WESTWOOD, Mass. (Sept. 21, 2007) – The Boston Breakers women’s professional soccer team started bolstering its competitive edge today with the addition of the world’s most accomplished women’s soccer coach.
Long-time Women’s National Team Head Coach Tony DiCicco will assume the head coaching role when the Breakers begin play in April of 2009 as part of the newly launched women’s professional soccer league. DiCicco is currently providing expert color commentary on ESPN for the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup in China. He will join the Breakers at the conclusion of the World Cup to begin scouting players and building the team’s soccer operations department.
DiCicco is perhaps best remembered for his role as head coach of the 1999 Women’s World Cup squad that changed the face of women’s athletics when it won the championship over China at the Rose Bowl in front of 90,185 fans and a worldwide television audience. Throughout his six-year tenure as head coach with the U.S. women, he accumulated an unprecedented record of 103-8-8, making him the all-time wins leader in U.S. National Team soccer history.
“This is a phenomenal announcement for our organization and for the Boston fans,” said Boston Breakers President and General Manager Joe Cummings. “To have a coach with Tony’s resume leading the team as we enter our inaugural year of play is a huge coup. He’s the best of the best, a polished professional, and he has local roots here in New England. We’re looking forward to having him join us after the World Cup to begin building our club.”
DiCicco’s resume includes an extensive and extraordinary list of accomplishments. In 1996, he led the U.S. Women’s National team to the first-ever gold medal in Olympic women's soccer – a team which was recently inducted into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame. He also guided the U.S. team to a third-place finish at the second FIFA Women's World Cup in Sweden in 1995, and championships at U.S. Women's Cups in 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998. DiCicco and the USA Women’s National Team also won the Goodwill Games Gold Medal in 1998.
DiCicco played a key leadership role within the Women’s United Soccer Association, the inaugural women’s professional league which played from 2001-2003. He served as Chief Operating Officer in 2001, and Commissioner in 2002 and 2003. Most recently, he has focused his energy on developing the youth athlete through his national network of soccer schools, SoccerPlus Camps; his youth soccer club (FSASoccerPlus FC); and the SoccerPlus Education Center, which provides life skills seminars for young athletes.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Breakers and returning to coaching,” said DiCicco. “I’ve had the privilege to coach at the highest levels and to travel the world in competition, but this is a particularly exciting challenge. The opportunity to help establish a permanent women’s professional soccer league in the United States is very important to me. And the opportunity to do it with the Breakers in New England is especially delightful.”
A native of Wethersfield, Connecticut, DiCicco graduated from Springfield College in 1970, where he captained the soccer team and earned All-American honors his senior year. He went on to play professionally in the America Soccer League and with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
The Boston Breakers will begin play in April of 2009 as part of the new, seven-team women’s professional soccer league. The league – under the temporary working title of Women’s Soccer LLC – has been formally established in the United States by seven investor groups. Initial teams will be based in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Jersey/New York, St. Louis, and Washington D.C. The seven ownership groups are comprised of the following: AEG L.A. Women’s Soccer, LLC; Boston Women’s Soccer, LLC; Chicago Professional Women’s Soccer, LLC; Hendricks Investment Holdings, LLC (Washington D.C.); St. Louis United Soccer, LLC; Sky Blue Women’s Soccer, Inc. (New Jersey/New York); and Sting Soccer Group LP (Dallas).
The league will implement a comprehensive 18-month marketing and branding campaign while continuing their relationships with the United Soccer Leagues W-League and Women’s Premier Soccer League (WPSL) prior to the 2009 launch date. The league has also entered into an agreement with Soccer United Marketing (SUM), the commercial affiliate of Major League Soccer, to serve as the league’s exclusive representative for the sale of national corporate sponsorship and consumer product licenses.
For more information on the Boston Breakers or season ticket information, visit www.bostonbreakers.com or call 1-877-HEY-BREAKERS (1-877-439-2732).
