Ballots have been distributed to a panel of voters for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2013 elections. The voting process began in January for the Player, Veteran Player and Builder categories. Voting will continue through Feb. 22, and the election results will be announced shortly after. The induction of the Class of 2013 will be announced later.
Players in their first year of eligibility include two-time MLS champion midfielder Wade Barrett, two-time WNT Olympic gold medalist Angela Hucles, former MLS Rookie of the Year and MNT veteran Ben Olsen, 2002 MNT World Cup defender Tony Sanneh and 2005 MLS MVP and former Men’s National Team forward Taylor Twellman.
“We are excited to begin the process of selecting the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2013 later this year,” said Hank Steinbrecher, Chairman of the HOF’s BOD.
“The Hall of Fame is the most prestigious honor among the Player, Veteran and Builder candidates who dedicated themselves to the sport. As usual there is a great mix of returning candidates and new names who are worthy of this award.”
Of the 22 total players on the Player ballot, Mauricio Cienfuegos, Roy Lassiter and Tisha Venturini-Hoch are in their final year of eligibility.
Election Criteria
In order to be eligible for election as a Player, an individual must be retired as a player for at least three years, but for no more than 10 years and have either: 1) Played in at least 20 international games for the U.S., or 2) Played at least five seasons in an American first division professional league and named to a postseason All-League or All-Star team at least once.
Who Gets To Vote
The voting pool includes all past and present full Men’s and Women’s National Team coaches, all active MLS and NWSL head coaches with a minimum of four years of experience as a head coach in a first division league, MLS and NWSL management representatives, MLS Commissioner, NWSL Executive Director, U.S. Soccer CEO/Secretary General, U.S. Soccer President, designated media members, and all Hall of Famers.
Each voter can list up to 10 candidates per ballot. Any player appearing on at least 66.7 percent of ballots will earn election, while any player who does not appear on at least five percent of ballots will be dropped from the Player ballot.
2013 National Soccer HOF Player Ballot
Chris Armas, Wade Barrett *, Mauricio Cienfuegos^, Raul Diaz Arce, Marco Etcheverry, Lorrie Fair, Robin Fraser, Chris Henderson, Angela Hucles *, Jason Kreis, Roy Lassiter^, Shannon MacMillan, Joe-Max Moore, Victor Nogueira, John O’Brien, Ben Olsen *, Cindy Parlow, Ante Razov, Tiffany Roberts, Tony Sanneh *, Taylor Twellman *, Tisha Venturini-Hoch^
* First year of eligibility ^ Final year of eligibility; moves to Veteran ballot in 2014