[10]

University of Central Florida

Akers attended the University of Central Florida on a scholarship where she was selected as four-time NCAA All-American.^[9] She was Central Florida's Athlete of the Year in 1988–89, was the all-time leading scorer in UCF history,^[9] won the Hermann Trophy in 1988 as the nation's top college soccer player,^[9] and had her #10 jersey retired by the school.^[11]

International career

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.^[12]

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).^[9] 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.^[9] 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.^[13]^[14]

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.^[15]

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.^[16]^[17]

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,^[18] she was awarded the Bronze Ball of the tournament by FIFA.^[19]

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.^[20]

Coaching career

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.^[21]

Personal life

From 1990 to 1994, she was married and was known as Michelle Akers-Stahl.^[22] Later she married again (2003–2007) and had a son in Orlando, Florida.^[23] As of 2011, she resided near Atlanta, Georgia, with her son Cody on a small farm doing horse rescue and animal welfare work.^[24]

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.^[25]^[26]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
United States^[27]	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 goals

No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	August 21, 1985	Jesolo, Italy	Dänemark	1–?	2–2	Friendly
2.	August 23, 1985	Caorle, Italy	England	1–?	1–3
3.	December 16, 1987	Taipei, Taiwan	Australien	2–0	6–0
4.	December 19, 1987		Kanada	1–0	4–0
5.	December 19, 1987		Kanada	?–0	4–0
6.	July 25, 1990	Winnipeg, Canada	Norwegen	2–0	4–0
7.	July 29, 1990	Winnipeg, Canada	Norwegen	2–2	4–2
8.	August 5, 1990	Blaine, United States	Soviet Union	?–0	8–0
9.				?–0
10.				?–0
11.	August 9, 1990		England	1–0	3–0
12.	August 9, 1990		England	?–0	3–0
13.	August 11, 1990		Deutschland	?–0	3–0
14.	August 11, 1990		Deutschland	?–0	3–0
15.	April 1, 1991	Varna, Bulgaria	Yugoslavia	?–0	8–0
16.				?–0
17.				?–0
18.	April 2, 1991		Bulgarien	3–0	3–0
19.	April 5, 1991		Frankreich	2–0	2–0
20.	April 7, 1991		Soviet Union	3–0	5–0
21.				4–0
22.				5–0
23.	April 18, 1991	Port-au-Prince, Haiti	Mexiko	2–0	12–0	1991 CONCACAF Women's Championship
24.	April 18, 1991		Mexiko	4–0	12–0
25.	April 20, 1991		Martinique	?–0	12–0
26.	April 20, 1991		Martinique	?–0	12–0
27.	April 22, 1991		Trinidad und Tobago	?–0	10–0
28.	April 22, 1991		Trinidad und Tobago	?–0	10–0
29.	April 25, 1991		Haiti	?–0	10–0
30.	April 25, 1991		Haiti	?–0	10–0
31.	April 28, 1991		Kanada	1–0	5–0
32.				2–0
33.				5–0
34.	May 18, 1991	Lyon, France	Frankreich	?–0	4–0	Friendly
35.	May 25, 1991	Hirson, France	England	2–?	3–1
36.	May 30, 1991	Kaiserslautern, Germany	Deutschland	2–0	4–2
37.	May 30, 1991	Kaiserslautern, Germany	Deutschland	4–2	4–2
38.	August 4, 1991	Changchun, China	China	1–?	1–2
39.	August 8, 1991	Yanji, China	China	2–?	2–2
40.	August 10, 1991	Anshan, China	China	1–0	3–0
41.				2–0
42.				3–0
43.	October 12, 1991	Fairfax, United States	China	2–0	2–0
44.	November 19, 1991	Guangzhou, China	Brasilien	4–0	5–0	1991 FIFA Women's World Cup
45.	November 21, 1991	Foshan, China	Japan	1–0	3–0
46.	November 21, 1991		Japan	2–0	3–0
47.	November 24, 1991		Chinese Taipei	1–0	7–0
48.				2–0
49.				3–0
50.				5–0
51.				6–0
52.	November 30, 1991	Guangzhou, China	Norwegen	1–0	2–1
53.	November 30, 1991	Guangzhou, China	Norwegen	2–1	2–1
54.	March 11, 1993	Agia, Cyprus	Dänemark	2–0	2–0	Friendly
