Tony Meola is one of the greatest American players to step on a pitch, and the first of several incredible keepers who have marshalled the defense for Kansas City.
Meola (along with Alexi Lalas) was acquired by the Wiz in 1999 in a trade from the MetroStars. Most of his 1999 season was lost to injury, but in 2000 he had a season for the ages.
Tony Meola led the Wizards to the 2000 MLS Cup where they won 1-0 over the Chicago Fire. Meola was named the MLS Cup MVP. He also picked up the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year and MLS League MVP awards after recording a record 16 shutouts in the 2000 season.
He spent five seasons in Kansas City from 1999-2004 appearing in 125 league games, recording 37 clean sheets. He also spent five seasons with the New York Red Bulls where he appeared in another 125 league games with 25 clean sheets recorded.
He was named to the MLS All-Time Best XI.
Meola's goalkeeper kit has a few signs of wear with picks or pulls here and there, and one stain up in the back right shoulder. It has the elbow padding built into the shirt which appears in a variety of goalkeeping shirts from that time.
One interesting note about this shirt is that there are no pictures available of Meola wearing it or one like it. There are very few photos of Tony Meola from the 2003 season, and not a ton of video out there of the Wiz from 2003 either.
This shirt was acquired with an LOA stating it came from Tony Meola's own personal collection.
Tracking down a Meola from his Wizards days has been a goal for about five years now, so it's awesome to finally have my hands on one. It is certainly going to be one of the most treasured shirts in my collection.