Werner Fricker (January 24, 1936 – May 30, 2001) was a German-American

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

halfback who later became president of the

United States Soccer Federation The United States Soccer Federation (USSF), commonly referred to as U.S. Soccer, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and the official governing body of soccer in the United States. It is a full member of FIFA and governs American soccer ...

. He is a member of both the

National Soccer Hall of Fame The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a public-private partnership among FC Dallas, the City of Frisco, Frisco Independent School District, and the U.S. Soccer Federation, and currently located in Toyota Stadium (Texas), Toyota Stadium in Frisco, T ...

and the

USASA The United States Adult Soccer Association (USASA) is a national organization for amateur soccer in the United States. It consists of 54 state associations in four regions, as well as national, regional, and state leagues. It compares to the Uni ...

Hall of Fame.

Player

Fricker was born to a German-speaking family in Southern Banat, Yugoslavia but his family were forced to abandon their home during the national upheaval at the end of World War II. His family arrived in the United States in 1952 and settled in the

Philadelphia Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...

area where Fricker started to play soccer for the German Hungarians in 1954. He had been selected for the United Soccer League all-star team for several seasons and was a member of the 1964

U.S. Olympic team The United States of America has sent athletes to every celebration of the modern Olympic Games with the exception of the 1980 Summer Olympics, during which it led a boycott in protest of the Soviet Union's invasion of Afghanistan. The United ...

. He spent most of his career with the United German-Hungarians of Philadelphia. He was the captain of the German Hungarians, as well as the president of the GH, and of the United Soccer league. While playing for the GH Fricker's team won the championship of the USLofPA 6 times in a row
GH Majors 1961–1966
, as well as in 1968, and 1969. Fricker was captain and league delegate of the team. In 1964 the GH made it to the final of the Amateur Cup and lost to Chicago Schwaben, in Chicago. In 1965, Fricker and his teammates won the

National Amateur Cup The National Amateur Cup, also known as the USASA Amateur Cup, is an American knockout soccer competition open to all amateur teams affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation through United States Adult Soccer Association The Unite ...

Philadelphia United German-Hungarians

Fricker began playing for the GH in 1954, and played continuously until 1969. He started playing in the reserves but was transferred to the Major Team a few seasons later. Fricker was named captain of the Major Team in 1958 and held this position until 1968. While playing for the GH Fricker's team won the Championship of the USLofPA 6 times in a row
GH Majors 1961–1966
, as well as in 1968, and 1969. In 1964 the GH made it to the final of the Amateur Cup and lost to Chicago Schwaben, in Chicago. In 1965, Fricker and his teammates won the

.More information about the 1965 Final can be found here GH 1965 Championship. The German Hungarians were Eastern Champions three times during Fricker's time with them (1964, 1965, 1966), U.S. National Amateur Finalists twice (1964, 1966), as well as Eastern Pennsylvania Champions for eight seasons. Fricker coached for the GH, coaching the U-14 Team, the Reserve Team, as well as the Major Team. Fricker was the secretary of the GH from 1962 to 1966. He was the president of the club from 1968 to 1976. Fricker held almost every position within the GH organization. He was part of the dance group, served as the entertainment chairman, was on the Constitution committee, served on the building committee, was the Kirchweih chairman, and was the chairman of the board. ''"There has been no one in almost fifty years club history who has had more impact, who has contributed more in all aspects, and has dedicated his efforts both financially and through leadership for our well being as a club than Werner Fricker"'' – Werner Fricker Jr., Past President German Hungarians

United States men's national soccer team

In 1963 Fricker was selected as an alternate for the U.S. Olympic Team that would play in the Pan American Games. He continued to be in the U.S. player pool until 1967. In 1963 Fricker was the first Philadelphian to represent Olympic soccer since 1956, and was believed to be the 4th ever, behind Jack Dunn,

Walter Bahr Walter Alfred Bahr (April 1, 1927 – June 18, 2018) was an American professional soccer player, considered one of the greatest ever in the United States. He was the long-time captain of the United States men's national soccer team, U.S. men's ...