55.	June 12, 1993	Cincinnati, United States	Kanada	6–0	7–0
56.	June 12, 1993	Cincinnati, United States	Kanada	7–0	7–0
57.	June 21, 1993	Pontiac, United States	Kanada	3–0	3–0
58.	August 6, 1993	New Hyde Park, United States	Trinidad und Tobago	?–0	9–0	1993 CONCACAF Women's Invitational Tournament
59.	August 6, 1993	New Hyde Park, United States	Trinidad und Tobago	?–0	9–0	1993 CONCACAF Women's Invitational Tournament
60.	April 14, 1994	San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago	Kanada	1–0	4–1	Friendly
61.	April 14, 1994	San Fernando, Trinidad & Tobago	Kanada	2–0	4–1
62.	April 17, 1994	Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago	Kanada	2–0	3–0
63.	July 31, 1994	Fairfax, United States	Deutschland	2–0	2–1
64.	August 7, 1994	Worcester, United States	Norwegen	?–?	4–1
65.	August 13, 1994	Montreal, Canada	Mexiko	?–0	9–0	1994 CONCACAF Women's Championship
66.	August 13, 1994		Mexiko	?–0	9–0
67.	August 17, 1994		Trinidad und Tobago	?–1	11–1
68.	August 19, 1994		Jamaika	?–0	10–0
69.	August 19, 1994		Jamaika	?–0	10–0
70.	August 21, 1994		Kanada	6–0	6–0
71.	January 20, 1995	Phoenix, United States	Australien	?–0	5–0	Friendly
72.	January 23, 1995	Phoenix, United States	Australien	?–?	4–1
73.	February 24, 1995	Orlando, United States	Dänemark	?–0	7–0
74.				?–0
75.				?–0
76.	March 19, 1995	Quarteira, Portugal	Norwegen	1–0	3–3 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p)	1995 Algarve Cup
77.	April 11, 1995	Poissy, France	Italien	1–0	3–0	Friendly
78.	April 12, 1995	Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, France	Kanada	2–0	5–0
79.	April 28, 1995	Decatur, United States	Finnland	2–0	2–0
80.	April 30, 1995	Davidson, United States	Finnland	2–0	6–0
81.	May 14, 1995	Portland, United States	Brasilien	?–?	4–1
82.	May 14, 1995	Portland, United States	Brasilien	?–?	4–1
83.	May 19, 1995	Dallas, United States	Kanada	3–0	9–1
84.	May 19, 1995	Dallas, United States	Kanada	4–1	9–1
85.	July 30, 1995	New Britain, United States	Chinese Taipei	7–0	9–0	1995 Women's U.S. Cup
86.	July 30, 1995	New Britain, United States	Chinese Taipei	9–0	9–0
87.	August 3, 1995	Piscataway, United States	Australien	?–?	4–2
88.	January 13, 1996	Campinas, Brazil	Russland	2–0	8–1	Friendly
89.	February 2, 1996	Tampa, United States	Norwegen	2–1	3–2
90.	April 20, 1996	Fullerton, United States	Niederlande	6–0	6–0
91.	April 26, 1996	St. Louis, United States	Frankreich	1–0	4–1
92.	April 28, 1996	Indianapolis, United States	Frankreich	6–0	8–2
93.	May 18, 1996	Washington, D.C., United States	China	1–0	1–0	1996 Women's U.S. Cup
94.	July 28, 1996	Athens, United States	Norwegen	1–1	2–1 (a.e.t.)	1996 Summer Olympics
95.	November 1, 1997	Chattanooga, United States	Schweden	3–0	3–1	Friendly
96.	March 15, 1998	Olhão, Portugal	Finnland	1–0	2–0	1998 Algarve Cup
97.	April 24, 1998	Fullerton, United States	Argentinien	3–1	8–1	Friendly
98.	April 26, 1998	San Jose, United States	Argentinien	3–0	7–0	Friendly
99.	July 25, 1998	Hempstead, United States	Dänemark	2–0	5–0	1998 Goodwill Games
100.	September 20, 1998	Richmond, United States	Brasilien	2–0	3–0	1998 Women's U.S. Cup
101.	January 27, 1999	Orlando, United States	Portugal	3–0	7–0	Friendly
102.	January 30, 1999	Fort Lauderdale, United States	Portugal	2–0	6–0
103.	April 22, 1999	Hershey, United States	China	1–0	2–1
104.	April 29, 1999	Charlotte, United States	Japan	1–0	9–0
105.	April 29, 1999	Charlotte, United States	Japan	2–0	9–0
106.	June 24, 1999	Chicago, United States	Nigeria	5–1	7–1	1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
107.	July 4, 1999	Stanford, United States	Brasilien	2–0	2–0	1999 FIFA Women's World Cup
108.	August 13, 2000	Annapolis, United States	Russland	4–1	7–1	Friendly

