Shep Messing

Shep Messing is a Harvard graduate and two-time collegiate All-American soccer player. He began his professional playing days as the goalkeeper for the New York Cosmos, playing alongside world-renowned players Pele, Franz Beckenbauer, and Giorgio Chinaglia. Those players led the Cosmos to the Championship in 1977. Following his tour with the Cosmos, Messing was the first player to sign with the Major Indoor Soccer League where he played for the New York Arrows from 1978 through 1984. He spent six years with the Arrows and collected virtually every goalkeeper title along the way. Messing led the NY Arrows to the MISL Championship and was an All-Star in each of the League’s first four seasons. Messing has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS and Good Morning America, authored a best-selling book, sold the movie rights to Sony and appeared in internationally distributed television commercials, movies, and videos. Messing was also on the USA Team in the Pan American Games (1971), in the 1972 Olympic Games and with the US National Team. In 1993, Messing was inducted into the New York Sports Hall of Fame, in 2006 the Nassau County Hall of Fame and more recently served on the Board of NYC2012. Messing has been involved in the professional soccer industry for over 25 years since his retirement as a player. During this time, as both a soccer executive and as an international television broadcaster, he has been a worldwide leading figure in the sport. Messing has broadcast the FIFA World Cup in 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 for ESPN and the Olympic Games in 2008 and 2012 for NBC. He currently broadcasts New York Red Bulls games for the Madison Square Garden network and New York Cosmos games for ONE World Sports. Messing is an advisor and consultant to professional teams in both Major League Soccer and the North American Soccer League.