View source for John Harkes

{{short description|American soccer player and coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name        = John Harkes
| image       = John Harkes (29752565795) (cropped).jpg
|alt = Harkes talking and pointing on a soccer field
| caption     = Harkes coaching FC Cincinnati in 2016
| fullname    = John Andrew Harkes<ref>{{Olympedia}}</ref>
| height      = {{height|ft=5|in=11}}
| birth_date  = {{birth date and age|1967|3|8}}
| birth_place = [[Kearny, New Jersey]], United States
| position    = [[Midfielder]]
| currentclub = 
| collegeyears1 = 1985–1987
| college1 = [[Virginia Cavaliers men's soccer|Virginia Cavaliers]]
| years1 = 1989
| years2 = 1990–1993
| years3 = 1993–1995
| years4 = 1995–1996
| years5 = 1996–1998
| years6 = 1999
| years7 = 1999–2001
| years8 = 2001–2002
| clubs1 = [[Albany Capitals]]
| clubs2 = [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
| clubs3 = [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| clubs4 = → [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] (loan)
| clubs5 = [[D.C. United]]
| clubs6 = → [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] (loan)
| clubs7 = [[New England Revolution]]<ref name = "ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf"/>
| clubs8 = [[Columbus Crew]]
| caps1 = 20
| caps2 = 82
| caps3 = 67
| caps4 = 12
| caps5 = 83
| caps6 = 3
| caps7 = 55
| caps8 = 29
| goals1 = 0
| goals2 = 7
| goals3 = 5
| goals4 = 0
| goals5 = 14
| goals6 = 0
| goals7 = 2
| goals8 = 0
| totalcaps = 351
| totalgoals = 28
| nationalyears1 = 1987–2000
| nationalteam1 = [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]]
| nationalcaps1 = 90
| nationalgoals1 = 6
| manageryears1 = 2006–2007
| managerclubs1 = [[New York Red Bulls]] (assistant)
| manageryears2 = 2015–2017
| managerclubs2 = [[FC Cincinnati (2016–18)|FC Cincinnati]]
| manageryears3 = 2018–2023
| managerclubs3 = [[Greenville Triumph SC|Greenville Triumph]]
}}

'''John Andrew Harkes''' (born March 8, 1967) is an American [[Association football|soccer]] coach and former professional player who last coached [[Greenville Triumph SC]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.greenvilletriumph.com/news_article/show/944523-john-harkes-named-club-s-first-head-coach|title=John Harkes Named Club's First Head Coach|date=August 27, 2018|website=Greenville Triumph SC|access-date=January 10, 2019|archive-date=August 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802184128/https://www.greenvilletriumph.com/news_article/show/944523-john-harkes-named-club-s-first-head-coach|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A member of the [[National Soccer Hall of Fame]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Harkes - 2005 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |url=http://www.nationalsoccerhof.com/players/john-harkes.html |access-date=2023-12-18 |website=John Harkes - 2005 Inductee {{!}} National Soccer Hall of Fame |language=en}}</ref> Harkes was the first American to play in the English [[Premier League]] with [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], the second American to score at [[Wembley Stadium|Wembley]], and the first American soccer player to appear in the final of a major English tournament, in the [[1991 Football League Cup Final]] with Sheffield Wednesday. After moving to [[Major League Soccer]] in 1996, he won two [[MLS Cup]] titles with [[D.C. United]].

A mainstay in the [[United States men's national soccer team|U.S. national team]] [[midfield]] for most of the 1990s, Harkes appeared in two [[FIFA World Cup]] tournaments. He was named the team's "Captain for Life" by then-head coach [[Steve Sampson]] before having that title stripped ahead of the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]]. Harkes ended his national team career with 90 [[Cap (football)|caps]] and six goals.

