Steve Snow
Encyclopedia
Stephen Leonard Snow is a retired American
soccer forward
who was a dominant goal scorer at the high school, college and junior national level. He played professionally in Belgium and in the United States. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team
.
from 1985 to 1989 where he played soccer. While playing for Hoffman, Snow scored in 49 consecutive games, ranking him first on the Illinois High School Association's list of consecutive matches scored in. He finished his high school career with 92 goals. After graduating from high school, Snow attended Indiana University
where he played NCAA soccer. As a freshman in 1989, he was the NCAA post-season tournament leading goal scorer with 4 goals and 1 assist. That year the Indiana Hoosiers
lost to Santa Clara
1-0 in the semifinals.
. He had no first team appearances for Standard and moved to Boom
following the 1992 Summer Olympics. After scoring 3 goals in his first 7 games, he suffered a major knee injury and returned to the U.S. where he had at least two surgeries to repair his anterior cruciate ligament
. He never returned to play with Boom and instead signed with the Chicago Power
of the National Professional Soccer League on December 10, 1993. He played thirty games, scoring twenty-seven goals, in 1994-1995, but saw time in only nine games, scoring four goals, in the 1995-1996 season before knee problems cut his playing career short. Snow retired from soccer and opened a pizza parlor on the north side of Indianapolis.
. At the championship, the U.S. went 1-2 and failed to qualify for the second round. Snow scored one of the U.S. goals in its 4-2 loss to South Korea.
in 1988 and 1989. During qualification for the 1989 U-20 World Cup
, Snow scored 5 of the team's 11 goals. Then at the championship the next year, he scored 3 goals, including the goal in the team's 1-1 tie with Mali. That year, the U.S. finished fourth, losing its semifinal match to Nigeria 2-1 in overtime, despite yet another Snow goal.
games, where the U.S. won its first gold medal. Snow was the team's leading scorer with 4 goals.
. He scored 11 goals in 9 games, including a hat trick in a 4-3 victory over Honduras, as the U.S. easily qualified for the games. However, for reasons that have never been fully explained, the U.S. coach, Lothar Osiander
benched Snow for the team's opening game of the tournament against Italy. The U.S. would lose that game 2-1. Osiander was known to dislike Snow, calling him a "cocky twerp" and accusing him of being egotistical and not a team player. However, he played Snow in the next two games, a win and a tie. Snow scored in both games, but the U.S. failed to advance out of group play. Osiander's refusal to play Snow would lead to his being fired as Olympic coach after the games.
. His first cap came in a June 14, 1988 victory over Costa Rica
when he came on as a second half substitute for Charlie Raphael
. On August 13, 1989, Snow came on for Bruce Murray in a 2-1 loss to South Korea
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
soccer forward
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
who was a dominant goal scorer at the high school, college and junior national level. He played professionally in Belgium and in the United States. He also earned two caps with the U.S. national team
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
.
High school and college
Snow was born and grew up in Illinois and attended Hoffman Estates High SchoolHoffman Estates High School
Hoffman Estates High School, or HEHS, is a public four-year high school located in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, a northwest suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of Township High School District 211, which also includes James B...
from 1985 to 1989 where he played soccer. While playing for Hoffman, Snow scored in 49 consecutive games, ranking him first on the Illinois High School Association's list of consecutive matches scored in. He finished his high school career with 92 goals. After graduating from high school, Snow attended Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
where he played NCAA soccer. As a freshman in 1989, he was the NCAA post-season tournament leading goal scorer with 4 goals and 1 assist. That year the Indiana Hoosiers
Indiana Hoosiers
The Indiana Hoosiers are the athletic teams for the Bloomington campus of Indiana University . Athletic teams sponsored by IU Bloomington include cross country, track, baseball, golf, tennis, rowing, volleyball, soccer, football and basketball...
lost to Santa Clara
Santa Clara University
Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose...
1-0 in the semifinals.
Professional career
Snow left Indiana after his freshman year to pursue a professional career in Belgium where he signed with Standard LiègeStandard Liège
Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège Royal Standard de Liège, commonly referred to as Standard Liège (Dutch: Standard Luik [], German: Standard Lüttich , is a Belgian football club from the city of Liège....
