The Werner Fricker Memorial was unveiled on Mooch Myernick Field on Sunday, June 15th.
In recognition of Werner’s guidance, perseverance and dedication in establishing the sport of soccer in the United States, former president of the US Soccer Federation, Werner Fricker was honored during a ceremony before the US Men’s National Team’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Barbados.
A memorial located at the northeast corner of Mooch Myernick Field at the Home Depot Center was unveiled during the ceremony an hour before the match at 1 PM. US Soccer president, Sunil Gulati, unveiled the bronze bust and presented a commemorative plaque to Werner Fricker’s children, Werner Fricker, Jr., Marlene Fricker and Janet Fricker Malofiy. The Fricker family was also presented at halftime of the US Men’s qualifying match against Barbados. Werner Fricker, who passed away in 2001, served as President of the US Soccer Federation from 1984 to 1990, during which time he led the successful bid to obtain the 1994 World Cup for the United States. Werner also served as Executive Vice President ten years prior to being elected president. He was an Honorary President of the United German Hungarians and served as Chairman of their Board of Governors at the time of his death. Fricker was born in Banat, Yugoslavia in 1936, and raised in Austria, but immigrated to the United States with his family in 1952. He lived his adult life in Pennsylvania, where he was a star midfielder and captain for the United German Hungarians of Philadelphia Soccer Club from 1954 to 1969, leading the team to the National Amateur Cup in 1965. He was a member of the 1964 US Olympic Team. Fricker served on the executive committee of CONCACAF and was chairman of the CONCACAF Finance Committee. He was inducted into the National Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY in 1992. He was also inducted into the Phila. Old Timers Soccer Hall of Fame, United States Adult Soccer Association Hall of Fame, and the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Assoc. Football Hall of Fame. (CONCACAF).