Following his retirement, he served as a [[color commentator]] for [[ESPN Major League Soccer|ESPN's coverage of MLS]] and U.S. international matches, including the [[2010 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/john-harkes-out-as-lead-espn-us-soccer-analyst-replaced-by-taylor-twellman/2011/11/21/gIQACZI8iN_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123070755/http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/john-harkes-out-as-lead-espn-us-soccer-analyst-replaced-by-taylor-twellman/2011/11/21/gIQACZI8iN_story.html|archive-date=November 23, 2011|newspaper=Washington Post |title=John Harkes Out as Lead ESPN US Soccer Analyst: Replaced by Taylor Twellman| url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Amateur career==
===High school===
Harkes grew up in the soccer hotbed of [[Kearny, New Jersey]],<ref>Bondy, Filip. [https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00612F63F5A0C758CDDAF0894DB494D81 "SOCCER; Harkes, Accent and All, Back for Tourney"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 6, 1993. Accessed March 28, 2011. "John Harkes, the pride of Kearny, N.J., rejoined the United States national soccer team this week to resuscitate his old mates in the U.S. Cup '93 opener today against Brazil in New Haven."</ref> and played youth and high school soccer with future national team teammates [[Tony Meola]] and [[Tab Ramos]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20070311021859/http://www.unewsonline.com/media/storage/paper953/news/2005/04/28/Sports/Soccer.Ruminations.Recall.Soccertown.Usa-1670899.shtml?norewrite200606291608&sourcedomain=www.unewsonline.com Soccer Ruminations Recall Soccertown USA], ''The University News'' ([[Saint Louis University]]), April 28, 2005</ref>

Harkes graduated from [[Kearny High School (New Jersey)|Kearny High School]] in 1985.<ref>Yannis, Alex. [https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4DC1739F931A35755C0A96F948260 "Cosmos Spirit Infuses 2 At Tournament Debut"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', June 2, 1989. Accessed December 17, 2007. "Harkes, who went to Kearny High School, has been the most industrious player for the Americans in their three World Cup qualifying games (1–1–1) thus far."</ref> During his high school career, Harkes played in four [[New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association]] championship matches and led his team to the 1984 Group 4 State Championship and a 24–0 record. He was the 1984 Parade High School Player of the Year.

In 1999, he was named by ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'' as one of the top ten New Jersey high school soccer players of the 1980s.<ref>Jandoli, Ron. [https://archive.today/20030110132039/http://nj.com/hssports/ledger/index.ssf?/hssports/century/stories/bsoccerdecades.html "The Century's Best – Boys Soccer: Top 10 Players of each decade"], ''[[The Star-Ledger]]'', November 7, 1999, backed up by the [[Internet Archive]] as of January 10, 2003, Accessed September 11, 2008</ref>

===College===
Harkes played for University of Virginia where he was named 1st team All-American in 1986 and 1987, and was the Hermann Award winner in 1987, as the best player in US colleges.

==Professional career==
===England: 1990–1996===
Harkes moved to [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] of the English [[Football League]] in 1990. In a game that season against Derby County, his 35-yard blast glided into the net past former England World Cup goalkeeper Peter Shilton and earned him English football's "Goal of the Season" award. That season, Harkes became the third American (after Bill Regan for [[Romford F.C.|Romford]] in the 1948–49 [[FA Amateur Cup]] final and [[Mike Masters]] for [[Colchester United]] in the 1991-92 FA Trophy final) to play at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] when Sheffield Wednesday reached the [[1991 Football League Cup Final|1991]] [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] final. There, the Second Division (now [[Football League Championship]]) Wednesday upset the First Division (now [[F.A. Premier League|Premier League]]) side [[Manchester United]] 1–0. Also that year, Wednesday won promotion to the First Division.

In 1993, Harkes became the only American to score in a League Cup Final, in a 2–1 loss to [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. His goal was the second by an American at Wembley Stadium following [[Mike Masters]]' goal for Colchester United in the [[F.A. Trophy]] Final the year before. He appeared in the [[FA Cup Final]] one month after that League Cup disappointment, with Sheffield Wednesday again losing to Arsenal (2–1 in the replay, after a 1–1 draw in the first game). Harkes played one more season in England after moving to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] in the summer of 1993. In 1995, [[Major League Soccer]] (MLS) began preparing for its first season, which it first thought would come in the fall of 1995. As part of that process, MLS signed prominent U.S. players to league contracts. Harkes was one of the players who signed with MLS, only to discover the league would not begin play until 1996. Therefore, he, and MLS, negotiated a one-year loan to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref name="US Soccer Profile">{{Cite web|url=https://ussoccerplayers.com/player/harkes-john|title=John Harkes – USMNT|website=US Soccer Players}}</ref>

