Sigi Schmid
Sigi Schmid: A Legendary Soccer Coach and Visionary Leader
Full Name and Common Aliases
Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid was born on February 13, 1953, in Vienna, Austria. He is commonly known as Sigi Schmid.
Birth and Death Dates
February 13, 1953 (birth) - December 25, 2022 (death)
Nationality and Profession(s)
Austrian-American soccer coach
Sigi Schmid was a renowned soccer coach who spent most of his career in the United States. He coached several teams at various levels, including the professional leagues, collegiate programs, and youth clubs.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in Austria, Sigi developed a passion for soccer from an early age. His parents encouraged his love for the sport, and he began playing professionally with the Austrian national team's U-18 squad. In 1975, Schmid moved to the United States to continue his coaching career.
Major Accomplishments
Sigi Schmid is considered one of the most successful coaches in American soccer history. Some of his notable achievements include:
Winning five MLS Cups with the LA Galaxy (2002, 2005, and 2011) and Columbus Crew (2008)
Coaching the US U-20 team to a second-place finish at the 1996 World Cup
Being named Coach of the Year in Major League Soccer (MLS) three timesNotable Works or Actions
Throughout his career, Schmid was known for his innovative and forward-thinking approach to coaching. Some notable examples include:
Developing the "4-3-3" formation that became a staple of American soccer teams
Implementing advanced player development programs in his youth clubs and MLS teams
Advocating for increased investment in youth soccer infrastructure
Impact and Legacy
Sigi Schmid's impact on American soccer extends far beyond his impressive coaching record. He helped shape the country's national team and inspired a generation of coaches and players.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Schmid was widely respected for his:
Innovative approach to the game, which emphasized possession-based football and attacking play
Ability to adapt to different teams and situations, earning him the nickname "the coach with a plan"
* Commitment to developing young players and giving back to the community through various charitable initiatives
Quotes by Sigi Schmid
All three of those players have tremendous potential rewards. Each one needs to add a different element to their game to get them to the next level. My objective is to get the best out of them.
He's not that much different than Frankie in how he plays right back. He's a strong personality in the locker room and he's extremely motivated. He's a guy that the younger guys will be able to turn to and talk to.
I didn't think we were two goals worse. I thought the first 15 minutes of the second half we owned and then we give up the third goal and that takes the wind out of the sails so to speak. The adjustments were just guys needing to work a little harder.
I knew it was going to take time to get in a rhythm, and we finally did for a while in the second half. Up until that third (Kansas City) goal, I thought it was just going to be a matter of time.
It's important to recognize the memory of Connor and to endow his scholarship. There are things in life that are bigger than sports and this is one of those things. We are pleased that our organization is able to honor his memory, Ohio State and soccer.
The number one objective for us was not to give up goals. We were doing that in the first two weeks. I thought defensively we did pretty well although we broke down on the one goal.
The No. 1 objective this week was not to give up goals. Offensively we need to get better, but I'm happy we held it together defensively and that we got a point. You've got to start one at a time.
Danny's very exuberant, so we're trying to get him to make his runs at the right times and in the right place. He's still young and he's still learning the nuances of the game.
I told the guys and the staff that this was a special game for me, they knew that. But the most important thing was to get three points and move out of last place in the East, but everyone knew it was a special game and I thank them for their effort.
There's been a lot of pressure on Danny to be successful immediately and I think that's been unfair to him. It's created pressure and I think unrealistic expectations that he feels he's failed to live up to. I think if everyone just leaves him alone, I think he'll be fine.