Tony Sanneh has had a distinguished professional soccer career at both the professional and international levels for nearly 15 years, competing at the highest levels of the sport against some of the best players in the world.

Sanneh grew up in St. Paul and played for the Blackhawks, winning the Under-19 national title (Maguire Cup) in 1990. He attended St. Paul Academy and Summit School, graduating in 1990 with two state championships and two All-State team selections to his credit. He went on to play college soccer for the NCAA Division I University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Panthers from 1990 to 1993, where as a striker he became the school's all-time scoring leader with 53 goals and 32 assists. He was named an NCAA All-American in 1993, and then spent two years as a professional with the Milwaukee Rampage and the Minnesota Thunder.

Sanneh made 43 appearances for the United States National Team, winning two CONCACAF Gold Cup titles (2002, 2005). He was one of three U.S. players to play ever minute of every game in the 2002 World Cup in Korea/Japan, earning Man of the Match honors for his sterling performance in the 1-0 quarterfinal loss to eventual runners up Germany.

As a member of D.C. United, he helped the Black and Red become the first professional team to win the domestic ‘double’ when they captured the 1996 MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup. The ‘Big Cat’ scored the game-tying goal in the ’96 final against the Los Angeles Galaxy, then did one better the following year when he scored the game-winning goal against Colorado to hand United their second-consecutive league championship. In 1998, United won the CONCACAF Champions Cup – the regional club championship – setting the stage for a showdown with famed Vasco da Gama of Brazil in the Interamerican Cup. Once again Sanneh put his name to the scoresheet, scoring the series-tying goal as United went on to win 2-1 on aggregate and brought home the championship of North, Central and South America.

In 1999, Tony transferred to Hertha Berlin of the German Bundesliga. In addition to success in the Bundesliga, Sanneh and Hertha represented Germany in the prestigious UEFA Champions League as well as the UEFA Cup. In 2001, he transferred to FC Nurnberg where he was a regular starter until he returned to MLS in 2004 to join the Columbus Crew. During that season, he helped anchor a Crew defense that set an MLS record by going unbeaten in 17 consecutive games en route to capturing the Supporters Shield for the best regular season record. He left Columbus for the Chicago Fire, going on to collect his second U.S. Open Cup title in 2006. He spent one season with the Colorado Rapids before hip surgery sidelined him for all of 2008.

Tony has played against some of the best players and clubs in the world including Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Italy, Portugal, Barcelona, AC Milan, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. A USSF licensed coach, he as worked under legendary U.S. coaches Bruce Arena and Bob Bradley, as well as Buzz Lagos, Boro Sucevic, Klaus Augenthaler, Jurgen Rober, and Dave Sarachan.

Clubs and Honors

International

• U.S. National Team - 43 international appearances
• CONCACAF Gold Cup titles (2002, 2005)
• 2002 FIFA World Cup (quarterfinalists)

Professional

• Milwaukee Rampage (USL) 1994: Member of Rampage Hall of Fame
• Minnesota Thunder (USL) 1995-96: Member of Thunder Hall of Fame
• D.C. United (MLS) 1996-98: MLS Cup Champions (1996, 1997)
• U.S. Open Cup Champions (1996), CONCACAF Champions Cup (1998), Interamerican Cup (1998)
• Hertha BSC (German Bundesliga) 1999-2001
• FC Nurnberg (German Bundesliga) 2001-2004
• Columbus Crew – (MLS) 2004: MLS Supporters Shield
• Chicago Fire (MLS) 2005-06: 2006 U.S. Open Cup
• Colorado Rapids (MLS) 2007
• Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS) 2009
• Member of USL Hall of Fame