- published: 08 May 2006
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Eric Boswell Wynalda (born June 9, 1969 in Fullerton, California) is a retired American soccer player, and former sports broadcaster. He was the co-host of Fox Football Fone-In on Fox Soccer Channel and is currently employeed as the president of international operations at Mexican third division club Murcielagos.
Wynalda scored the first goal ever in Major League Soccer in 1996 and was the all-time leading goalscorer for the United States national team until 2008. He was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004.
Wynalda, of Dutch ancestry, grew up in Westlake Village, California. As a child his team (the Westlake Wolves, with Eric's father Dave as the head coach) won the state championship in AYSO soccer as Wynalda scored more goals than the entire division his team played in, combined (56 goals in 16 games). He later attended Westlake High School and was a three time All State selection with the school's boys soccer team and a youth club team mate of fellow national team player Cobi Jones.