===Major League Soccer: 1996–2003===
[[File:John Harkes warms up for DC United, 1997 (3185562268).jpg|thumb|right|Harkes playing for D.C. United in 1997]]
In 1996, Harkes, along with his U.S. national teammates based overseas, returned to the U.S. for the launch of [[Major League Soccer]]. MLS had signed numerous prominent U.S. players and eventually allocated them throughout the league's teams in order to create an initial equitable distribution of talent. MLS [[1996 MLS Inaugural Allocations|allocated]] Harkes to [[D.C. United]], making him the team's first player ever. That first season, he led the club to a [[MLS Cup]] win and a [[U.S. Open Cup]] title. D.C. United successfully defended its MLS Cup title in 1997, with Harkes assisting on the match-winning goal in the cup final.

Despite the disappointment of being left off the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]] squad, Harkes helped United capture the [[Supporters Shield]] for the best regular season record in the league, before losing in the MLS Cup Final to the [[Chicago Fire S.C.|Chicago Fire]]. He also helped United become the first MLS club to win the [[CONCACAF Champions' Cup]] and upset [[Brazil]]'s [[Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama|Vasco Da Gama]] in the [[Interamerican Cup]].<ref name=LookBack>[http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20050928&content_id=44136&vkey=news_dcu&fext=.jsp&team=dcu Looking back: John Harkes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060814230137/http://dcunited.mlsnet.com/MLS/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20050928&content_id=44136&vkey=news_dcu&fext=.jsp&team=dcu |date=August 14, 2006 }} mlsnet.com, September 28, 2005</ref>

At the end of the 1998 season, he traveled back to England for a two-week trial with [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. On January 28, 1999, the team accepted Harkes for a two-month loan period. He played only three games for Forest (including the infamous [[Nottingham Forest F.C. 1–8 Manchester United F.C.|8–1]] defeat to Manchester United) before returning to the U.S..<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/273755.stm |title=United romp to record win |date=February 7, 1999 |access-date=September 13, 2024}}</ref> 

====New England Revolution====

On February 2, 1999 While Harkes was in England, [[D.C. United]] traded him to the [[New England Revolution]] in exchange for New England’s first- and second-round picks in the [[2000 MLS SuperDraft]] and future considerations.<ref name = "ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612135826/https://newengland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/media/ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |url=https://newengland-mp7static.mlsdigital.net/elfinderimages/media/ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |title=ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |access-date=September 11, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=D.C. deals Harkes to New England |url=http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/u/wire/stories/0,1169,653574_44,00.html |work=CBS Sportsline |agency=Associated Press |date=February 2, 1999 |access-date=September 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990505205911/http://www.cbs.sportsline.com/u/wire/stories/0%2C1169%2C653574_44%2C00.html |archive-date=May 5, 1999 |url-status=dead }}</ref> United traded Harkes in order to make room under the [[salary cap]].{{citation needed|date=September 2024}} Some uncertainty surrounded the trade, as the Revolution expected Harkes to report by March 15, while Forest insisted the loan would keep Harkes in England until the end of the Premier League season.<ref name="NYT Harkes Trade"/> Revolution General Manager Brian O'Donovan stated that if Harkes failed to join by mid-March, the deal would be off.<ref name="NYT Harkes Trade">{{cite web|title=PLUS: TRACK AND FIELD -- D.C. UNITED; Harkes Is Traded To the Revolution |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/02/03/sports/plus-track-and-field-dc-united-harkes-is-traded-to-the-revolution.html |date=February 3, 1999 |accessdate=September 13, 2024}}</ref> 

