Bob Bradley, Brian McBride, Kristine Lilly Inducted Into National Soccer Hall of Fame
By Sean Maslin
Three of US Soccer’s most important figures received their due this weekend as Bob Bradley, Brian McBride, and Kristine Lilly were all enshrined as inductees into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
Bob Bradley has coached at the highest levels both at the club level here in the United States and internationally. After serving as an assistant with Bruce Arena at both the University of Virginia and D.C. United, Bradley helped the Chicago Fire make history in 1998 by becoming the-ever expansion team to win the MLS Cup. He also coached the US Men’s National Team to the 2010 World Cup and won the 2007 Gold Cup.
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After leaving the US Men’s National Team, Bradley would go on to coach the Egyptian national team. He is currently coaching in the Norwegian First Division with Stabaek.
Brian McBride is considered to be one of the most successful forwards in US Soccer history. He was the first-ever American to score at two World Cups and represented his country in over 96 matches. He is fourth all-time leading scorer in US Men’s soccer with 30 goals.
In addition to his exploits for the US, McBride had a very successful club career. After a strong start to his career with the Columbus Crew, McBride would move to Fulham where he was named captain and named the club’s player of the year in 2007 and 2008. He helped Fulham stay in the Premier League for successive seasons and would provide an opening for players like Clint Dempsey and Emerson Hyndman at Craven Cottage.
Kristine Lilly made over 352 appearances with the US Women’s National Team and participated in 5 World Cups. She would help the USWNT win the 1991 and 1998 Women’s World Cup and two gold medals at the Olympics (1996 and 2004). She was also a 4-Time NCAA College Cup Champion at the University of North Carolina.
The National Soccer Hall of Fame is a non-profit institution that serves the same function as the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Baseball Hall of Fame. It was founded in 1950 and currently has over 300 members and 80,000 items archived. The Hall of Fame used to be located in Oneota, New York but due to financial difficulties the Hall closed in 2010.
There have been rumors that Dallas may be host to the National Soccer Hall of Fame but as of yet nothing has been set in stone.
To be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame, nominations are split according to players and architects (coaches, owners, scouts, TV Commentators) of the game. Players must have made at least 10 appearances with their national team and played five seasons in American first-division professional league and won the league championship, the Open Cup, or made one All-Star appearance. Players also must be retired for at least three years.
Those who are considered builders of the game must have their nominations reviewed by he official Researcher and Historian of the Hall of Fame.
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