Hall of Fame U.S. Men’s National Team forward Benny McLaughlin passes away at Age 84

Bernard “Benny” McLaughlin, a former forward with the U.S. Men’s National Team, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 27. The Philadelphia native was 84.

McLaughlin earned 12 caps for the U.S. MNT from 1948-1955 and played on its 1948 Olympic team. He was inducted to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 1977.

McLaughlin played for the U.S. during World Cup qualifying in 1949 and 1954, but he missed the 1950 FIFA World Cup because of work commitments. McLaughlin also started in the USA-Scotland game on April 30, 1952, that drew a crowd of 107,765 in Glasgow.

Professionally, McLaughlin played in the American Soccer League from 1945-1961, primarily with the Philadelphia Nationals where he won ASL titles in 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1953.