Ultimately, on March 16, Harkes' loan spell ended, allowing him to officially join New England.<ref name = "ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf"/> Harkes made his New England debut on May 15 vs. the [[Columbus Crew]], coming on as a 75th minute substitute for [[Edwin Gorter]]. He made his first start for the Revolution on May 23rd in a 1-0 loss to the [[LA Galaxy]]. He made his home debut on June 5 in a 2-0 loss to the Chicago Fire.<ref name="2024 Media Guide">{{cite book |title=2024 Media Guide |publisher=New England Revolution|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240322013528/https://revolution.1rmg.com/season/2024/media-guide/ |access-date=September 10, 2024}}</ref> Additionally, Harkes captained the Revolution twice in the [[1999 New England Revolution season]], on August 6 and October 9. He recorded 8 assists in 22 matches played during his inaugural Revolution campaign.<ref name="2024 Media Guide"/> Harkes wore the captain's armband for much of the [[2000 New England Revolution season]], helping the Revolution reach the MLS Playoffs for the first time since 1997. He scored his first goal for the club on June 3 in the Revolution's 2-0 win over the [[Miami Fusion]].<ref name="2024 Media Guide"/> Harkes was the only player to represent the Revolution in the [[2000 MLS All-Star Game]].<ref name="2024 Media Guide"/> Harkes would make only 5 apearences for the Revolution during the [[2001 New England Revolution season]] as on May 11, 2001, the Revolution dealt Harkes to the [[Columbus Crew]] in exchange for [[Pato Aguilera]] and a conditional pick in
the [[2002 MLS SuperDraft]].<ref name = "ClubHistory_CoachandPlayerRegistry.pdf"/> After an injury-plagued 2002 season, Harkes announced his retirement in 2003.<ref name="US Soccer Profile"/>

==International career==
[[File:1997 USA v Mexico - John Harkes (3898356480).jpg|thumb|right|Harkes playing in a World Cup qualifying match in 1997]]
John Harkes played in the [[FIFA World Cup 1990|1990]] and [[1994 FIFA World Cup]]
Harkes made his national team debut on March 23, 1987, against [[Canada men's national soccer team|Canada]]. He was on the U.S. team at the [[Football at the 1987 Pan American Games|1987 Pan American Games]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesu/usa-intres-det80.html|title=USA - Details of International Matches 1980-1989|website=[[RSSSF]]|access-date=April 21, 2020}}</ref> He quickly established himself as a national team regular and was selected for the [[United States at the 1988 Summer Olympics|1988 Olympics]]. That year the U.S. went 1–1–1 and failed to qualify for the second round. Harkes continued to play for the national team as it went through the qualification process for the upcoming World Cup. The team qualified for those games after an improbable 1–0 road victory over [[Trinidad and Tobago national football team|Trinidad and Tobago]] in the final qualification match.

In 1990, he was a member of a [[1990 FIFA World Cup (squads)#USA|World Cup squad]] made up mostly of college and semi-professional players. The United States side was routed 1–5 by [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]], but were respectable losing 0–1 to host nation and eventual semi-finalist [[Italy national football team|Italy]], and 1–2 to [[Austria national football team|Austria]]. Despite losing all three matches, many players from the 1990 squad, including Harkes, Ramos, Meola, [[Marcelo Balboa]] formed the core of the U.S. national team for most of the decade and played an important role in the development of MLS.

U.S. fared better as the host nation in the 1994 World Cup, upsetting [[Colombia national football team|Colombia]] 2–1 in a group stage match to advance to the Round of 16. Harkes contributed to the [[Andrés Escobar]] [[own goal]] which arguably led to the Colombian defender's shooting death weeks later.<ref>[http://www.planetworldcup.com/GUESTS/mike20020515.html What the world is waiting for] planetworldcup.com</ref> Harkes delivered a cross from the left aimed at [[Earnie Stewart]], which Escobar attempted to clear, but instead sent the ball past his goalkeeper.

However, Harkes missed the Round of 16 match against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] after receiving his second [[Penalty card#Yellow card|yellow card]] of the group stage against [[Romania national football team|Romania]], earning a one-match suspension. Brazil won the match 1–0 and went on to win the World Cup.

In [[Copa América 1995]], Harkes led the United States, a guest team at the tournament, to a 3–0 upset of defending champion [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]] and a semi-final finish. He was named co-Most Valuable Player of the tournament, along with Uruguayan [[Enzo Francescoli]].

===1998 World Cup controversy===
In 1996, before the beginning of the [[Football World Cup 1998 (qualification CONCACAF)|qualifying]] for the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]], head coach [[Steve Sampson]] named Harkes "Captain For Life", which meant Harkes would be the captain of the national team as long as he wished and Sampson was the coach. He responded by leading the team in assists in qualifying and helped the United States qualify for a third straight World Cup finals appearance.