^[28] ^[29]

References

^ "Michelle Akers". SoccerTimes. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
^ Lewis, Michael. "The 20 Greatest Female Football Players of all Time". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
^ Jeff Carlisle (June 2, 2013). "Players whose influence reaches beyond the pitch". ESPN. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
^ "Best American Soccer Players of All Time (Men and Women)". Soccer Mavericks. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
^ "Michelle Akers Named FIFA Player of the Century". US Soccer. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.
^ "FIFA names Akers 'Player of the Century.'". ESPN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.
^ "Michelle Akers - 2004 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame". Michelle Akers - 2004 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Layden, Joseph, 1959- (1997). Women in sports : the complete book on the world's greatest female athletes. Los Angeles: General Pub. Group. p. 14. ISBN 1-57544-064-4. OCLC 36501288.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Schafer, Elizabeth D (2002) [1992]. Dawson, Dawn P (ed.). Great Athletes. Vol. 1 (Revised ed.). Salem Press. pp. 26–28. ISBN 1-58765-008-8.
^ Miller, Marla All-American Girls New York: Pocket Books, 1999, pp. 14–15.
^ "Michelle Akers - Women's Soccer (1984, 1986-88) - Class of 1998". UCF Athletics. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
^ "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, accessed October 3, 2012.
^ "Michelle Akers - All 12 goals in World Cup". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.
^ Abnos, Alexander. "Start of Something Big". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
^ Shipley, Amy. "Akers's Exhausting Opponent". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
^ Michelle Akers Biography http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-akers-21321911#national-superstar
^ Michelle Akers enjoying life after soccer http://www.cfs-info.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=712&Itemid=79
^ "Soccer Star Akers Out Of Games". CBS. August 24, 2000. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
^ "1999 FIFA Women's World Cup". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved December 30, 2019.
^ Alexander, Valerie (July 7, 2014). "World Cup Soccer Stats Erase The Sport's Most Dominant Players: Women". Jezebel.com.
^ "Orlando Pride Announces Assistant Coaching Staff Ahead of 2022 NWSL Season". Orlando Pride. January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
^ Whiteside, Kelly (June 5, 1995). "WORLD BEATER MICHELLE AKERS, SOCCER'S TOP FEMALE, IS READY TO LEAD THE U.S. TO ANOTHER TITLE". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
^ Josh Robbins (September 19, 2007). "With the U.S. women chasing the World Cup, Michelle Akers is a happy mom at home just..." Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 6, 2019.
^ Wahl, Grant, "Green Acres", Sports Illustrated, July 4, 2011, pp. 98–101.
^ Cardenas, Natalia. Michelle Akers. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
^ Scavuzzo, Diane. (12 juni 2015). Women in Soccer: Michelle Akers. Archived June 12, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Goal Nation. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
^ "FIFA Century Club" (PDF). FIFA. February 9, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2014.
^ Some scorelines in the goal log above are courtesy of RSSSF: Garin, Erik. "RSSSF Archive - International Country Results - Women Tournaments". RSSSF. Retrieved October 30, 2023., others via Canada Soccer archive e.g.: "Canada Soccer". Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
^ Sources disagree on whether Akers scored vs Hungary on 3 April 1991 or whether Wendy Gebauer got 2 that day. Compare "USWNT Results: 1990-1994". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved October 30, 2023. (credits Gebauer), vs RSSSF: Litterer, Dave. "USA - Women - International Results". RSSSF. Retrieved October 30, 2023. (credits Akers-Stahl)

Match reports

External links

National Soccer Hall of Fame profile
University of Central Florida biography at the Wayback Machine (archived April 19, 2012)
Michelle Akers at the United States Olympic Team at the Wayback Machine (archived November 6, 2006)
Michelle Akers at Olympedia
Michelle Akers at Olympics.com
Michelle Akers horse rescue website at the Wayback Machine (archived April 13, 2008)

[1] "Michelle Akers". SoccerTimes. Archived from the original on August 17, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2022.

