Tab Ramos – USMNT

Rising from the soccer hotbed of Kearny, New Jersey, Tab Ramos is simply one of the best players to put on a National Team jersey. Unfortunately, injuries kept his skills off the field more than he or fans would have liked. He is remembered as much for the powerful goal against Costa Rica in 1998 World Cup Qualifying as he is for having his skull fractured against Brazil in the 1994 World Cup. Ramos was one of the first American players to establish himself in Europe and was the first player to sign with Major League Soccer.

Ramos was the first player in U.S. history (along with Eric Wynalda and Marcelo Balboa) to appear in three World Cups (1990, 1994 and 1998). He currently coaches the US Under-20 Men’s National Team. On March 30, 2014 USMNT coach Jurgen Klinsmann named Ramos an assistant coach for the World Cup. Ramos ended up becoming the Youth Technical Director for US Soccer, serving as U-20 coach. He took the Houston Dynamo coaching job in October, 2019.

USMNT Experience

2003: Honored with star at the U.S. Soccer Star Plaza at Home Depot Center.
2000: Retired from the U.S. National Team on November 17, 2000 with 87 caps and 8 goals.
1998: Scored as a substitute in 2-0 win over Kuwait on May 23.
1997: Scored a dramatic goal to defeat Costa Rica 1-0 in a key World Cup Qualifier on September 7.
1996: Started 12 games before suffering left ACL tear on November 24 .
1995: Scored a goal and two assists in 4-3 win over Saudi Arabia and participated in Copa America.
1994: Started all four games and assisted on Earnie Stewart’s game-winning goal against Colombia; suffered a concussion and a broken bone behind his left ear when Leonardo elbowed him in 1-0 loss to Brazil in round of 16.
1993: Had two assists in U.S. 2-0 victory over England at US Cup ’93 and played in Copa America.
1992: Scored a goal against Ireland in 3-1 win in Washington D.C.
1990: Named U.S. Soccer Federation Player of the Year.
1990: Started all three games for the U.S. in the 1990 World Cup.
1989: Scored first career goal vs. Costa Rica; set a career high in goals (2) and assists (3).
1988: Participated in Summer Olympics.
1988: Earned first national team cap against Guatemala on January 10.

Professional Experience

2002: 4th-place finish, missing the playoffs. Retired as a member of the Metrostars.
2001: 2nd in the Eastern Conference.
2000: Part of a Metrostars team that finished 1st in the East, exiting the playoffs in the semifinal round.
1999: Member of the All-Star team in a year where the Metrostars finished 6th.
1998: Named to the All-Star team and made the playoffs.
1997: Tough year for the MetroStars, missing the playoffs.
1996: Allocated to the MetroStars, winning All-Star honors for the third-place club.
1995: First player to sign an MLS contract and loaned to Tigres in Mexico where he made 35 appearances and scored twice.
1994-95: Unavailable due to his World Cup injury, Ramos missed Real Betis’s season in La Liga.
1993-94: Won promotion with Real Betis, playing 59 times over two seasons.
1992-93: Transferred to Real Betis in Segunda B
1991-92: US Soccer sold Ramos’s rights to Figueres for $250,000 and he played 34 games scoring four times.
1990-91: After signing with the USMNT who had players on contract, US Soccer loaned Ramos to Figueres in Spain’s second division (Segunda B). Ramos made 38 appearances scoring five goals.
1989: Briefly played with the Major Indoor Soccer League’s Miami Sharks.
1988: Played in eight games for the American Soccer League’s New Jersey Eagles.

Youth and college:  Played four seasons at North Carolina State for coach George Tarantini (1984-87), earning NCAA All-America honors his last three seasons… Four-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection. Was a two-time high school All-America at St. Benedict’s, leading team to New Jersey Parochial B State Championship in 1983…Named the 1983 Parade Magazine National High School Player of the Year… Holds the all-time record for career goals in New Jersey state high school history with 161… Named in December 1999 to the Newark Star-Ledger’s High School Team of the Century.