As the calendar turns to February, Philadelphia Union will provide daily facts to celebrate African Americans in the beautiful game as part of its Black History Month events. Fans are encouraged to check in daily as we recognize amazing athletes throughout soccer whether with the Boys in Blue, domestically or on the international stage in hopes of highlighting diversity in our sport and give kudos to the people who paved the way.
February 2 - Otey “Boom Boom” Cannon
Cannon is a former American striker and is the first black American player to play in the North American Soccer League. In college, he scored 42 goals for Chico State University (California State University), placing him second all-time. Hailing from San Francisco, CA, his professional career lasted 6 seasons from 1972-1978, with 78 appearances and 17 goals. To learn more about his career, please click here.
February 3 - Briana Scurry
Scurry was a vital part to the United States women’s national team success in the 1990s and 2000s. Her 173 appearances are second most for female goal keepers all-time while leading the USWNT the 1999 World Cup Championship and winning a Gold Medal in the 1996 Olympics. For her illustrious career, Scurry was the first female goalkeeper and first black woman inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2017. She most recently in 2018 was assistant coach for the Washington Spirit in the NWSL.
February 4 - Arthur Wharton
Wharton is widely known as the first professional black soccer player. Born in Ghana, Wharton moved to England when he was just 19. In the late 1800s, he held the fastest 100m time in the world and then transitioned into being a soccer player. He played goalkeeper and winger for Rotherham Town, Stockport County, and Sheffield United during his 17-year career.
February 4 - Peter Ndlovu
Peter Ndlovu was the first African (Zimbabwe) footballer to play in the English Premier League in 1992. During his time with Coventry City, he had 34 goals and 13 assists in 154 appearances. In the Premier League, EFL, and in his native country Africa, he made 504 appearances, with 104 goals. He currently coaches in the South African Premier Division.
February 7 - Sadio Mane
Mane was one again in the spotlight this past weekend, leading his native country of Senegal to their first ever AFCON tournament win. After missing a penalty in normal time, Sadio came back and scored the game winning PK as Senegal knocked off 4-2 in penalty kicks after a scoreless final. For his play, Mane was named the African Cup of Nation's Best Player of the tournament.
Along with an illustrious career on the pitch, Mane has made sure to give back off it including an estimated $350k donation to build a school is his hometown of Bambali. Last year, he gave almost $700k to the construction of a hospital. He has also donated 300 Liverpool jerseys to his village and also helped clean toilets and maintain his local mosque .
February 9 - Shavar Thomas & Danny Mwanga
Shavar Thomas was the first black player to be drafted by the Philadelphia Union in the 2009 Expansion Draft. He played with the club in the inaugural season and made 1 appearance.
Danny Mwanga was the first black player to play in a match for the Union, starting in the club’s first match ever against Seattle in 2010. Mwanga holds the distinction as the club's first-ever MLS SuperDraft pick, selected 1st overall in the 2010 MLS SuperDraft and was a finalist for the Rookie of the Year.. Mwanga made 61 appearances for the Union, scoring 12 goals and 9 assists.
February 10 - Desmond Armstrong
Desmond Armstrong was the first U.S. born black player to play in a FIFA World Cup, appearing with the squad in the 1990. During his seven years with the USMNT, Armstrong earned 81 caps after his debut against Egypt in 1987l. He also played with the 88’ team in the Summer Olympics in South Korea and the 1990 World Cup. Armstrong was inducted in the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.
February 11 - Viv Anderson
Vivian “Spider” Anderson, MBE, was the first black player to play for England’s national team and just the second non-white player to play for the squad. In his 21-year career as a defender, he made almost 600 appearances with Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, Manchester United, Sheffield, Barnsley, and Middlesbrough, scoring 38 goals. Some of his accolades include winning the 1978 Football League Title with Nottingham Forest which was followed by winning the European Cup back-to-back years in 1979 and 1980 with Nottingham Forest. With Arsenal he won the League Cup in 1987 and the FA Cup with Manchester United in 1990.
February 12 - Eddie Pope
Eddie Pope is considered one of the best defenders in MLS and USMNT history. In 2005, he was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI and is an 11-time MLS All-Star (all but one season). Pope was a part of the 2011 class for the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In 254 MLS appearances, he scored 10 goals and in 82 USMNT caps, he scored 8 goals. After playing, he served as the MLS’ Director of Player Relations.
