WERNER FRICKER BUILDER AWARD

ABOUT THE AWARD

The Werner Fricker Builder Award is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual by the United States Soccer Federation. The award is named after the late U.S. Soccer President Werner J. Fricker Sr.

Werner Fricker was president of U.S. Soccer from 1984 to 1990 and is widely credited for his role in bringing the 1994 FIFA World Cup to the United States. Born in Yugoslavia and raised in Austria, he lived his adult life in Pennsylvania, where he was a star midfielder for the United German Hungarians of Philadelphia soccer club from 1954 to 1969. He was also a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Team. Werner Fricker was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1992.

Werner Fricker passed away in 2001 and was honored posthumously with the inaugural award in 2002, with his son, Werner Jr., accepting the award on his behalf.

NOMINATION AND SELECTION

Nominees for the award are accepted annually during the call for nomination period and can be sent for consideration by anyone. Once the nomination period closes, the list of nominees, along with the submitted information is sent to the Werner Fricker Sr. Memorial Award Taskforce for review and consideration. The Taskforce reviews the nominees and decides on the winner.

Members of the Taskforce are appointed annually by the U.S. Soccer President and confirmed by the U.S. Soccer Board of Directors. The Taskforce members are comprised of various representatives of U.S. Soccer and past award winners. Taskforce members can be found here

The Taskforce is not required to bestow the award annually. When a recipient is identified they are celebrated at the Werner Fricker Award dinner, historically held at the U.S. Soccer Federation Annual General Meeting.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR NOMINEES

To be considered for the award, nominees must meet the following criteria:

• Nominee has dedicated a minimum twenty (20) years of service to the sport of soccer.
• For athletes, playing career can count towards twenty (20) years of service but nominee must have gone on to contribute to the sport in another capacity.
• Service stands out and distinguishes the nominee from others serving in the same capacity.
• Nominee created/ fostered programs that outlast their own active involvement in the sport.
• Nominee’s work has demonstrable impact on advancing the sport on a national level.
• Nominee is living at time of nomination.