Captain for life: the former D.C. star has waved goodbye to his playing career, but he is still a central figure in American soccer - Interview: John Harkes - Interview

Soccer Digest, August-Sept, 2003 by Ashley Jude Collie

HOW IS THIS FOR A SOCCER LIFE: kick off your World Cup career playing in Italia '90 by giving the hosts the fight of their lives, more to the EPL and, in your first season in England, defeat Manchester United at the fabled Wembley Stadium to hoist the League Cup. Over the next six years, you get to play ffive more times at Wembley, become the first American to score at that stadium, and play in a second World Cup, knocking off favorites Colombia and advancing to the second round. You then cap a glorious English career by returning to help launch MLS and lead D.C. United to the Cup in your first two years. As your career winds down, you win the U.S. Open Cup with the Columbus Crew.

John Harkes, now 36 and still looking as if he could play a few more years, had one of the most illustrious and storied careers in American soccer. As a leader of the pioneering generation of Americans who stormed the world stage throughout the 1990s, Harkes blazed a path for the Landon Donovans, DaMarcus Beasleys, and Tim Howards to follow. Now that he is retired from the playing field, "Harkesy" is using his common sense, work ethic, and experience on the world stage to help U.S. Soccer continue its growth. Who knows, maybe we'll see him run for USSF president some day?

After retiring early in the year, Harkes smoothly moved into the broadcast booth, working as co-anchor of Fox Sports World's weekly "MLS Wrap." We caught up with Harkes to take a trip down memory lane, examine the state of the game today, and look to the future of American soccer.

SOCCER DIGEST: Congratulations on a fabulous career.

JOHN HARKES: Thanks, I appreciate that.

SD: Why did you decide to retire?

JH: I was going to retire with the Columbus Crew, but instead I went back to D.C. United. I trained with them, but they couldn't make salary cap room for me. I looked at my career, felt very happy with what I'd achieved, talked it over with my wife Cindi--I wanted to spend more time with my family--and it happened.

I was still enjoying the game--I always have. If someone came to me with an offer, I would consider coming out of retirement. But at that particular time, it made sense for me to walk away. It felt right. I've had a lot of success, so I really felt fulfilled as a player, and that made it easier for me to step away. And getting involved with Fox Sports World was a great opportunity.

SD: How did the "MLS Wrap" situation arise?

JH: Basically, it just fell into my lap. I had worked with Michael Cohen, the executive producer, doing some announcing and color for the 1999 MLS Cup final and the 2002 World Cup. They liked what I did and told me to let them know when I wanted to retire because they had opportunities for me.

SD: Would you like to get involved in the game more directly, either in coaching or on some other level?

JH: Sure, I'm not closing any doors. I would definitely entertain any coaching options, whether they are with MLS or overseas in a reserve team role. Plus, there are always the U.S. national team programs, I've been on the USSF board for the past four years, so that's something that might make sense as well. I enjoy that. It's an eye-opening experience, seeing what goes on behind the scenes, away from the field. The athletes themselves have more power with regards to the voting and changing file bylaws and things like that. Any change would have to be the right situation for my family.

SD: How much soccer do you watch?

JH: [Laughs] Way too much. I was able to watch the Champions League--I had to tape the final for my son. It's been great to have the time to see more European games, along with all of the MLS ones.

In the Fox Sports studio, we have numerous games on simultaneously. [Laughs] It's challenging. I do the show and I do halftime commentary for one game a week, so I'm working hard.

SD: Growing up in New Jersey, you were surrounded by soccer, so that hasn't ever changed.

JH: Right, my father played in Scotland. My childhood environment was pure soccer. That small town of Kearny, NJ., was full of Scottish, Irish, and English immigrants at first, and then Italians and Portuguese mixed in. It was just fantastic with, like, 35 kids playing every day. We'd play anywhere, on basketball courts, other towns. My brother is three years older than me, so I was always able to play against him and his friends. Playing with them elevated our playing level--Tab Ramos and Tony Meola are also from Kearney--and propelled us onto the national scene.

SD: Did you dream about playing pro soccer or playing in Wembley?

JH: Yeah, I did actually. I dreamed of playing for the New York Cosmos in the NASL. I was a ballboy for them. Tab and I played on the same club team, Thistle in Kearny. He was a year older than me and we were going to be drafted by the Cosmos. That was our dream. When the NASL folded, that dream fell through, and I went on to continue my education and play at Virginia.

From that day on, my goal was to play in Europe--maybe even at Wembley. And it all came true.