February 14 - Tim Howard
Tim Howard had a 21-year-career that took the New Jersey native to one of the greatest American-born goalkeepers in its history. Howard made over 700 appearance for both club and country leading the United States in most caps by a keeper (121) and wins (62). While playing for the USMNT he set a FIFA World Cup record with 15 saves in a single match that took place against Belgium on July 1, 2014.
February 16 - Crystal Dunn
Crystal Dunn currently plays for the Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL and is a member of the USWNT. In 2015, she was the youngest player to ever win the NWSL Golden Boot and MVP awards at just age 23. Since 2014, she has played for the Washington Spirit, Chelsea FC in the FA Women's Super League, and the North Carolina Courage. In total she has made 136 NWSL appearances and scored 41 goals. On the international stage, Dunn has earned 123 caps for the USWNT and scored 41 goals while helping the team lift the Women's World Cup in 2019.
February 17 - DaMarcus Beasley
DaMarcus Beasley professional playing career took him to England, Mexico, Germany, Scotland, and with MLS in the United States. Over 20 years, he made 427 appearances with 46 goals. With the USMNT, he made 126 caps with 17 goals. Some of his accolades include being a 5-time Gold Cup Winner, 5-time MLS All-star, MLS BEST XI and Supporters’ Shield winner in 2003.
February 18 - Kim Crabbe
Crabbe was the first black woman called up to the United State Women's National Team, the barrier broken in 1986. While she never made an appearance for the senior team during her two years, her impact on the sport has lasted for decades. She has grown the game of soccer immensely in North Carolina & Virginia for underserved youth. In 1985, she won the NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship with George Mason. For her accomplishments, she was inducted into the Soccer Hall of Fame in 2016.
February 21 - Oguchi Onyewu
Oguchi Onyewu had a 15-year career in the beautiful game that included stops in France, Belgium, England, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and the United States totally more than 240 matches as a defender. Gooch was also a key contributor to the USMNT throughout the 2000s. Making 69 appearances for the US, Onyewu scored six goals and played on both the 2006 and 2019 World Cup squads. He has won the Gold Cup three times and was awarded the 2006 U.S. Men’s Soccer Player of the Year.
February 22 - Cobi Jones
Cobi Jones is one of the pioneers of the MLS, playing from its inaugural season in 1996 through 2007 with the LA Galaxy. During his time in LA, he scored 70 goals and assisted on 91 in 306 appearances. Accolades include winning the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup in 2000 and the Gold Cup in 2002. He is a 2x MLS Cup (02’ and 05’), Supporters’ Shield (98’ and 02’), and U.S. Open Cup (01’ and 05’) winner. With the USMNT, he is the most capped player of all-time with 164 appearances (15 goals)! He appeared with the red, white, and blue in the 1992 Olympics and in 3 different World Cups! He is a member of the MLS Greatest 25 and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2011.
February 23 - Earnie Stewart
Earnie Stewart is another player who was vital to the USMNT in the 90s and 2000s. In 102 caps, he scored 17 goals for Team USA. He is the first black player to captain the USMNT senior team in a World Cup match. He has been apart of 3 World Cup teams. During his entire playing career, he made 474 appearances (119 goals) in the top level of the Netherlands and two seasons in the MLS with D.C. United. He worked as Sporting Director for the Union between 2015 and 2018 before becoming general manager of the USMNT and then Sporting Director for U.S. Soccer.
February 24 - John "Digger" Barnes
John “Digger” Barnes playing career took place in the 80s and 90s, he stood alongside Viv Anderson as they stood for racial equality. He was a common target during his career for racial abuse from fans throughout the Premier League and even within his clubs which was on display when fans threw bananas at him during a Merseyside Derby with Everton. Nonetheless, he still had a phenomenal playing career, making 586 appearances with Watford, Liverpool, and Newcastle United, scoring 155 goals in total. His best years were spent at Anfield with Liverpool. He was the 1988 PFA Player’s Player of the Year, a two-time winner of the FWA Footballer of the Year, PFA Team of the Century and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
February 25 - Sandi Gordon
Sandi Gordon was the first African American to earn a senior team cap with the United States Women's National Team, with her first appearance coming on July 9th, 1987. She made 7 appearances with US between 1987 and 1988. On the professional stage, she played for both the Seattle Sounder-ettes and the Tacoma Cozars.
