Tony DiCicco, the coach who guided the U.S. women's national team to World Cup triumph in 1999, has died at the age of 68. U.S. Soccer announced that he had passed away in a press release.
"Today we mourn the loss of one of the most influential coaches in U.S. Soccer history," said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. "Tony's passion for the game as a coach, administrator and broadcaster was always evident and his relationships with everyone in the soccer community distinguished him as a compassionate and much-loved man. U.S. Soccer will forever be thankful to Tony for his vast contributions to the game and we extend thoughts and condolences to his family and to the many people who were positively impacted by him during what was a remarkable life."
DiCicco coached the U.S. squad from 1994-1999, losing just eight of the 119 matches in his tenure. DiCicco was a National Soccer Hall of Fame member, coach of the 1996 gold medal team and also finished his career as the USWNT's most successful coach.
A statement from the DiCicco Family. pic.twitter.com/kBLKhdrWdH
— Anthony DiCicco (@DiCiccoMethod) June 20, 2017
A Connecticut native, DiCicco first became the goalkeeper coach of the USWNT in 1991, making his way up to the senior squad as coach. He also guided the U-20 women's team to victory at the 2008 U-20 World Cup in Chile.
But without a doubt, his biggest accomplishment as a coach was winning 1999 tourney. As hosts, the Americans went undefeated, marching all the way to the title, where DiCicco's squad edged China in penalty kicks in the Rose Bowl. Brandi Chastain converted the winning PK to seal the first World Cup trophy in American soccer history.
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