Steve Cherundolo
A one-club man in Germany who became a defensive anchor for the US national team and a respected coach in MLS.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American soccer player and coach·Birthday: February 19·Generation X
Biography
Steve Cherundolo’s story is one of quiet, steadfast loyalty in an era of soccer mercenaries. Born in Rockford, Illinois, his path led him to Germany's Hannover 96 at age 20, where he would spend his entire 15-year professional playing career, a remarkable feat of longevity. Nicknamed 'The Mayor of Hannover,' he evolved from a young American prospect into the club's captain and a Bundesliga fixture, making over 300 appearances. His intelligent, consistent play at right-back made him an automatic choice for the United States, where he earned 87 caps and started in two World Cups. After retiring, he seamlessly transitioned to coaching, first with Hannover's youth teams and later as an assistant with the German national team and VfB Stuttgart. In 2022, he took the helm at Los Angeles FC, immediately proving his tactical acumen by leading the club to an MLS Cup victory in his first season, cementing his reputation as a sharp, modern manager.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Steve was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Captained German Bundesliga side Hannover 96 for multiple seasons, making over 300 league appearances for the club.
- Represented the United States at the 2006 and 2010 FIFA World Cups, earning 87 total caps for his country.
- Won the MLS Cup as head coach of Los Angeles FC in his first full season in charge in 2022.
- Inducted into the United States National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2022.
Did You Know?
He is fluent in German after living in the country for over two decades.
Cherundolo's younger sister, Tina, is a former professional soccer player who also played in Germany.
He holds a UEFA Pro Licence, the highest coaching certification in European football.
Despite his long career, he never received a red card in the Bundesliga.
“My loyalty was to Hannover; that club and city became my home.”
