Former MLS and U.S. national team defender Alexi Lalas highlights the list of candidates eligible for election to the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2006.
This year's inductees will be announced on April 22 at Giants Stadium at halftime of that day's MetroStars-D.C. United match. The announcement will be broadcast live on ESPN2.
Lalas, who is currently the president and general manager of the MetroStars, played seven seasons in MLS for the Metros (1998), New England Revolution (1996-97), Kansas City Wizards (1999) and Los Angeles Galaxy (2001-2003). He won two championships in his time in the league: the 2001 U.S. Open Cup and the 2002 MLS Cup, both with the Galaxy.
One of the most recognizable U.S. soccer stars, largely due to his wild red mane and goatee, Lalas burst into the American consciousness in 1994, when the USA advanced to the second round of the first FIFA World Cup held on U.S. soil. After the tournament, Lalas signed for Italian Serie A club Padova; he remains the only U.S.-born player ever to ply his trade in Italy's top flight.
Two years later, Lalas returned home to the United States, along with several of his fellow national team players, to help found MLS. He went on to play 169 matches in seven seasons, building a reputation as a tough-nosed defender. For the U.S. national team, Lalas made 96 appearances from 1991-98.
Upon retiring after the 2003 season, Lalas became the first former MLS player to become the general manager of an MLS team when he was hired by the San Jose Earthquakes. After a year and a half in charge of the Quakes, Lalas moved east to lead the MetroStars in their search for their first trophy.
Another MLS alumnus eligible for election for the first time this year is Roy Lassiter. Over the course of seven seasons with the Tampa Bay Mutiny, D.C. United, Miami Fusion and Wizards, the striker set the standard for future MLS players, scoring 88 career goals. That total stood as a league record until then-Dallas Burn forward Jason Kreis broke it in 2004. Lassiter still holds the single-season goal-scoring mark with 27 in the league's inaugural campaign. In addition to his MLS exploits, Lassiter scored four goals in 30 career appearances with the U.S. national team.
Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Mauricio Cienfuegos and Columbus Crew defender Mike Clark are also first-time candidates. Cienfuegos was one of the league's best playmakers over the course of his career, notching a total of 80 assists, including four seasons in double figures. The one-time El Salvador international was an All-Star in all but one of his eight seasons. Clark was a stalwart in the back for the Crew during his eight-year MLS career, helping the club win its only trophy, the 2002 U.S. Open Cup.
Other first-time eligible former MLS players are defender Chad McCarty, who played six seasons in the league with the Mutiny and Crew, and goalkeeper Tom Presthus, who was a member of two MLS Cup-winning D.C. United sides during his seven-year MLS career.
The remaining first-time eligible players are all U.S. women's national team veterans: Carla Overbeck (the captain of the USA's 1999 World Cup-winning team), Jena Kluegel, Nikki Serlenga and Tisha Venturini-Hoch. The newly eligible players join 47 holdovers from last year's ballot; 42 of the 57 candidates have played in MLS.
Several players are in their final year of eligibility. Included on that list are NASL veterans Hugo Perez and Perry Van der Beck, along with Desmond Armstrong, Eric Eichmann and Bruce Murray of the 1990 U.S. World Cup squad. Eichmann is the first player who once played in MLS to have reached his final year of eligibility.
The two players who receive the most votes are elected to the Hall of Fame each year as long as they are named on at least 50 percent of the ballots cast. A third candidate may be elected if that candidate is named 80 percent of the ballots cast.
Players are eligible for election following their third year of retirement from professional soccer and can stay on the ballot for up to 10 years following retirement. In order to become eligible for the Hall of Fame, a player must have played at least 20 full international games for the United States or five seasons in a United States first division pro league, and have met certain other qualifications.
Jason Halpin is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
HALL OF FAME ELIGIBLE PLAYERS
Geoff Aunger (NE 1996, DC 1998-2000, COL 2001)
Brian Bliss (CLB 1996-97, MET 1997, KC 1998)
Paul Bravo (SJ 1996, COL 1997-2001)
Mike Burns (NE 1996-2000, SJ 2000, KC 2001-02)
Jeff Causey (DC 1996-97, NE 1997-2001)
Mauricio Cienfuegos (LA 1996-2003)
Mike Clark (CLB 1996-2003)
Thomas Dooley (CLB 1997-99, MET 2000)
John Doyle (SJ 1996-2000)
Ted Eck (DAL 1996-2001)
Eric Eichmann (KC 1996)
Richard Farrer (DAL 1996-2002)
Adam Frye (TB 1996-98, SJ 1999, LA 2000-2002)
Mario Gori (DC 1996-98, MIA 1999, NE 1999, CLB 2000)
Zak Ibsen (NE 1996, DAL 1996, CHI 1998, LA 1999-2000, SJ 2001-02)
Mo Johnston (KC 1996-2001)
John Kerr, Jr. (DAL 1996, NE 1996-1999)
Dominic Kinnear (COL 1996, SJ 1997, TB 1998-2000)
Frank Klopas (KC 1996-97, CHI 1998-99)
Alexi Lalas (NE 1996-97, MET 1998, KC 1999, LA 2001-03)
Mike Lapper (CLB 1997-2002)
Roy Lassiter (TB 1996-98, DC 1998-99, 2002, MIA 2000, KC 2001-02)
John Maessner (DC 1996-97, 1999-2000, MIA 1998-99, TB 2000-01)
Chad McCarty (TB 1998-2001, CLB 2002-03)
Matt McKeon (KC 1996-98, 2000-02, COL 1999)
Janusz Michallik (CLB 1996-97, NE 1998)
Peter Nowak (CHI 1998-2003)
Uche Okafor (KC 1996-2000)
Francis Okaroh (NE 1996-97, CHI 1998-99, MIA 2000)
Brandon Pollard (DAL 1996-2000)
Tom Presthus (DC 1997-2000, CLB 2001-03)
Mark Santel (DAL 1996-2000, KC 2001)
Mark Semioli (LA 1996-97, MET 1997-2001)
Mark Simpson (DC 1996-2001)
Diego Sonora (DAL 1996-97, MET 1998, DC 1999, TB 2000)
Mike Sorber (KC 1996, MET 1997-99, CHI 2000)
Steve Trittschuh (COL 1996-99, TB 1999-2001)
Carlos Valderrama (TB 1996-97, 1999-2001, MIA 1998-99, COL 2001-02)
David Vaudreuil (DC 1996-97, MIA 1998, COL 1998-2000, CHI 2001-02)
Peter Vermes (MET 1996, COL 1997-99, KC 2000-02)
Robert Warzycha (CLB 1996-2002)
Roy Wegerle (COL 1996-97, DC 1997-98, TB 1998)
