U.S. Soccer will honor Christie Rampone prior to the kickoff of the American women’s match against England at the SheBelieves Cup at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, N.J. Saturday.
The second-most capped player in the history of international women’s soccer (311) Rampone played her final international match Sept. 20, 2015, ending a remarkable 19-year career. That included two Women’s World Cup championships (1999 and 2015) and three Olympic gold medals (12004, 2008 and 2012) and a silver one as well (2000).
She still plays with Sky Blue FC in the National Women’s Soccer League as Point Pleasant, N.J. native plans to embark on her 11th professional season next month.
Prior to the 2015 Women’s World Cup, U.S. head coach Jill Ellis marveled at Rampone, who turned 40 during the tournament.
“I’ve seen Christie in a daily training environment, going through the battery of fitness testing and she stood tall,” she said. “I think the physical piece is still there for her and certainly the mental piece. It’s a tremendous credit to her, not just to her mental strength, but her professionalism that she can take care of her body physically. Then she’s doing a handful on the field. I wouldn’t pick a player if I didn’t feel that they would go and perform on the field. She’s earned it.”
Two years ago I did a series of stories about Rampone for several publications and websites. Here is the full question and answer I did with her prior to the Women’s World Cup.
The interview stands up quite well because it captures the essence of Christie Rampone — the player, the woman, the mother and the person.
Did you really think you would wind up playing this long?
Rampone: I never even expected to play at this level at all. Growing…