However, Sampson controversially left Harkes off the World Cup squad, citing "leadership issues", although the decision was never fully explained at the time.<ref name=affair>{{cite news |url=http://www.espn.com/world-cup/story/_/id/4881732/ce/us/alleged-affair-hurt-98-team |title=Harkes dropped in '98 for allegations |date=February 3, 2010 |work=ESPN |agency=AP}}</ref> The bitterness resulting from the omission and the irony of the "Captain for Life" title would serve as the inspiration for his autobiography, ''Captain for Life: And Other Temporary Assignments'' ({{ISBN|1-886947-49-X}}), co-written with [[Denise Kiernan]] and published in 1999. In the book, Harkes criticized Sampson for lacking "credibility to a group of guys who had hundreds and hundreds of caps among them" and "putting a huge amount of pressure on young, internationally inexperienced players", and concluded, "I can't think of one thing that Steve did right in the months leading up to the World Cup".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.soccertimes.com/book/1999/harkes.htm |title=Bitter Harkes closes with blistering shots at Sampson |first=Jerry |last=Langdon |agency=Gannett News Service |work=Soccer Times |date=June 14, 1999 |access-date=May 31, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060329070636/http://www.soccertimes.com/book/1999/harkes.htm |archive-date=March 29, 2006 |url-status=dead  }}</ref> The 1998 team lost all three games in the group stage, finishing last overall.

In February 2010 Sampson and former teammate [[Eric Wynalda]] revealed that an alleged affair between Harkes and Wynalda's wife, Amy, had prompted Harkes' sudden dismissal.<ref name=affair/><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.sbnation.com/2010/2/3/1290793/laffair-john-harkes-details-emerge |work=SB Nation | title=L'affair John Harkes: Details emerge on the once-U.S. captain's affair with Wynalda's wife | date=February 3, 2010 |first=Steve |last=Davis}}</ref> Sampson confirmed Wynalda's claim in a 2016 podcast interview with [[Alexi Lalas]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://art19.com/shows/the-mutant-gene-podcast/episodes/84abc947-281e-4b0a-b28b-2a837f5838d5|title=Ep. 6 – 5/15/16 – Ibrahimovic to MLS & USA/Mexico 2026, Guest: Steve Sampson|publisher=ART19, Inc.|date=May 15, 2016|access-date=December 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170901195444/https://art19.com/shows/the-mutant-gene-podcast/episodes/84abc947-281e-4b0a-b28b-2a837f5838d5|archive-date=September 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Harkes was called up to the national team again by his former college coach, [[Bruce Arena]] in 1999, and helped the United States win the bronze medal in the [[Confederations Cup]] that year. He ended his international career in 2000 with 90 appearances.

==Coaching career==
[[File:John Harkes, Harrison Delbridge (27826871784).jpg|thumb|right|Harkes with defender [[Harrison Delbridge]] during a 2016 [[FC Cincinnati (2016–18)|FC Cincinnati]] match]]
In August 2015, the formation of [[FC Cincinnati]], a new franchise in the then-third-division [[USL Championship|United Soccer League]], was announced, with Harkes as the team's first head coach.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dyer |first1=Mike |title=FC Cincinnati ready to recruit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-fc-cincinnati-re/130955386/ |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]] |date=August 13, 2015 |page=C18 |language=en}}</ref> In [[2016 FC Cincinnati season|FC Cincinnati's first season]] under Harkes, the club finished third in the USL Eastern Conference with a 12–6–4 record. However, on February 17, 2017, FC Cincinnati announced the firing of Harkes ahead of the 2017 season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Patrick |title=FC Cincinnati dismisses Harkes; few saw it coming |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer-fc-cincinnati-di/130955822/ |access-date=August 30, 2023 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=19 February 2017 |page=C7 |language=en}}</ref> From outside the club, the dismissal was seen as a surprise; reports later emerged of a 2016–17 offseason that was "unstructured and somewhat chaotic behind the scenes", according to ''[[The Cincinnati Enquirer]]'''s Pat Brennan.<ref name="EnquirerFirstJobSince">{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Pat |title=John Harkes lands 1st coaching job since FC Cincinnati firing |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/soccer/fc-cincinnati/2018/08/27/john-harkes-lands-first-coaching-job-since-fc-cincinnati-firing/1109819002/ |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |date=August 27, 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

In August 2018, Harkes was named as the first head coach of [[Greenville Triumph SC|Greenville Triumph]], a new club set to join [[USL League One]] in 2019. Harkes was signed to a three-year contract to lead the entire technical side of the organization.<ref name="EnquirerFirstJobSince"/> In the team's first season, they finished third in the standings and were the runner-up in the playoffs. In the 2020 season, the Triumph finished first in the standings and won the playoffs, and Harkes was named the USL League One Coach of the Year. On January 26, 2021, the Triumph extended Harkes's contract through the 2023 season.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Putnam |first1=Jeannie |title=Greenville Triumph signs multiyear contract extension with head coach |url=http://greenvillejournal.com/sports/greenville-triumph-signs-multi-year-contract-extension-with-head-coach/ |website=Greenville Journal |language=en |date=27 January 2021}}</ref> The Triumph finished second in the standings in both the 2021 and 2022 seasons.

