The field of declared candidates for the US Soccer Federation presidency continues to grow, with two former MLS players throwing their hats into the ring.
Ex-LA Galaxy midfielder and US national team hero Paul Caligiuri – who scored the goal that took the USA to the World Cup in 1990 – declared his candidacy for the post on Friday, while another former Galaxy mid, Kyle Martino, followed suit when he announced on Monday that he was running as well.
Caligiuri, who played professionally in Germany in the late 1980s and early '90s before returning to MLS for the league's first six seasons, coached collegiately at Cal Poly-Pomona from 2002-08 and is the current head coach of the National Premier Soccer League's Orange County FC. He has also served on the USSF Athletics Council and USSF Board of Directors.
Martino spent most of his 6-year pro playing career in MLS with Columbus Crew SC, making 106 appearances across 4 1/2 seasons in Ohio before finishing his career in L.A. He took a hiatus from his current position as an analyst and color commentator for NBC Sports' coverage of the English Premier League to run for the USSF presidency, and has previously worked as a color commentator for MLS coverage on the ESPN family of networks.
Martino and Caligiuri join USSF executive vice president Carlos Cordeiro, Boston-based lawyer Steve Gans, Massachusetts youth soccer official Paul Lapointe, former USMNT star and current FOX Sports analyst Eric Wynalda and New York-based lawyer Michael Winograd in declaring their candidacy for the federation presidency. Of that group, Gans and Lapointe say they have secured the three necessary declarations of support from USSF Organization Members and/or Athlete members of the USSF Board of Directors to be on the ballot.
Current US Soccer president Sunil Gulati, who has served in the role since 2006, has not announced he is running for a fourth term -- but has indicated that he's reached out to various constituencies about enlisting their support. USMNT legend Landon Donovan, who jointly holds the national team scoring record and is MLS's all-time leading scorer has said he is mulling a run but has not publicly announced a decision. Candidates have until December 12 to announce their intention to run and submit the required nominations.
Gulati has won the the last three elections unopposed, but after the USMNT failed to qualify for the the 2018 World Cup now faces a contested election on February 10 should he decide to run.
For a detailed breakdown of the candidates, check out Jeff Carlisle's feature at ESPN FC, which is being updated as more names join the race.
