|
Caligiuri Up For Induction Into National Soccer Hall Of Fame
March 4, 2004 Former UCLA soccer legend Paul Caligiuri is amongst 38 players on the ballot for induction into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY. Ballots have been distributed to over 120 voters, including media, coaches and league executives, and the selected players will be announced in April. Caligiuri was a pioneer in the movement of American players to European clubs in the 1980s, had a long career in the U.S. national team and was the scorer of one of the most famous American goals of all time. In 1987, he become one of the first American-trained players to play professionally in Europe, beginning a career of five seasons in Germany. He later played six seasons in MLS for the Columbus Crew and the Los Angeles Galaxy. He made his debut for the U.S. national team against El Salvador in 1984 and played for the United States for 13 years, including the 1990 and 1994 World Cups and qualifying games for the 1986 and 1998 World Cups. Caligiuri, a defender and defensive midfielder, scored only five goals in his 110 national-team games, but one of those was the goal against Trinidad on Nov. 19, 1989 that boosted the United States into the 1990 World Cup and made a tremendous difference in both the competitive and financial future of American soccer. Caligiuri was also a member of the 1988 Olympic Team Caligiuri was the team co-captain of UCLA's first NCAA Championship team in 1985. He earned Soccer America Player of the Year honors in 1986 and NSCAA first-team All-America honors in 1985 and 1986. He was inducted into UCLA's Hall of Fame in 1997. Below is the full list of eligible players: Michelle Akers
|