==Off the field==
In 2010, [[Eric Wynalda]] stated that former U.S. national team head coach Steve Sampson had dropped Harkes from the 1998 World Cup team two months prior to the tournament because Harkes had been having relations with teammate Wynalda's wife, Amy, in the couple's house, and near the playpen of their young child. Sampson became aware of the scandal and brewing feud between Wynalda and Harkes, and chose to drop Harkes to restore dressing room accord. Despite intense criticism from the media and subsequent failure in the World Cup, Sampson remained silent regarding the true reason for Harkes' dismissal from the team out of respect for the privacy of those involved. Harkes himself published an autobiography in 1999 panning Sampson's tenure as coach, but made no mention of the affair.<ref>{{cite web | last = Blum | first = Ronald | url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/03/john-harkes-affair-soccer_n_447704.html | title= John Harkes Affair? Soccer Captain Allegedly Slept With Teammate's Wife | access-date= May 5, 2010 | date= February 3, 2010 | work=[[The Huffington Post]] }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14321164? | work=Denver Post | title=Truth be told . . . 12 years later | date=February 3, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/629777-the-most-notorious-mistresses-in-sports | title= The Most Notorious Mistresses in Sports|website=Bleacherreport.com }}</ref>

===Personal life===
Both of Harkes' parents are [[Scottish people|Scottish]] immigrants; his father Jim is originally from [[Dundee]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/09/mls-insider-john-harkes-traces-soccers-roots-historic-kearny-new-jersey |title=MLS Insider: John Harkes traces soccer's roots in historic Kearny, New Jersey |work=www.mlssoccer.com |publisher=Major League Soccer |date=December 27, 2014 |access-date=December 28, 2014 |archive-date=December 30, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141230023603/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/09/mls-insider-john-harkes-traces-soccers-roots-historic-kearny-new-jersey |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=grandad>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/amp/football/46883542 Dundee United: Ian Harkes leaves grandad speechless by Tannadice 'homecoming'], BBC Sport, January 15, 2019</ref> and was a youth team player at [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/17405285.grandsons-phone-call-heralds-glorious-new-chapter-tannadice-love-story-expat-son-dundee/ |title=A grandson's phone call heralds glorious new chapter in Tannadice love story for this expat son of Dundee |work=[[The Herald (Glasgow)|The Herald]] |date=2 February 2019 |access-date=11 June 2022}}</ref>

He is the father of Lauren Harkes, who played collegiately at Clemson University, and [[Ian Harkes]], who won the [[Hermann Trophy]] in 2016, played for John's old team, [[D.C. United]], Dundee United in Scotland, and for the New England Revolution, where John played from 1999 to 2001.<ref>{{cite news |last=Goff |first=Steven |title=Ian Harkes wins Hermann Trophy as college soccer's best player |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/soccer-insider/wp/2017/01/06/ian-harkes-wins-hermann-trophy-as-college-soccers-best-player/ |access-date=March 3, 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=January 6, 2017}}</ref><ref name=grandad/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/07/05/sports/revolution-sign-midfielder-ian-harkes/ |title=Revolution sign midfielder Ian Harkes |publisher=The Boston Globe |website=bostonglobe.com |date=July 5, 2023 |accessdate=July 5, 2023 |author=Dell'Apa, Frank}}</ref>

