Alex Morgan was U.S. Soccer's top-paid player -- male or female -- between April 2012 and March 2013, according to a report. (Photo Copyright Meg Linehan for The Equalizer)
According to tax records obtained by the Washington Post’s Steve Goff: Alex Morgan, Becky Sauerbrunn and Christie Rampone were the three highest-paid players on the United States women’s national team or men’s national team from April 2012-March 2013.
The financial report, according to Goff, is required to reveal the 10 highest-paid employees within U.S. Soccer, the best-paid of which is U.S. men’s national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who earned $2.515 million in that period. The salaries of the three players listed are pretty similar, and, as Goff notes, it’s reasonable to assume that several of the other U.S. regulars are not far behind.
Morgan: $282,564
Sauerbrunn: $274,871
Rampone: $272,913
Keep in mind the fiscal year involved the London Olympics, where the U.S. women won a third-straight gold medal, earning bonuses.
According to a June 2013 report by Sports Illustrated’s Grant Wahl, Morgan’s annual income is over $1 million, “the vast majority of it coming from endorsements with brands such as Nike, Panasonic, AT&T and Coca-Cola.” That’s pre-ChapStick endorsement, too.
Pia Sundhage earned $322,000 before stepping down in September 2012. Tom Sermanni had only just begun coaching the U.S. by the end of the tax period, and thus is not on the list.
More detailed financial information on U.S. Soccer can be found here.
