David Vanole – USMNT

Considered by many of his generation to be the spirit of the USMNT that qualified for the 1990 World Cup, David Vanole was also part of the 1988 Olympic squad and a collegiate champion with UCLA. He was an assistant coach with UCLA, the US Women’s National Team, the Men’s Under-20 team, DC United, the Washington Freedom, and the New England Revolution. Vanole died on January 15, 2007 after suffering a heart attack. He was 43 years old.

As part of their 2010 World Cup coverage, ESPN profiled Vanole in the Tom Friend story The esophagus that saved US Soccer.

USMNT Highlights

1990: Named as backup goalkeeper for the ’90 World Cup in Italy.
1989: In goal against Costa Rica and made a stoppage time penalty save in a 2-2 draw.
1988: Part of a pool of goalkeepers seeing time.
1987: The regular starter for the US.
1986: Made his debut against Canada on Feb 5th.

Professional Highlights

1991: Joined the San Francisco Blackhawks and was part of the APSL championship winning squad that beat the Albany Capitals.
1990: Now part of the American Professional Soccer League with the Heat, they finished second in their Conference and lost in the WSL final to the San Francisco Blackhawks in a three-game series.
1989: With the Heat part of the Western Soccer League, they finished 2nd in the South Conference and made the playoffs.
1988: Member of a Heat team that finished 4th.
1987: Member of a Heat team that finished 5th.
1986: Joined the LA Heat in the Western Soccer Alliance. The team finished 4th that year.

Youth and College: Won the NCAA championship with UCLA in his junior year. Won conference goalkeeper of the year all four years at Aviation High School in Redondo Beach, CA.