, and Ray Wilson.

United Soccer League of Pennsylvania

In 1959 United Soccer League of Pennsylvania was formed with the German Hungarians as a founding member. German Hungarian Frank Follmer became the first president of the new league. Over their years of involvement in the USLofPA many members of the German Hungarians have been involved in the running of the league. As a player, Fricker had been selected for the United Soccer League all-star team numerous times. He played for the all-star team from 1958 to 1968, and served as captain from 1963 to 1968. Fricker also coached the league's U-16 Select Team.

Executive

Fricker was president of the

from 1984 to 1990, executive vice president from 1975 to 1984, and vice president from 1974 to 1975. It was during Fricker's tenure as president of U.S. Soccer that the United States was awarded the right to host the 1994 World Cup, an event that significantly advanced the popularity of soccer in the United States. He also was instrumental in contributing to the qualification of the national team to the

1990 FIFA World Cup The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, a quadrennial Association football, football tournament for men's senior national teams. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event for a second ...

after a 40-year absence and hired the team's first full-time coach (

Bob Gansler Bob Gansler (born July 1, 1941) is a Hungarian-born American soccer player and coach of German descent. He coached the U.S. National Team at the 1990 World Cup, the team's first appearance at the tournament since 1950. Playing career As a pl ...

). Fricker was defeated for re-election by Alan Rothenberg in 1990. During his time serving in the U.S. administrative structure, Fricker also sat on the

CONCACAF The Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football, abbreviated as CONCACAF ( ; typeset for branding purposes since 2018 as Concacaf), is one of FIFA's six continental governing bodies for association football. Its 4 ...

executive committee. Werner Fricker was a founder of the USLofPA. He served as president of the USLofPA from 1970 to 1972, and secretary from 1967 to 1970.

Soccer experience

* Playing: ::* United States Olympic Team – 1964 ::* United Soccer League of Pennsylvania :::::All Star Team 1958–1968 :::::Captain 1963–1968 ::*

Philadelphia United German-Hungarians United German-Hungarians is an American social club, founded in 1910, as the Banater Männerchor. Although the club has been home to various auxiliary groups, the primary activities of the club remain soccer and cultural dancing. The first team ...

1954–1969 :::::Captain 1958–1969 :::::U.S.

Champions – 1965 :::::U.S. National Amateur Cup Finalists – 1964 & 1966 :::::Eastern Champions – 1964 & 1966 ::* United Soccer League Champions – Eight Seasons ::* Eastern Pennsylvania Champions – Eight Seasons * Coaching: ::* United Soccer League of Pennsylvania :::::U-16 Select Team ::*

:::::U-14 Team :::::Reserve Team :::::Major Team * Administration: ::*

:::::Executive Vice President 1975–1984 :::::Vice President 1974–1975 :::::President 1984–1990 ::*

USSF USSF may refer to: * United States Servicemen's Fund, a support organization for soldier and sailor resistance to the Vietnam War and the U.S. military * United States Soccer Federation, governing body of soccer in the United States * United States ...

Committee Chairman :::::1986 World Cup Organizing Committee :::::International Games Committee :::::Technical Committee :::::Restructuring Committee :::::Marketing Committee :::::Geographical Delineating Committee ::* Eastern Pennsylvania Soccer Association :::::President 1972–1974 ::* United Soccer League of Pennsylvania :::::President 1970–1972 :::::Secretary 1967–1970 ::*

:::::President 1968–1976 :::::Secretary 1962–1966

References

External links

USASA Hall of Fame bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fricker, Werner 1936 births 2001 deaths People from Alibunar Footballers from South Banat District Yugoslav emigrants to the United States American men's soccer players National Soccer Hall of Fame members Presidents of the United States Soccer Federation Men's association football midfielders Banat Swabians Soccer players from Philadelphia 20th-century American sportsmen