American soccer player and author of '
Captain For Life (and Other Temporary Assignments)'.
John Harkes was the first true
US soccer superstar. Shining in the
US team in the 1990 World Cup, he transferred to
Sheffield Wednesday the following season, and played a key part in their
League Cup win over
Manchester United in 1991, scoring the
Goal Of The Season en route (a 30-yard
piledriver against
Derby County, beating the great
Peter Shilton, no less!).
John was part of the great
Wednesday midfield of 1990-93, under
Ron Atkinson and
Trevor Francis - a midfield consisting of
Chris Waddle,
John Sheridan,
Harkes himself and
Carlton Palmer. His
workrate and passion were unsurpassed, and his stature in his homeland increased to the point where he was named
captain for the 1994
World Cup, which the US hosted.
John left
Wednesday in 1993 to sign for
Derby County, a move that did not really come off for either the player or his new club, and it was no surprise when he was signed by
Washington DC United as one of the flagship players in the fledgling
MLS back in his home country. With Harkes at the helm,
DC United won two MLS titles and the
CONCACAF Federation cup. Meanwhile, the national team again qualified for
World Cup France '98, but
tactical arguments with the team manager saw John dropped from the squad and stripped of the captaincy, hence the title of his
autobiography.
John currently plays for
New England Revolution in the MLS.