[2] Lewis, Michael. "The 20 Greatest Female Football Players of all Time". TheGuardian.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.

[3] Jeff Carlisle (June 2, 2013). "Players whose influence reaches beyond the pitch". ESPN. Retrieved February 16, 2016.

[4] "Best American Soccer Players of All Time (Men and Women)". Soccer Mavericks. Retrieved December 27, 2023.

[5] "Michelle Akers Named FIFA Player of the Century". US Soccer. Archived from the original on March 13, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2013.

[6] "FIFA names Akers 'Player of the Century.'". ESPN. Archived from the original on February 14, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2013.

[7] "Michelle Akers - 2004 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame". Michelle Akers - 2004 Inductee | National Soccer Hall of Fame. Retrieved December 28, 2023.

[:0-8] Layden, Joseph, 1959- (1997). Women in sports : the complete book on the world's greatest female athletes. Los Angeles: General Pub. Group. p. 14. ISBN 1-57544-064-4. OCLC 36501288.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

[greatath-9] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g Schafer, Elizabeth D (2002) [1992]. Dawson, Dawn P (ed.). Great Athletes. Vol. 1 (Revised ed.). Salem Press. pp. 26–28. ISBN 1-58765-008-8.

[10] Miller, Marla All-American Girls New York: Pocket Books, 1999, pp. 14–15.

[11] "Michelle Akers - Women's Soccer (1984, 1986-88) - Class of 1998". UCF Athletics. Retrieved September 6, 2019.

[12] "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, accessed October 3, 2012.

[13] "Michelle Akers - All 12 goals in World Cup". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 12, 2021.

[14] Abnos, Alexander. "Start of Something Big". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 30, 2019.

[15] Shipley, Amy. "Akers's Exhausting Opponent". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 10, 2024.

[16] Michelle Akers Biography http://www.biography.com/people/michelle-akers-21321911#national-superstar

[17] Michelle Akers enjoying life after soccer http://www.cfs-info.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=712&Itemid=79

[18] "Soccer Star Akers Out Of Games". CBS. August 24, 2000. Retrieved September 6, 2019.

[19] "1999 FIFA Women's World Cup". U.S. Soccer. Retrieved December 30, 2019.

[20] Alexander, Valerie (July 7, 2014). "World Cup Soccer Stats Erase The Sport's Most Dominant Players: Women". Jezebel.com.

[21] "Orlando Pride Announces Assistant Coaching Staff Ahead of 2022 NWSL Season". Orlando Pride. January 19, 2022. Retrieved January 19, 2022.

[22] Whiteside, Kelly (June 5, 1995). "WORLD BEATER MICHELLE AKERS, SOCCER'S TOP FEMALE, IS READY TO LEAD THE U.S. TO ANOTHER TITLE". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved January 9, 2016.

[23] Josh Robbins (September 19, 2007). "With the U.S. women chasing the World Cup, Michelle Akers is a happy mom at home just..." Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved September 6, 2019.

[24] Wahl, Grant, "Green Acres", Sports Illustrated, July 4, 2011, pp. 98–101.

[25] Cardenas, Natalia. Michelle Akers. Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved June 10, 2018.

[26] Scavuzzo, Diane. (12 juni 2015). Women in Soccer: Michelle Akers. Archived June 12, 2018, at the Wayback Machine Goal Nation. Retrieved June 10, 2018.

[27] "FIFA Century Club" (PDF). FIFA. February 9, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 23, 2014.

[28] Some scorelines in the goal log above are courtesy of RSSSF: Garin, Erik. "RSSSF Archive - International Country Results - Women Tournaments". RSSSF. Retrieved October 30, 2023., others via Canada Soccer archive e.g.: "Canada Soccer". Archived from the original on August 19, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2023.

[29] Sources disagree on whether Akers scored vs Hungary on 3 April 1991 or whether Wendy Gebauer got 2 that day. Compare "USWNT Results: 1990-1994". Society for American Soccer History. Retrieved October 30, 2023. (credits Gebauer), vs RSSSF: Litterer, Dave. "USA - Women - International Results". RSSSF. Retrieved October 30, 2023. (credits Akers-Stahl)

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