U.S. Soccer Now Accepting Nominations for 2025 Werner Fricker Builder Award and Third Annual Carla Overbeck Leadership Award

CHICAGO (Aug. 29, 2024) – Nominations are now being accepted for the 2025 U.S. Soccer Werner Fricker Builder Award, named after the late U.S. Soccer President Werner Fricker, as well as for the third annual U.S. Soccer Carla Overbeck Leadership Award, named after the longtime USWNT captain, two-time World Cup winner and Olympic Gold Medalist who is known as much for her leadership off the field as she is for her contributions on the field.

WERNER FRICKER BUILDER AWARD

The Werner Fricker Builder Award was created in 2002 and is the highest honor that can be bestowed upon an individual by U.S. Soccer. Fricker served as 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 and was a member of the 1964 U.S. Olympic Team.

Fricker was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, N.Y., in 1992. He died in 2001 at the age of 65 and was honored posthumously with the inaugural award in 2002, with his son, Werner Jr., accepting the award on his behalf.

To be eligible for Werner Fricker Builder Award nomination, an individual 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.

Nominations for the Werner Fricker Builder Award can be submitted HERE and all nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. CT on Nov. 22, 2024.

CARLA OVERBECK LEADERSHIP AWARD

The third annual Carla Overbeck Leadership Award will be given to an individual who demonstrates a unique ability to lead and guide others and who contributes to the success of an initiative that benefits those outside their own organization and places emphasis on collaboration within and among leadership.

As captain of the USWNT (1993-2000), Overbeck led the 1996 Gold Medal Olympic Team and the 1999 World Cup Championship Team. She has been applauded for her leadership by former teammates and coaches and continues to lead with over thirty (30) years of experience as a college coach at Duke University. She is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

In 2023, Lesle Gallimore earned the inaugural award for her work as the first ever-Commissioner of the Girls Academy. Joslynn Bigelow earned the honors the following year for her work as a TOPSoccer coach in her home state of Oregon. TOPSoccer is an adaptive soccer program for athletes with intellectual, developmental or physical disabilities.

In order to be considered for the Carla Overbeck Leadership Award, a nominee must meet the following criteria:

• An individual actively working within the U.S. Soccer landscape (i.e., affiliated with an Organization Member);
• Demonstrates a unique ability to motivate and guide others, which in turn contributes to the effective and efficient functioning of their organization and the landscape overall.
• Willing to “carry the watercooler,” and lead by example, doing the little things that fosters an environment of trust and credibility.
• Adapts and innovates readily to new situations; does not rely on the way things have always been done.
• Mentors and cultivates teammates and colleagues, specifically those in less-tenured roles, creating a culture of respect that fosters an atmosphere conducive to achievement;
• Contributes to the success of an initiative that benefits those outside their own organization and/or places emphasis on collaboration within and among membership.

Nominations for the Carla Overbeck Leadership Award can be submitted HERE and all nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m. CT on Nov. 22, 2024.

Nominations will be reviewed by U.S. Soccer staff and the Nominating and Governance committee. The nomination process for these awards takes place annually, however, U.S. Soccer is not required to award them each year. Should there be recipients, they will be honored at the 2025 U.S. Soccer Annual Awards Dinner on March 1st, in Atlanta.

WERNER FRICKER BUILDER AWARD RECIPIENTS

2002 Werner Fricker, Sr.
2003 Sunil Gulati
2005 Gerhard Mengel
2006 Sal Rapaglia
2007 Francisco Marcos
2008 Bob Gansler
2009 Alan Rothenberg
2010 Dr. S. Robert Contiguglia
2011 Kevin Payne
2012 Hank Steinbrecher
2014 Richard Groff
2015 Bruce Arena
2016 Anson Dorrance
2017 Mary Harvey
2018 Tony DiCicco
2019 April Heinrichs
2020 Esse Baharmast
2022 Don Garber
2024 Burton Haimes

CARLA OVERBECK LEADERSHIP AWARD RECIPIENTS

2023 Lesle Gallimore
2024 Joslynn Bigelow