News from the Hall

Agoos and Fawcett Elected to the Hall of Fame
ONEONTA, NY (January 15, 2009) – Five-time MLS Champion Jeff Agoos and two-time World Champion Joy Fawcett have been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In a national television announcement on Fox Soccer Channel’s Center Circle Live broadcast from St. Louis, Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann introduced the two players before an audience of soccer coaches attending the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Annual Convention.

“The Hall of Fame is proud to honor the two newest players to be elected to the Hall of Fame, Jeff Agoos and Joy Fawcett,” Baumann said as the two entered the studio area. “These players have distinguished themselves and soccer in the United States through outstanding careers of championships and accomplishments. Each has represented the United States in international competition at the highest level and earned the distinction I am pleased to announce tonight.”

Front row: Ron Newman, Joy Fawcett, Jeff Agoos, Bob Hermann, Julie Foudy Back row: Anson Dorrance, Al Trost, Clay Berling, Walter Bahr, Jerry Yeagley, Pat McBride, Hank Steinbrecher, Len Oliver

Agoos, currently the Sporting Director of MLS club New York Red Bulls, played 134 times for the U.S. Men’s National Team, the second most in the team’s history. His national team career included participation in two World Cups (1998 and 2002) and the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He began his Major League Soccer career with D.C. United and won the MLS Cup in the league’s first year, 1996. He went on to win an additional four MLS Cups, two more with D.C. United and two with the San Jose Earthquakes, for whom he played in the 2001 through 2004 seasons. He retired from his MLS career with the New York MetroStars, now Red Bulls, following the 2005 season. Agoos played collegiate soccer at the University of Virginia, winning an NCAA Division I championship in 1989.

Fawcett won two FIFA Women’s World Cups (1991 and 1999) and two Olympic Gold Medals (Atlanta 1996 and Athens 2004) in a career of epic proportions. Her 239 international matches played is fourth in U.S. Women’s National Team history, surpassed only by the currently active Kristine Lilly and Hall of Famers Julie Foudy and Mia Hamm (Class of 2007). In her remarkable 15-year national team career, often paired with Hall of Famer Carla Overbeck (Class of 2006) in the central defense, she received just two yellow cards and was never red carded. The Women’s National Team played in four FIFA Women’s World Cups and three Olympic Games during her career, with Joy playing every minute of the World Cup matches in 1991, 1995, and 1999. She played three seasons in the Women’s United Soccer Association for the San Diego Spirit and was a WUSA All Star in 2003. She was a 3-time NSCAA All America player for the University of California, Berkeley. She currently directs the Saddleback United Soccer Club located in Mission Viejo, CA.

A total of 159 ballots were cast in the Players Election. Agoos was named on 108 ballots (67.9%) and Fawcett was selected on 106 ballots (66.7%). A player must be selected on 66.7% of the ballots cast to be elected to the Hall of Fame. The other top ten in the election were:

The Induction 2009 ceremony will be held on Sunday, August 2nd at the Hall of Fame and Museum located in Oneonta, NY. The weekend will include the Big 3 Enshrinement Ceremony on Saturday, August 1st and numerous other fan-oriented activities. For full details on the weekend, visit www.soccerhall.org.

Hall of Fame Announces 2009 Veterans Ballot
ONEONTA, NY (November 3,2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum today announced the 2009 Veteran Ballot highlighted by several retired U.S. National Team and North American Soccer League (NASL) stars. Players were selected to the Veteran Ballot from the over 300 eligible players by vote of the 16-member Veterans Screening Committee, which is made up of selected Hall of Famers. Here is a complete list of the veteran players selected for the Veteran Ballot:

• Desmond Armstrong - 81 caps, 1990 World Cup team, 1988 Olympics
• Barry Barto - 16 caps, 6 seasons in the NASL, 1973 NASL champion.
• George Best - 6 seasons in NASL, 11 NASL playoff games, 4-time NASL all-star
• Hubert Birkenmeier - 6 seasons in the NASL, 2-time NASL champion, 3-time NASL all-star
• Teofilo Cubillas - 5 seasons in the NASL, 2 ASL seasons, 4-time NASL all-star, 2 USL seasons
• Steve David - 8 NASL seasons, 2-time NASL scoring champion, 3-time NASL all-star, 1975 NASL MVP
• Linda Hamilton - 71 caps, 1991 & 1995 World Cup team, 1991 Woman’s World Cup champion,
• Lori Henry - 39 caps. 1991 Women's World Cup champion
• Shep Messing - 1972 Olympics, 7 NASL seasons, 1977 NASL champion, 8 indoor seasons
• Bill McPherson - 10 ASL seasons, 5-time ASL champion, 7-time U.S Open Cup champion
• Bruce Murray - 86 caps, 1990 World Cup team, 1988 Olympics
• Glenn Myernick - 10 caps, U.S National Team 1975-79, 8 NASL seasons,
• John O’Connell - 4 caps, 10 ASL seasons, 1954 ASL champion, 2-time ASL MVP
• Andy Racz - 6 ASL seasons, 1960 ASL MVP, 3-time ASL champion, 3-time U.S Open Cup champion.
• Bob Rigby - 6 caps, 12 NASL seasons, 2-time NASL all-star,
• Kyle Rote, Jr. - 5 caps, 7 NASL seasons, NASL all-star 1978

“These veteran players represent over 50 years of professional soccer in the United States,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “Their playing contributions to the game are important to recognize and to honor, as we did in 2008 when Hugo Perez was inducted as a veteran player.”

Biographies of each are available on the Hall of Fame and Museum’s web site, www.soccerhall.org.

The Ballot will be submitted to all Hall of Famers for a vote. The veteran, who receives the most votes, as long as the total represents at least 50% of the ballots cast, will be elected to the Hall of Fame.

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Hall of Fame Announces Final Builder Ballot
ONEONTA, NY (November 6, 2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame announced today the individuals who will appear on the Hall of Fame Builder Ballot. Among the 15 candidates who were selected for the ballot are several past U.S National Team coaches and leaders of major soccer organizations. Builder candidates were selected from a list of over 50 eligible candidates by vote of the Builder’s Screening Committee, a 16-member committee made up of selected Hall of Famers. The candidates are:

• Bruce Arena - 2-time MLS champion coach, past U.S. Men's National Team coach.
• Chuck Blazer – General Secretary of CONCACAF, member of the FIFA Executive Committee
• Bob Contiguglia – Past U.S. Soccer president, Past U.S. Youth Soccer chairman
• Bill Cox – International Soccer League founder and president, NASL's San Diego Toros president
• Tony DiCicco - Past U.S Women’s National Team coach, 1996 Olympic Gold medal, 1999 World Cup Champion
• Don Garber - MLS commissioner
• Bob Gansler – Past U.S National Team coach, 1990 World Cup
• Burton Haimes - Chairman of the Board for American Youth Soccer Organization, Board of Directors, U.S. Soccer
• Robert Kraft - Investor in Major League Soccer, Operator of the New England Revolution
• Joe Machnick - MLS official, goalkeeper coach of the men’s national team at the 1990 World Cup
• Francisco Marcos - Founder and President, United Soccer Leagues
• Fritz Marth - Former Executive Director of U.S. Amateur/Adult Soccer Association
• Thom Meredith - Former U.S. Soccer executive, consultant for numerous soccer organizations and events
• Kevin Payne - MLS team official. President and CEO of D.C. United
• David Socha - NASL & international referee, refereed at the 1982 & 1986 World Cups

“These Builders have made great contributions to the sport of soccer,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said. “Each has contributed to the growth of the game at the national level and have earned consideration for the Hall of Fame.”

More information about each of the Builder candidates is on the Hall of Fame and Museum’s web site, www.soccerhall.org.

The Ballot will be submitted to all Hall of Famers and a select group of soccer administrators for their vote. The builder candidate who receives the most votes, as long as the total represents at least 50% of the ballots cast, will be elected to the Hall of Fame. In 2008, University of North Carolina coach and former U.S. Women's National Team coach Anson Dorrance was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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Hall of Fame Releases Election 2009 Player Ballot
ONEONTA, NY (November 4, 2008) – The National Soccer Hall of Fame today released the 2009 Player ballot. Players eligible for election to the Hall of Fame are:

• Jeff Agoos – 134 caps, 1988, 2002 World Cup, 10 seasons in MLS, 5-time MLS champion, 3-time MLS all-star
• Mike Burns – 75 caps, 1992 Olympic Team, ’94 and ’98 World Cup team, 7 MLS seasons,
• Mauricio Cienfuegos – 8 MLS seasons, 3-time MLS All Star, MLS Cup and U.S. Open Cup champion
• Raul Diaz Arce – 6 MLS seasons, 2-time MLS Cup champion, U.S. Open Cup champion
• Thomas Dooley – 81 caps, 1994, 1998 World Cup team, 4 MLS seasons, MLS all star, 1992 Honda Award
• John Doyle – 53 caps, 1990 World Cup team, 1988 Olympic Team, 1991 Gold Cup champion, 5 MLS seasons,
• Marco Etcheverry – 8 MLS seasons, 4-time All Star, MVP, 3-time MLS Cup champion, U.S. Open Cup champion
• Joy Biefeld Fawcett – 239 caps, World Champion 1991 and 1999, Olympic Gold in 1996 and 2004
• Robin Fraser – 26 caps, 10 seasons in MLS
• Dominic Kinnear – 54 caps, ’91 Gold Cup champion, 5 MLS seasons,
• Frank Klopas – 40 caps, 1988 Olympic Team, 1994 World Cup, 4 MLS seasons, MLS and Open Cup champion
• Roy Lassiter – 30 caps, MLS all star, MLS scoring champion, MLS Champion
• Shannon MacMillan – 176 caps, World Champion in 1999, Olympic Gold in 1996
• Pato Margetic – 5 NASL seasons, 2-time NASL champion, 3-time NASL all-star, 15 indoor seasons,
• Joe-Max Moore – 100 caps, ’92 Olympic Team, ’94, ’98, and ’02 World Cup Team
• Victor Nogueira – 6 seasons in the NASL, 13 seasons indoor soccer, 4-time MVP
• Peter Nowak – 5 MLS seasons, 3-time MLS all star, MLS Cup champion, 2-time Open Cup champion
• Cindy Parlow – 158 caps, World Champion in 1999, Olympic Gold in 1996 and 2004
• Preki Radosavljevic – 28 caps, 4-time MLS all star, MLS champion in 2000
• Mike Sorber – 67 caps, 1994 World Cup team, 5 MLS seasons
• Earnie Stewart – 101 caps, ’94, ’98, 2002 World Cup team, Honda Award winner in 2001, MLS champion in 2004
• Steve Trittschuh – 38 caps, 1990 World Cup team, 6 MLS seasons,
• Carlos Valderrama – 7 MLS seasons, 3-time MLS all-star, MVP
• Tisha Venturini Hoch – 132 caps, World Champion in 1999, Olympic Gold in 1996
• Peter Vermes – 67 caps, 1988 Olympics, 1990 World Cup, 7 MLS seasons, MLS Cup and Open Cup champion

“This is an impressive list of candidates,” Hall of Fame President Steve Baumann said.”It contains World Cup players and champions, MLS champions, and Olympians. We look forward to announcing the newest members of the Hall of Fame on January 15th at the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Convention in St. Louis and on the Center Circle Live broadcast on Fox Soccer Channel.”

The voting period opens on November 3rd and concludes at noon on December 3rd. Voters in the Player Election include:

• Selected members of the media,
• Hall of Famers,
• Past and present U.S. Men’s and Women’s National Team coaches and select MLS coaches, and
• Selected MLS, WPS, and U.S. Soccer administrators.

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The Mission of the National Soccer Hall of Fame is to Celebrate the History, Honor the Heroes,
Inspire the Youth and Preserve the Legacy of Soccer in the United States.

Located in Oneonta, NY, the National Soccer Hall of Fame opened a new 30,000 sq.ft., state-of-the-art multimedia museum in 1999 and is open every day of the year except Christmas, New Year’s, and Thanksgiving. The Hall of Fame tells the story of soccer in America through artifacts, photographs, video and written narratives. The main VideoWall portrays some of the greatest moments and the greatest goals in soccer history as well as live soccer action from the World Cup, MLS, and U.S. Soccer matches. The Hall features an extensive interactive, youth oriented Kicks Zone, including a kid-sized indoor field, where visitors have fun kicking, heading and playing computer trivia stations and video soccer games. Unique and rare artifacts on exhibit range from The Dewar Cup, the oldest team trophy in U.S. Sport, to the Women’s World Cup won by the USA in 1999, the uniforms of Pele and Mia Hamm’s, Kristine Lilly’s golden shoes, NASL championship rings, and MLS championship trophies. That and so much more are all at the National Soccer Hall of Fame. In addition to the interactive Museum, the National Soccer Hall of Fame’s 61-acre complex boasts the Kicks Hall of Fame Museum Store, a research library, four world-class soccer fields and office/meeting facilities.