Last Updated on September 16, 2026 by Filepe
Ian Harkes comes from one of the most accomplished soccer families in the United States. The San Jose Earthquakes midfielder is the son of former USMNT captain John Harkes and former professional player Cindi Harkes. His sisters, Lauren and Lily, also played Division I college soccer, while his wife, Sarah Teegarden Harkes, enjoyed a professional career in Europe.
The Harkes family’s relationship with soccer stretches across several generations and includes connections to the United States, England and Scotland.
Who is Ian Harkes’ wife?
Ian Harkes is married to former professional soccer player Sarah Teegarden Harkes. Therefore, Sarah is his wife rather than his girlfriend.
Ian and Sarah met while attending Wake Forest University, where they represented the university’s men’s and women’s soccer teams. Wake Forest recognized them as its “Athlete Power Couple” at the university’s 2016 Black and Golden Globe Awards.
Sarah, who was born in Arcadia, California, played professionally for Kopparbergs/Göteborg in Sweden, Lille in France and Celtic in Scotland. She also spent time with the North Carolina Courage organization.
Her move to Celtic allowed the couple to live relatively close to each other while Ian represented Dundee United. Their unusual soccer story attracted attention in September 2021 when they both scored on the same day: Sarah scored for Celtic Women against Hibernian, while Ian found the net for Dundee United against Celtic’s men’s team.
The couple married on October 5, 2023, in Paso Robles, California. Ian and Sarah subsequently launched Simply Sublime Football Club, a soccer-inspired project incorporating a podcast, apparel and discussions about life in professional football.
Does Ian Harkes have children?
As of now, Ian and Sarah Harkes are expecting a baby. Ian’s publicly visible Instagram profile includes the announcement “Baby Harkes coming this November,” while another public social-media post refers to a Bay FC and San Jose Earthquakes collaboration for Baby Harkes.
No birth announcement had been published at the time of this research. The accurate description is therefore that the couple are expecting a child, rather than stating that their baby has already been born. They have not publicly disclosed extensive additional details about the baby.
Who is Ian Harkes’ father?
Ian Harkes’ father is John Harkes, one of the most recognizable American soccer players of his generation. John represented the United States at the 1990 and 1994 FIFA World Cups and became known as “Captain for Life” during his international career.
John played college soccer at the University of Virginia before moving to England. He represented Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest. He later played in Major League Soccer for D.C. United, the New England Revolution and Columbus Crew.
He won the inaugural MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup with D.C. United in 1996. Ian later followed several parts of his father’s career path by representing D.C. United and the New England Revolution and by competing in the U.S. Open Cup.
John subsequently became a coach and soccer executive. His positions have included coaching roles with FC Cincinnati and Greenville Triumph.
Who is Ian Harkes’ mother?
Ian Harkes’ mother is Cindi Harkes, who also has an accomplished soccer background. She played Division I college soccer at the University of Virginia from 1987 to 1991.
Cindi later played in the USL W-League for the Maryland Pride and spent time in England with Sheffield Wednesday Ladies and Stanton Rangers. She also became involved in youth soccer coaching.
Ian has consequently described a family environment in which both parents understood the demands of competitive soccer. John and Cindi did not force their children to follow them into the sport, according to a family feature published by Elon University, but encouraged dedication when all three children chose soccer.
Who are Ian Harkes’ siblings?
Ian Harkes has two younger sisters, Lauren Harkes and Lily Harkes. Both became Division I college soccer players.
Lauren Harkes
Lauren Harkes played as a midfielder for Clemson University before completing her college career at Creighton University. She was born in Fairfax, Virginia, and attended Bishop O’Connell High School.
Lauren later became involved in coaching and youth soccer development. Her official Creighton biography confirms that her parents, brother and sister all played Division I soccer, making the Harkes family’s sporting background particularly unusual.
Lily Harkes
Lily Harkes is the youngest of John and Cindi Harkes’ three children. She played midfield for Elon University and helped the Phoenix reach the NCAA tournament.
An Elon University feature explains that Lily’s two older siblings, Ian and Lauren, had also won conference championships and participated in NCAA tournaments. Lily wore number 16, combining her mother’s former number 10 with her father’s number six.
The Harkes family’s Scottish roots
Ian was born in Derby, England, on March 30, 1995, while his father was playing for Derby County. However, the family also has strong Scottish roots through Ian’s paternal grandparents.
Ian’s grandfather, Jim Harkes, was born in Dundee before moving to the United States. That connection made Ian’s move to Dundee United in 2019 especially meaningful. He helped the club win the Scottish Championship and promotion to the Premiership during the 2019–20 season.
How Ian Harkes’ family influenced his career
Being the son of a prominent USMNT player created inevitable comparisons, but Ian established his own career. He won the MAC Hermann Trophy as the best male college soccer player in the United States following his final season at Wake Forest.
Ian then represented D.C. United, Dundee United, the New England Revolution and the San Jose Earthquakes. His mother, father and sisters understood the pressures surrounding his career because all four had played competitive soccer.
Sarah’s experience as a professional player has created another layer of support. Ian previously explained that having a footballer as his partner helped because each understood the challenges, injuries and uncertainty experienced by the other.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ian Harkes’ wife?
Ian Harkes is married to former professional soccer player Sarah Teegarden Harkes. They married on October 5, 2023.
Does Ian Harkes have children?
As of now, Ian and Sarah are expecting a baby in November. No birth announcement had been published at the time of this research.
Who are Ian Harkes’ parents?
His parents are former USMNT captain John Harkes and former University of Virginia and professional player Cindi Harkes.
Does Ian Harkes have siblings?
Yes. He has two younger sisters, Lauren and Lily Harkes, both of whom played Division I college soccer.
Is Ian Harkes related to John Harkes?
Yes. John Harkes is Ian’s father. They became the first father-and-son combination to represent the New England Revolution.
Did Ian Harkes’ wife play professional soccer?
Yes. Sarah played professionally in Sweden, France and Scotland, representing clubs including Kopparbergs/Göteborg, Lille and Celtic.
Filepe Junior is a football writer tracking La Liga transfers, covering major signings, squad planning, and player movements across Spanish clubs.