. He had no first team appearances for Standard and moved to Boom
K. Boom F.C.
K. Boom F.C. was a Belgian football club founded in 1913 as Boom Football Club in the town of Boom near Antwerp. It received the matricule n°58.They last played in the Belgian First Division in the 1992/1993 season....
following the 1992 Summer Olympics. After scoring 3 goals in his first 7 games, he suffered a major knee injury and returned to the U.S. where he had at least two surgeries to repair his anterior cruciate ligament
Anterior cruciate ligament
The anterior cruciate ligament is a cruciate ligament which is one of the four major ligaments of the human knee. In the quadruped stifle , based on its anatomical position, it is referred to as the cranial cruciate ligament.The ACL originates from deep within the notch of the distal femur...
. He never returned to play with Boom and instead signed with the Chicago Power
Chicago Power
The Chicago Power were an indoor soccer club based in Chicago, Illinois that competed in the American Indoor Soccer Association and National Professional Soccer League.After the 1995/96 season, the team became the Edmonton Drillers.-Year-by-year:...
of the National Professional Soccer League on December 10, 1993. He played thirty games, scoring twenty-seven goals, in 1994-1995, but saw time in only nine games, scoring four goals, in the 1995-1996 season before knee problems cut his playing career short. Snow retired from soccer and opened a pizza parlor on the north side of Indianapolis.
U-16 World Championship
Snow gained his first taste of top level international competition with the U.S. U-16 national team as it qualified for the 1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship1987 FIFA U-16 World Championship
The FIFA U-16 World Championship 1987 was held in the cities of Toronto, Saint John, Montreal, and St. John's in Canada between 12 July and 25 July 1987...
. At the championship, the U.S. went 1-2 and failed to qualify for the second round. Snow scored one of the U.S. goals in its 4-2 loss to South Korea.
U-20 World Championship
Snow starred for the U.S. U-20 national teamUnited States U-20 men's national soccer team
The United States U-20 men's national soccer team is the national under-20 soccer team of the United States of America and is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation. The highest level of competition in which the team competes is the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which is held every two years.The...
in 1988 and 1989. During qualification for the 1989 U-20 World Cup
FIFA World Youth Championship 1989
The 1989 FIFA World Youth Championship took place in Saudi Arabia between February 16 and March 3, 1989. The 1989 championship was the 7th contested. The tournament took place in four venues: Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, and Ta'if.- Qualification :...
, Snow scored 5 of the team's 11 goals. Then at the championship the next year, he scored 3 goals, including the goal in the team's 1-1 tie with Mali. That year, the U.S. finished fourth, losing its semifinal match to Nigeria 2-1 in overtime, despite yet another Snow goal.
Pan American Games
Snow continued his torrid scoring pace with the junior national teams at the 1991 Pan American GamesFootball at the 1991 Pan American Games
The eleventh edition of the Men's Football Tournament at the Pan American Games was held in Havana, Cuba from August 4 to August 13, 1991. Eight teams competed, with title holder Brazil missing...
games, where the U.S. won its first gold medal. Snow was the team's leading scorer with 4 goals.
Olympics
Snow continued his success during qualifications for the 1992 Summer Olympics1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. He scored 11 goals in 9 games, including a hat trick in a 4-3 victory over Honduras, as the U.S. easily qualified for the games. However, for reasons that have never been fully explained, the U.S. coach, Lothar Osiander
Lothar Osiander
Lothar Osiander is a U.S.-German soccer coach who has served as head coach to the U.S. national and Olympic teams as well as the Atlanta Ruckus, Los Angeles Galaxy and San Jose Clash....
benched Snow for the team's opening game of the tournament against Italy. The U.S. would lose that game 2-1. Osiander was known to dislike Snow, calling him a "cocky twerp" and accusing him of being egotistical and not a team player. However, he played Snow in the next two games, a win and a tie. Snow scored in both games, but the U.S. failed to advance out of group play. Osiander's refusal to play Snow would lead to his being fired as Olympic coach after the games.
Senior team
Despite his success at the junior international level, Snow played only two full internationals for the U.S. national teamUnited States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
. His first cap came in a June 14, 1988 victory over Costa Rica
Costa Rica national football team
The Costa Rica national football team, nicknamed La Sele, is the national team of Costa Rica and is controlled by the Federación Costarricense de Fútbol. Costa Rica is the third most successful team in CONCACAF after Mexico and the United States...
when he came on as a second half substitute for Charlie Raphael
Charlie Raphael
Charles “Charlie” Raphael is a former U.S. soccer forward who earned one cap with the U.S. national team in 1988. He played professionally for nine years.-Youth:...
. On August 13, 1989, Snow came on for Bruce Murray in a 2-1 loss to South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
.
External links
- Career stats - National Football Teams