Julie Foudy Receives 2011 Disney’s Soccer Showcase Lifetime Achievement Award for Dedication and Service to the Growth of Soccer in America

Filed in: Disney Soccer, Sports Celebrity Visits

Foudy joins list of soccer greats as the first woman to win Disney’s Soccer Showcase Lifetime Achievement Award

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Dec. 30, 2011) — Julie Foudy received Disney’s Soccer Showcase Lifetime Achievement Award at Walt Disney World Resort Dec. 28 for her continued commitment to growing soccer in America after her 17-year tenure on the U.S. Women’s National Team.

Foudy’s soccer laurels date back to her time as a Stanford student-athlete, where she was named a four-time All-American and Soccer America Player of the Year in 1991. During her career as a midfielder for the national team, the U.S. women won two FIFA World Cup Titles (1991, 1999) and two Olympic gold medals (1996, 2004). Foudy was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in August 2007.

Since her retirement in 2004, Foudy has remained close to the sport as the lead television voice for ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC’s coverage of the quadrennial FIFA Women’s World Cups. In 2006, she launched the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, teaching girls ages 12-18 to not only be leaders on the field, but leaders in life.

‘It is an honor to present Julie Foudy with the 2011 Disney’s Soccer Showcase Lifetime Achievement Award. Her passion for the sport serves as inspiration and a shining example for our youth athletes competing in the Soccer Showcase.’
— Disney Sports Manager Patrick Dicks

Foudy is the first woman to join a list of soccer greats including her former coach Tony DiCicco (2006), who led the U.S. women’s national team to Olympic gold in 1996, and a FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999. Past Disney’s Soccer Showcase Lifetime Achievement Awards recognized Jerry Yeagley (2004), Charlie V. Stillitano (2005), Eddie Firmani (2007), Anson Dorrance (2008), Tom Fleck (2008), Kohn Harks (2009) and Gordon Jago (2010).

“Julie Foudy was the personality of the US Women’s National Team. She is a born leader and fierce competitor who had a knack of finding a way to win, and in addition, always found a way to keep the team and coaches smiling,” said DiCicco. ”Clearly the USA Women’s National Team was the best in the world for a generation largely because of Julie Foudy’s contribution. It was a privilege to have coached her and I congratulate her on receiving this prestigious Disney award.”

Disney’s Soccer Showcase Lifetime Achievement Award is given annually to an individual who has made an impact on soccer in America. It coincides with Disney’s Soccer Showcase, rated the number 1 youth soccer tournament in the country by a Soccer America survey. Disney’s Soccer Showcase gives boys (Dec. 27-30) and girls (Dec. 31- Jan. 3, 2012) a chance to shine on one of the biggest stages set for youth soccer at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando, Fla.