Tony DiCicco, who led USA to victory at the 1999 Women’s World Cup and the 1996 Olympic Games has died at the age of 68.
“Today we mourn the loss of one of the most influential coaches in US Soccer history,” said the US 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. US 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 was goalkeeping coach for the first US team to win a World Cup, the women’s champions of 1991. He took over as head coach in 1994 and led the team to 103 victories and just eight defeats before stepping down after the 1999 World Cup. He still holds the record for most wins by a US women’s coach. Away from his coaching career, he was a lively presence in the broadcasting booth and helped describe the US’s victory at the 2015 Women’s World Cup.
@DiCiccoMethod Great coach, amazing man! We were so fortunate to have him be our teacher/leader. His lessons and love will never leave us.
— Mia Hamm (@MiaHamm) June 20, 2017
Tributes were paid by former US internationals on Twitter. “Great coach, amazing man! We were so fortunate to have him be our teacher/leader. His lessons and love will never leave us,” wrote Mia Hamm, who won the World Cup and an Olympic gold medal with DiCicco. Julie Foudy, who captained the US during DiCicco’s time in charge, said: “Tony was one of the finest to grace this planet.”
DiCicco had a fine playing career before stepping up to coaching. He played once for the US national team, as well as a five-year spell in the American Soccer League with the Connecticut Wildcats and Rhode Island Oceaneers.
