In Memories of Glenn "Mooch" Myernick

[donsaeid]

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.

[donsaeid]

The entire U.S. Soccer family is mourning the loss of U.S. Men’s National Team assistant coach Glenn “Mooch” Myernick, who passed away on Monday morning after failing to regain consciousness following a heart attack he suffered on Thursday (Oct. 5).

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.

The loss of Myernick, an assistant coach for the USA at the last two FIFA World Cups, is the loss of an American soccer pioneer who represented the U.S. at every level as a player and a coach across a lifetime of soccer success.

“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.”

In addition to being an integral part of the USA's quarterfinal run at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, it was Myernick who coached the USA in their championship victory at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup after head coach Bruce Arena was suspended for the final.

Myernick had a standout collegiate career at Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., winning the Hermann Trophy as the sport's outstanding player in 1976. He also starred in the NASL with numerous teams, earning MVP honors for the Portland Timbers in 1982.

Myernick played more games for the U.S. National Team than any other U.S. National Team coach, serving as team captain in 1978 and compiling 10 caps. He also started four games for the U.S. Olympic Team in qualifying for the 1976 Games.

“We lost a great person today,” said former U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bruce 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.”

He began his international coaching career as an assistant for the U.S. Under-20 National Team in 1993 at the FIFA World Youth Championship in Australia, and then coached the U-17s at the FIFA U-17 World Championship in Ecuador.

After serving as an assistant coach for Arena at the 1996 Olympic Games, Myernick took the reins of the Colorado Rapids in Major League Soccer for four seasons from 1997 to 2000. He would eventually compile a 63-61-4 record and guided the team to the 1997 MLS Cup during his first season at the helm.

Myernick took over as the head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men's National Team in 2002, guiding the team’s efforts to qualify for the 2004 Olympics.

Per a request from the Myernick family, in lieu of flowers fans can make a donation to one of two charitable funds set up in his honor. Donors should make checks payable to either the Mooch Myernick Fund in care of the U.S. Soccer Foundation, or to the Colorado Rapids Community Care Foundation, referencing the Mooch Myernick Memorial Fund.

U.S. Soccer Foundation
Attn: Mooch Myernick Fund
1050 17th St., NW, Suite 210
Washington, DC 20036

Colorado Rapids Community Relations Dept.
Attn: Mooch Myernick Memorial
1000 Chopper Circle
Denver, CO 80204

[donsaeid]

Glenn Myernick
DOB : 12/29/1954 Team : U.S. Men

Assistant Coach: U.S. Men’s National Team
Born: December 29, 1954

Glenn Myernick had a soccer background that few U.S.-born coaches could rival. He was one of two U.S. coaches to play on and then later coach both the U.S. Men’s National Team and the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team.

In 2002, Myernick worked as one of Arena’s top assistants and helped guide the U.S. Men’s National Team to the quarterfinals of the FIFA World Cup. He worked in a similar capacity at the 2006 World Cup.

In 2002 he also took over the reigns as head coach of the U.S. Under-23 Men’s National Team. With the U-23s, Myernick compiled a strong 5-1-3 record in 2003 and the team looked prime for a successful Olympic qualifying campaign in 2004. At the qualifying tournament in Mexico, the U-23s swept through their group with a perfect 3-0 record only to be rewarded by a single-elimination tournament semifinal match against the host Mexicans after the Mexicans had failed to win their own group. With the Olympics on the line and playing in front of a hostile Estadio Jalisco crowd in Guadalajara, the USA lost 4-0.

Myernick has also applied his trade in Major League Soccer, where he coached the Colorado Rapids for four seasons from 1997-2000. In his first season with the Rapids, the team went on a surprising run to the MLS title game, where they fell to Bruce Arena and D.C. United. Myernick guided the Rapids to the playoffs in each of his four years with the team.

He got his first taste of international coaching as an assistant with the 1993 Under-20 Men’s National Team that finished eighth at the 1993 World Youth Championship in Australia, he then coached the U.S. Under-17s at the FIFA Under-17 World Championships in Ecuador in 1995. In 1996, Myernick was named Arena’s assistant for the U.S. Olympic Team in Atlanta.

Myernick played more games for the U.S. National Team than any other U.S. National Team coach, serving as team captain in 1978 and compiling 10 caps. He also started four games for the U.S. Olympic Team in qualifying for the 1976 Games.

Myernick played eight seasons in the NASL, spending time with Dallas (1977-1979), Portland (1980-1982) and Tampa Bay (1983-1984). He played in 163 games, recording two goals and 23 assists during the regular season. The Timber fans voted him the team MVP following the 1982 season, when he played in 31 games and tallied five assists.

Before turning pro, Myernick played for Hartwick College in Oneonta, N.Y., where the defender was named a collegiate All-American and led Hartwick to the NCAA Final Four. He would eventually captain the team to the NCAA Final Four while capturing the 1976 Hermann Trophy as college soccer’s outstanding player.

Myernick was affectionately known as “Mooch,” a nickname given to him by his sister for his antics that reminded her of the Walt Disney character “Moochie” of Mickey Mouse Club fame. He is survived by his wife, Nancy, their son, Travis, and daughter, Kelly.

[donsaeid]

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."

[donsaeid]

[donsaeid]

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