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Defender

Mike Lapper

6' 0"

Biography of retired USMNT soccer player Mike Lapper who was part of the 1994 World Cup squad and now coaches college soccer.
Caps: 43 | Goals: 1

Playing in 44 games for the USMNT, Mike Lapper scored one goal and was a member of the 1994 World Cup team. Before joining the Crew in 1997, Lapper played professionally for Southend in the English first division (1995-97) and with VfL Wolfsburg of the German second division (1994-95).

After retiring as a player with the Columbus Crew, he joined the club’s front office as the Director of Soccer Business Development, which focuses on the growth of the Crew’s camps, clinics and soccer academies. He later served as an assistant coach before leaving to join the coaching staff at West Virginia University. He later joined the New England Revolution’s coaching staff, serving as interim coach in May 2019.

Photo by J Brett Whitesell – ISIPhotos.com

USMNT Experience

1995

Helped the U.S. win U.S. Cup '95 and advance to semi-finals of 1995 Copa America.

1994

Was a member of the 1994 World Cup team, which advanced to the Round of 16.

1994

Scored his only goal with the national team on Apr. 20 against Moldova in a 3-0 USA win.

1993

Led the U.S. defense in minutes played with 2,205 and was second on the team in starts with 25.

1992

Started for the U.S. Olympic team and played every minute of the summer games in Barcelona.

1991

Debuted on the USMNT on Apr. 7 against South Korea.

Professional Experience

2002

Retired from Columbus on July 11.

2001

Saw action in 24 matches, starting 21 of them.

2001

Scored a goal and assisted on the game-winner against Dallas on June 23 in a 2-1 win, tying his career-high for points in a game.

2000

Appeared in 24 games, starting 20.

2000

Served as a team co-captain.

1999

Played in 31 games, starting 30 of them, logging 2,700 minutes second highest on the team.

1999

Tallied a career high six points with a goal and four assists.

1998

Started seven matches before tearing his left ACL May 9 against Miami causing him to miss the rest of the season.

1997

Played in 20 games, all starts.

1997

Scored his first MLS goal on Aug. 4 against Los Angeles.

1997

Made his MLS debut on June 7 against Tampa Bay.

1997

Allocated to Columbus in June.

1994

Scored a goal with his first shot for VfL Wolfsburg in a 3-0 win over Fortuna Koln on Sept. 25.

Youth and College

Spent four seasons at UCLA from 1988-1991. Lapper was a first-team All-America pick in 1991 and a two-time first-team All-Far West pick (1989 and 1991). He helped the Bruins win the 1990 National Championship.

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