In Memories of Glenn "Mooch" Myernick

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U.S. men's national team assistant coach Glenn ''Mooch'' Myernick passed away on Monday morning after failing to regain consciousness following a heart attack he suffered on Thursday.

Myernick, 51, died peacefully surrounded by his wife Nancy, daughter Kelly and son Travis, at the North Suburban Medical Center in Thornton, Colo. The family wishes to express their extreme gratitude for the outpouring of support they've received over the past few days from people around the country. Funeral arrangements will be private, and a celebration of the life of Glenn Myernick will be planned in the near future.

''Glenn Myernick was a player and coach deeply passionate about soccer and life,'' said U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati. ''Whether it was family, friends or soccer, 'Mooch' was the kind of person that embraced everything in life, loving every minute of it. He will truly be missed by all of us in the U.S. Soccer family, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Nancy and his children at this difficult time.''

Myernick was Bruce Arena's assistant coach at the last two World Cups. He's served as a U.S. Soccer coach twice (1992-97 and 2001-present). He coached the U.S. U-17s at the 1995 Under-17 World Championship and the U.S. U-23s in CONCACAF qualifying for the 2004 Olympics.

''We lost a great person today,'' said Arena. ''He was an unbelievable husband and father, and the finest soccer person I've ever come across in the United States. He was an amazing resource for soccer in this country. He will be sorely missed. My heart and thoughts are with his wife Nancy and children, Kelly and Travis, and the rest of his family.''

Myernick starred as a defender at Mercer County Community College and Hartwick, winning the Hermann Trophy in 1976. He played eight years in the NASL with Dallas, Portland and Tampa Bay and earned 10 caps for the USA. He then went into coaching, first working as a college assistant at Tampa and Hartwick. Besides his work with the U.S. national team program, Myernick coached the Colorado Rapids for four seasons (1997-2000), leading them to the MLS Cup 1997 final in his first year as coach.

Fans wishing to send their thoughts and well wishes to the Myernick family should address such items to: Colorado Rapids Community Relations Dept., attn: Mooch Myernick, 1000 Chopper Circle, Denver, CO 80204.

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Mooch' was one of the best



American soccer is again reeling from the death of one of its most prominent figures.

Last March it was Doug Hamilton, the revered Galaxy general manager who at 43 suffered a heart attack on a flight home from Costa Rica.

Today it's Glenn "Mooch" Myernick, 51, who died Monday, four days after a massive heart attack felled him while on an afternoon jog with a neighbor in Thornton, Colo. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, and two children.

Myernick was one of American soccer's enduring figures, a top player and coach whose pioneering career was pivotal in soccer's rise from utter obscurity to something that's truly starting to matter.

"He was a special person," said former U.S. national team coach Bruce Arena, whom Myernick assisted with the 1996 Olympic men's team and at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups,on Monday afternoon. "He brought a very interesting perspective to the national team program. ... He was one of the original pioneers of the national team, and he took so much pride in the advances we made."

Testaments poured in from around the soccer world:

"Whether it was family, friends or soccer," said U.S. Soccer president Sunil Gulati, "Mooch was the kind of person that embraced everything in life, loving every minute."

"His passion, spirit and sincerity will never be forgotten," MLS Commissioner Don Garber said. "Mooch will be dearly missed."

Myernick was a star defender, winner of the 1976 Hermann Trophy as college soccer's top player while at then-powerhouse Hartwick, an eight-year North American Soccer League veteran (with the Dallas Tornadoes, Tampa Bay Rowdies and Portland Timbers), and a key figure on the U.S. national teams of the late 1970s, making 10 international appearances and captaining the squad in 1978.

He was a U.S. Soccer staff coach from 1992 to '97, assisting the U-20 team at the 1993 World Youth Championship, guiding the U-17s at the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship and working with Arena before and during the Atlanta Olympics. He guided Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids for four seasons, then rejoined Arena as top assistant and head coach of the U-23 team for the 2004 Olympic qualifiers.

Through it all, he was an inspirational man, funny and gregarious, energetic and thorough, one of the best in a sport that, at least on this continent, is rife with good guys.

"First and foremost, Mooch was a good man," said Chivas USA coach Bob Bradley, who worked with Arena and Myernick with the '96 Olympians. "I always came away with respect and, really, admiration for his character, for the fact that as much as he always worked hard, there was always time to laugh. ... I have so much respect and admiration for the man he was. That's plain and simple."

Arena, Bradley and Myernick lived together in an apartment near the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista before the '96 Olympics. "It was below ground," Bradley said, "and we called it `the cave."' Myernick's endearing approach to life rubbed off on both of his roommates.

"What I remember is not only his competitiveness, his thoroughness with regard to soccer, but the little things beyond that," Bradley said. "I always admired that Glenn still had an appreciation for the little, finer things I think sometimes I don't do a very good job with. ... He's always been a guy who works very hard, is the ultimate competitor, but he made sure there was time to laugh and enjoy the little things."

Myernick was involved with nearly everyone in American soccer over the past 30 years; his experience was unparalleled, his abilities venerated.

"Without question," Bradley said, "his contributions to the game in this country the last 30years have been really up there with anybody's, but I think anyone who knew him goes back to the point where he just in all ways was such a good man.

"A good soccer man. A good family man. Just a good man."

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به دليل حمله قلبي

مربي تيم ملي فوتبال آمريكا درگذشت


گلن مرنيك، مربي تيم ملي فوتبال آمريكا در اثر حمله قلبي در گذشت.



به نقل از كيكر، اين مربي 51 ساله كه سه روز قبل براي حمله قلبي و انجام سكته تحت عمل جراحي قرار گرفت، به همين خاطر درگذشت.
وي روز پنجشنبه گذشته دچار اولين حمله قلبي شد كه بلافاصله در بيمارستان بستري شد.
بروس آرنا، سرمربي سابق تيم ملي آمريكا گفت: نه فقط يك مربي درجه يك را از دست داديم؛ بلكه يك انسان شريف و واقعي را ازدست داديم. او يك دوست خوب، پدري فداكار و شخصيتي تمام عيار در فوتبال بود. او در فوتبال آمريكا خيلي زحمت كشيد و باعث تحرك بسيار شد.
مرنيك در جام جهاني 2002 و 2006 دستيار بروس آرنا در تيم ملي آمريكا بود