Every conversation about Tony DiCicco starts with 1996 and 1999. Winning the Olympics and the Women’s World Cup is a remarkable achievement, even more so when it unfolds on home soil. Those triumphs dominate the discussion and serve as the foundational point in any career and any life.
Yet the memories that poured out after DiCicco passed away June 19 at age 68 captured far more than those two moments in time. Inevitably, those recollections revealed the depth of affection and the widespread influence of the Wethers-field, Conn., native beyond his glittering tenure as the U.S. women’s national team coach (1994-99).
Player after player and person after person shared anecdotes about how DiCicco pointed the way and shaped them. The legion of World Cup stars recounted moments in training, moments in the hotel when he revealed how much he cared for his players. Former Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis revealed how he learned to play goalkeeper at Soccer Plus camps. Breakers forward Tiffany Weimer wrote about the time when DiCicco apologized to her for yelling at her from the sidelines during a game.
