Juergen Peterson Sommer (born February 27, 1969 in New York) is a former American soccer goalkeeper, who became the first American goalkeeper to play in the FA Premier League, when he suited up for Queens Park Rangers in 1995. He has served as the US Men's National team goalkeeping coach, and is of German descent.
[edit] Career
Sommer began his career as a walk-on at Indiana University, where he quickly became the starting goalkeeper in 1987. After being named Collegiate Goalkeeper of the Year in 1990, Sommer left Indiana to sign with Luton Town of the First Division in 1991. Sommer played for the next seven years in England for Queens Park Rangers, Luton Town and Torquay. In 1998 he made the jump back home to sign with the Columbus Crew of Major League Soccer, as a replacement for Brad Friedel, who had signed for Liverpool the previous year. Sommer became the Crew starter over the next two seasons, and after a pair of major knee injuries, he signed with the New England Revolution. In 2000, he played one game with the Connecticut Wolves in the USISL A-League.[1] After another injury forced Sommer to the sidelines, and the emergence of Adin Brown as the Revolution's starting goalkeeper, he retired after the 2002 MLS Cup. He represented English side Bolton Wanderers for just one FA Cup game against Blackburn Rovers in February 2001. Sommer answered an S.O.S. by Wanderers manager Sam Allardyce who saw his other goalkeepers either injured or ineligible but was himself injured during the match.
[edit] International
Throughout his career, Sommer earned ten caps for the US National Team, and was a member of the US team which competed at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups. Although many believe him to be a solid goalkeeper in his prime, the play of Brad Friedel, Kasey Keller, and Tony Meola greatly reduced his chances of seeing an extended run in the national team.
[edit] References
