Tony Sanneh

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Tony Sanneh
Personal information
Full name	Tony Sanneh
Date of birth	June 1, 1971 (age 35)
Place of birth	St. Paul, MN, United States
Height	6'2
Nickname	Big Cat
Position	midfielder
Club information
Current club	Chicago Fire
Number	20
Youth clubs
1990-93	Milwaukee
Professional clubs*
Years	Club	Apps (goals)
1994 1995-96 1996-98 1998-2001 2001-04 2004 2005-	Milwaukee Rampage Minnesota Thunder D.C. United Hertha Berlin FC Nürnberg Columbus Crew Chicago Fire	18 (14) 24 (6) 86 (20) 31 (1) 52 (5) 8 (2) 13 (0)
National team**
1997-	United States	43 (3)
* Professional club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 June 2006. ** National team caps and goals correct as of 3 June 2006.

Tony Sanneh (born June 1, 1971 in St. Paul, Minnesota) is an American soccer midfielder and defender, who currently plays for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer.

Sanneh played college soccer for the NCAA Division-I Milwaukee Panthers, where as a striker he became the school's all-time scoring leader, with 53 goals and 32 assists from 1990 to 1993. He was named an NCAA Second-Team All-American in 1993. In 1994, his first year out of college, Sanneh played with USISL's Milwaukee Rampage, where he scored 14 goals and 14 assists while teaming up with Brian McBride. In 1995 he played with another future teammate, Manny Lagos, on the Minnesota Thunder, amassing 18 goals and 22 assists with the team. In 1996, midway through the inaugural MLS season, Sanneh was signed by D.C. United. Originally a forward, Tony played a variety of positions for United, mostly at right midfield. He went on to score goals in the first two MLS Cup, leading DC to consecutive titles. Sanneh ended his original MLS stay after the 1998 season, signing with Bundesliga club Hertha BSC Berlin.

Sanneh spent the next three years with Hertha, but did not see much playing time due to various injuries, scoring just one goal in league play. He transferred to FC Nuremberg in 2001, and again spent three injury-filled seasons there, scoring five goals. In 2004, he came back to MLS, signing with the Columbus Crew, to play alongside long-time friend, college and Thunder teammate Manny Lagos. Sanneh was traded following the end of the season to the Chicago Fire, in exchange for Ante Razov and part of an allocation. He can a down season with the Fire. Sanneh's MLS league totals stand at 16 goals and 27 assists.

Sanneh made his debut for the United States national team on January 9, 1997 against China and has played all over the field, often at right back. He became an important part of the team by the 2002 FIFA World Cup, and was one of US's best players in the tournament, playing in every minute of every game. In the first US game of the tournament, the US's stunning upset of Portugal, his precise cross from the right side of the field provided an assist to Brian McBride's goal. He has scored three goals in 43 caps for the US.

Chicago Fire - Current Squad
1 Mahoney | 2 Brown | 3 Carr | 4 Griffin | 5 Jim Curtin | 6 Capano | 7 Thorrington | 8 Gutierrez | 9 Barrett | 10 Thiago | 12 Pause | 13 Bedrossian | 14 Armas | 15 Johnson | 16 Plotkin | 17 Rolfe | 18 Pickens | 19 Jeff Curtin | 20 Sanneh | 21 Mapp | 23 Guerrero | 24 Thornton | 25 Segares | 26 Herron | 27 Russolillo | 28 Montz | 31 Franks | 32 Robinson | Coach: Sarachan

[edit] See also

• Interview with Tony Sanneh
• List of current MLS players
• US National Soccer Players Association player profile

	United States squad - 2002 FIFA World Cup Quarter-finalists
1 Friedel | 2 Hejduk | 3 Berhalter | 4 Mastroeni | 5 O'Brien | 6 Regis | 7 Lewis | 8 Stewart | 9 Moore | 10 Reyna | 11 Mathis | 12 Agoos | 13 Jones | 14 Cherundolo | 15 Wolff | 16 Llamosa | 17 Beasley | 18 Keller | 19 Meola | 20 McBride | 21 Donovan | 22 Sanneh | 23 Pope | Coach: Arena