==Career statistics==
===International===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|+John Harkes in international competitions
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Venue
!scope="col"| Opponent
!scope="col"| Score
!scope="col"| Result
!scope="col"| Competition
|-
!scope="row"| August 13, 1989
| [[Los Angeles, California]] || {{fb|KOR}} || '''1'''–2 || 1–2 || Friendly
|-
!scope="row"| February 24, 1990
| [[Palo Alto, California]] || {{fb|USSR}} || '''1'''–0 || 1–3 || Friendly
|-
!scope="row"| May 30, 1992
| [[Washington, D.C.]] || {{fb|IRL}} || '''3'''–1 || 3–1 || [[1992 U.S. Cup]]
|-
!scope="row"| May 6, 1992
| [[Chicago, Illinois]] || {{fb|ITA}} || '''1'''–1 || 1–1 || [[1992 U.S. Cup]]
|-
!scope="row"| June 11, 1995
| [[Boston, Massachusetts]] || {{fb|NGA}} || '''1'''–1 || 3–2 || [[1995 U.S. Cup]]
|-
!scope="row"| June 18, 1995
| [[Washington, D.C.]] || {{fb|MEX}} || '''3'''–0 || 4–0 || [[1995 U.S. Cup]]
|-
|}

== Honors ==
'''Sheffield Wednesday'''
*[[EFL Cup|League Cup]]: [[1990–91 Football League Cup|1990–91]];<ref>{{cite news |title=1991: Sheffield Wednesday 1 Manchester United 0 |url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/telebest/sport/in-pictures-the-ten-best-league-cup-finals-14700850.html?action=Popup&ino=9 |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph|access-date=17 January 2012}}</ref> runner-up: [[1992–93 Football League Cup|1992–93]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/history/graham-s-glory-years/gunners-clinch-fa-and-league-cup-double|title=Gunners clinch FA and League Cup double|website=Arsenal|date=10 May 2017|accessdate=22 August 2023}}</ref>
*[[FA Cup]] runner-up: [[1992–93 FA Cup|1992–93]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--fa-cup-final-replay-wednesday-left-in-linighans-wake-waddles-heroics-end-in-tears-as-an-unsung-defender-plays-poacher-to-give-arsenal-unprecedented-double-2324318.html|title=FA Cup Final Replay: Wednesday left in Linighan's wake: Waddle's heroics end in tears as an unsung defender plays poacher to give Arsenal unprecedented double|website=Independent|accessdate=22 August 2023|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402182401/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football--fa-cup-final-replay-wednesday-left-in-linighans-wake-waddles-heroics-end-in-tears-as-an-unsung-defender-plays-poacher-to-give-arsenal-unprecedented-double-2324318.html|url-status=bot: unknown}}</ref>

'''Individual'''
*[[MLS All-Star Game|MLS All-Star]]: [[1997 MLS All-Star Game|1997]],<ref>[https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/all-star-game-flashback-1997-valderrama-named-mvp-again All-Star Game flashback, 1997] at MLSsoccer.com</ref> [[1998 MLS All-Star Game|1998]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1998-mls-all-star-game-373141|title=1998 MLS All-Star Game|work=MLSsoccer.com|date=August 2, 1998| access-date= July 27, 2023}}</ref> [[1999 Major League Soccer All-Star Game|1999]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 17, 1999 |title=1999 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/1999-mls-all-star-game-373142 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 27, 2023}}</ref> [[2000 MLS All-Star Game|2000]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 29, 2000 |title=2000 MLS All-Star Game |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2000-mls-all-star-game-373143 |work=MLSsoccer.com |access-date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>

'''Coach'''
*[[Greenville Triumph SC|Greenville Triumph]]
** [[USL League One]] Champions: [[2020 USL League One season|2020]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Portal|Biography}}
*{{MLS|john-harkes}}
*[http://www.ussoccerplayers.com/players/john_harkes/ U.S. Soccer Players biography]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20090112091214/http://www.soccertimes.com/usteams/roster/men/harkes.htm Soccer Times profile]

{{Greenville Triumph SC squad}}
{{USL League One head coaches}}
{{Navboxes
|title= United States squads
|bg= white
|fg= #002868
|bordercolor= #BF0A30
|list1=
{{United States football squad 1988 Summer Olympics}}
{{United States squad 1990 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 1992 King Fahd Cup}}
{{United States squad 1993 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 1994 FIFA World Cup}}
{{United States squad 1995 Copa América}}
{{United States squad 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup}}
{{United States squad 1999 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list =
{{Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Soccer Player of the Year navbox}}
{{National Soccer Hall of Fame members}}
}}
{{FC Cincinnati managers}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harkes, John}}
[[Category:1967 births]]
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