Earnie Stewart

Former soccer player From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Earnest Lee Stewart Jr., better known as Earnie Stewart (born March 28, 1969) is a former professional soccer player who played as a forward or midfielder. Born in the Netherlands, he represented the United States national team. His career spanned 17 years from 1988 until his retirement in 2005, with the majority of the years spent in the Netherlands, except for a period he played for D.C. United. Stewart also represented the United States in international soccer.

Full name Earnest Lee Stewart Jr.[1][2]
Date of birth (1969-03-28) March 28, 1969 (age 56)
Place of birth Veghel, Netherlands
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Earnie Stewart
Stewart in 2026
Personal information
Full name Earnest Lee Stewart Jr.[1][2]
Date of birth (1969-03-28) March 28, 1969 (age 56)
Place of birth Veghel, Netherlands
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s)
Team information
Current team
PSV Eindhoven (director of football)
Youth career
1980–1987 UDI '19
1987–1988 VVV-Venlo
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1988–1990 VVV-Venlo 62 (15)
1990–1996 Willem II 170 (49)
1996–2002 NAC Breda 189 (50)
2003–2004 D.C. United 47 (4)
2005 VVV-Venlo 6 (1)
Total 474 (119)
International career
1990–2004 United States 101 (17)
Medal record
Representing  United States
Men's soccer
Third placeCONCACAF Gold Cup2003
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
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Since his retirement from professional soccer, Stewart has served as a soccer executive in various positions for multiple organizations. He is currently the director of football for PSV Eindhoven.[3]

In 2011, Stewart was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.[4]

Early life and education

Earnie Stewart is the son of U.S. Air Force airman Earnie Stewart Sr. and his wife Annemien, Stewart grew up in Uden, Netherlands.

Playing career

Stewart began his professional career in the Netherlands in 1988 with VVV-Venlo. By the end of 1990, he made his first appearance for the United States national team against Portugal.

In his first season at Willem II, he finished third on the goal-scoring list for the Dutch First Division with 17. He went on to score 49 goals in six seasons there. In the meantime, he became a regular for the United States national team, starting all four games that the United States played in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. Most notably, he scored the goal that gave the United States its winning margin against Colombia in the group stage, the first World Cup game won by the United States since 1950.

By 1996, Stewart had moved to NAC Breda, eventually spending more than six seasons there. NAC was relegated in 1999, but Stewart helped the club win the First Division in 2000, thereby earning promotion back to the Eredivisie. During his years at NAC, he also played in all of the United States team's matches at the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups, becoming one of only five American men to play at three World Cups.

In January 2003, he left the Netherlands to play in Major League Soccer, and was allocated to D.C. United, where he won the MLS Cup in his second season. His scoring numbers did not equal his earlier high standards, as he tallied just four regular season goals and one playoff goal in MLS. He left D.C. after the 2004 season, coming back to the Netherlands and his original club, VVV-Venlo, where he became technical director following his retirement in 2005.

Stewart became the eighth American man to make his 100th international appearance in a 2004 World Cup qualifier against Grenada. His 111 goals as a professional in the Netherlands makes him the highest-scoring American in international club play. He was named U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year in 2001.

Post-playing career

On May 14, 2006, Earnie Stewart was named technical director of NAC Breda.

He was appointed as AZ Alkmaar's director of football affairs in June 2010. The 41-year-old succeeded Marcel Brands, who left AZ for PSV. Stewart left his post as technical director at NAC Breda by mutual consent.[5]

One of Stewart's long-term goals was to return to the United States as a soccer executive: "One ambition I do have is to go back to the United States and to be of importance to soccer."[6]

Stewart accomplished that goal on October 26, 2015, when the Philadelphia Union officially announced that Stewart would take on the role of sporting director for the club.[7]

On June 6, 2018, Stewart was named general manager of the United States men's national team.[8]

On August 12, 2019, Stewart was promoted to the position of sporting director of the United States Soccer Federation.[9]

On January 26, 2023, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced that Stewart would be departing and would be joining PSV as the new technical director for the club. Stewart remained with U.S. Soccer until February 15, 2023, to assist with a smooth transition to the next sporting director.[10]

Career statistics

Club

As of March 29, 2017[11][unreliable source?]
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
VVV-Venlo 1988–89 Eredivisie 273
1989–90 Eerste Divisie 3512
Total 6215
Willem II 1990–91 Eredivisie 3317
1991–92 338
1992–93 224
1993–94 327
1994–95 3210
1995–96 183
Total 17049
NAC Breda 1996–97 Eredivisie 289
1997–98 306
1998–99 287
1999–2000 Eerste Divisie 298
2000–01 Eredivisie 288
2001–02 3110
2002–03 152
Total 18950
D.C. United 2003 Major League Soccer 211
2004 263
Total 474
VVV-Venlo 2004–05 Eerste Divisie 61
Career total 474119
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International

As of March 29, 2017[12]
More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
United States 199010
199100
199270
199362
199471
199591
199650
199771
199891
199950
200084
2001105
2002100
2003132
200440
Total10117
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As of August 18, 2004[13]
Scores and results list the United States' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Stewart goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Earnie Stewart
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1June 13, 1993Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois, United States Germany2–43–4Friendly
2August 31, 1993Laugardalsvöllur, Reykjavík, Iceland Iceland1–01–0Friendly
3June 22, 1994Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California, United States Colombia2–02–11994 FIFA World Cup
4March 25, 1995Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas, United States Uruguay2–02–2Friendly
5March 16, 1997Stanford Stadium, Palo Alto, California, United States Canada3–03–01998 FIFA World Cup Qualifying
6May 24, 1998Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, United States Kuwait1–02–0Friendly
7June 3, 2000Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States South Africa4–04–0Friendly
8July 23, 2000Estadio Ricardo Saprissa Aymá, San José, Costa Rica Costa Rica1–11–22002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9August 16, 2000Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States Barbados6–07–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
10November 15, 2000Barbados National Stadium, St. Michael, Barbados Barbados2–04–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
11February 28, 2001Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, United States Mexico2–02–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
12March 28, 2001Estadio Olímpico Metropolitano, San Pedro Sula, Honduras Honduras1–02–12002 FIFA World Cup qualification
13June 20, 2001Foxboro Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States Trinidad and Tobago2–02–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
14September 1, 2001Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, Washington, D.C., United States Honduras1–02–32002 FIFA World Cup qualification
152–3
16July 6, 2003Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, United States Paraguay2–02–0Friendly
17July 26, 2003Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida, United States Costa Rica2–23–22003 CONCACAF Gold Cup
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See also

References

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