Philly Sports Jabronis
Report From Philadelphia Union
CHESTER, Pa. – Philadelphia Union assistant coach Mike Sorber will be inducted into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame on October 19, 2017 at the America’s Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Sorber was the first U.S. player to be named a Mexican first division All-Star and was the first individual to play for the USMNT at a World Cup and later serve on a World Cup coaching staff with the USMNT.
“It is an amazing individual honor in a sport that is not individual. The best thing I can say is thank you, to all the people who have helped me and supported me along the way,” Sorber said. “To represent St. Louis and to be recognized by the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame is a great honor.”
Sorber attended college at St. Louis University after winning two state championships in high school. At St. Louis University, appeared in the 1991 Final Four and was a finalist for the Hermann Trophy the following season, an award given to the United States’ top college soccer player.
The Hermann Trophy is named after Robert “Bob” Hermann a Clayton, Missouri native and the former president of the National Professional Soccer League. Hermann was one of the founders of the North American Soccer League and was elected into the St. Louis Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012.
In 1992 Sorber signed with the USMNT on a full-time contract in preparations for the 1994 World Cup. Sorber joined UNAM Pumas in Mexico where he appeared in 51 matches in over two seasons with Pumas. Sorber collected league honors, which included being first American player ever to be named a Mexican League All-Star before joining MLS with the Kansas City Wiz.
In his first season with Kansas City, Sorber appeared in 28 games while recording four goals. Sorber led the Wiz to a third place finish and a Conference Finals appearance. The following season Sorber transitioned with the MetroStars, where he led them to a third place finish and a playoff appearance in his second year.
After his third season with the MetroStars, Sorber was acquired by Chicago before the 2000 campaign. Sorber played in 24 matches for Chicago and was a runner-up in the MLS Cup.
With the United States Men’s National Team, Sorber earned his first cap in 1992 and would go on to finish with 67 caps and two goals. In 1994, Sorber was part of the USMNT World Cup squad, playing in 18 games including starting all four World Cup games against Switzerland, Colombia, Romania, and Brazil. In 1998 Sorber helped the U.S. Team qualify for the 1998 World Cup in France but was named as an alternate to the final roster.
Sorber began his coaching career in 2001, working as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Saint Louis University. He joined the USMNT in 2007, where he worked under Bob Bradley. During his time on staff as an assistant coach with the USMNT, captured the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup, knocked off No. 1 Spain in the 2009 Confederation Cup in South Africa, where they finished 2nd, after falling to Brazil in the final 2-3.
Sorber also coached the 2010 USMNT FIFA World Cup squad that finished first in Group C and advanced to the Round of 16. The Missouri native spent two seasons with the Montreal Impact (2011-2013) before joining the Philadelphia Union.
