News

Tampa Bay and Raymond James Stadium hosts a FIFA World Cup Qualifier for the first time when the United States National Team faces Antigua and Barbuda this Friday night, June 8. The Rowdies have a long history of great players on the National Team and here is a look of some of those who played, and in one case, played and coached for the National Team.

- Winston DuBose
Made over 100 appearances for the Rowdies. DuBose manned the nets for the U.S. National Team at different times throughout his professional career. His first cap came as a second-half substitute against Bermuda on October 7, 1979. He gained his first start for his country against Ireland three weeks later. His first shutout came against Luxembourg in 1980. He played his final game for the National Team in 1985.

- Arnie Mausser
Played for the Rowdies in 1976 and 1984. Mausser's strong play earned him the starting goalkeeper position for the National Team. He earned 35 caps between 1975 and 1985, and posted 10 shutouts.

- Glenn Myernick
Played for Rowdies in 1983-84. Played and coached for the National Team. Myernick earned 10 caps for the U.S. from 1977 to 1979, serving as team captain in 1978. After serving as an assistant coach on the 1996 U.S. Men's Olympic soccer team, Myernick was hired in 2002 to serve as an assistant coach on the Men's National Team for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He continued serving the U.S. Men's National Team through the 2005 Gold Cup and the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

- Hugo Perez
Played for the Rowdies in 1982-83. Although born in El Salvador, he gained his U.S. citizenship as a youth and earned 73 caps, scoring 16 goals, with the U.S. National Team between 1984 and 1994. He was a member of the U.S. team at the both the 1984 Summer Olympics and the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He was the 1991 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year and was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2008.

- Gregg Thompson
Played for the Rowdies in 1983 and 1984. He was a member of the U.S. soccer team at the 1984 Summer Olympics and earned 12 caps with the U.S. National Team.

- Steve Trittschuh
Played for the Rowdies in 1989-90, 1991-93. Trittschuh had a long and successful national team career. In 1987, he was selected to play for the U.S. national team. He made his National Team debut against Egypt at the 1987 Presidents Cup. He was a member of the U.S. team at the 1990 FIFA World Cup and played the full 90 minutes in their opening game against Czechoslovakia. He was also a member of the 1991 Gold Cup championship team. In 1995, he played his last game with the National Team, against Saudi Arabia.

- Perry Van Der Beck
Former Rowdies player and current Executive Vice President, Director of Player Development and Technical Director for the current Tampa Bay Rowdies organization. In 1979, Van Der Beck played his first game with the U.S. National Team. He would go on to earn 23 caps, scoring two goals with the team. He was an integral part of the team that was unsuccessful in attempts to qualify for the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.

- Peter Vermes
Played for the Rowdies in 1991. Vermes, now the head coach of Sporting KC in Major League Soccer, received his first cap in 1988 against Colombia, and would receive 67 caps for the team, playing in the 1988 Olympics, the 1990 World Cup and the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Vermes was named the 1988 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year and U.S. Olympic Player of the Year.