[AWARDS] U.S. Soccer President Sunil Gulati joined a select group of individuals to be given an Honorary All-America award by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America.

Gulati has more than 30 years of experience at all levels of American soccer. He is the architect the U.S. national team program as we know it today and was a key player as deputy commissioner in the launch of Major League Soccer, signing all the players for its launch in 1996.

“I cannot think of anyone who has given more selflessly to the advancement of American soccer than Sunil Gulati,” said NSCAA CEO and Executive Director Joe Cummings.

He became U.S. Soccer’s president in 2006 and was unanimously re-elected to a second term in 2010. He has served on the bid committees for two FIFA World Cups, including the successful bid to host the 1994 event.

The NSCAA Honorary All-America award is presented to those who have brought particular distinction to soccer through their efforts within and beyond the boundaries of the sport. Among past recipients are MLS owner/investor Lamar Hunt, Soccer America founder Clay Berling, Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, comedian Jon Stewart, two U.S. astronauts and soccer legend Pele.

Past Honorary All-Americas
1972, Col. William Anders, Apollo 8 Lunar Mission Astronaut
1973, William Westmoreland, General of the Army
1974, William Symington, U.S. Representative, Mo.
1982, Dennis P. Long, Anheuser-Busch Co.
1983, Clay Berling, Publisher, Soccer America
1985, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Special Olympics
1989, Werner Fricker, President, U.S. Soccer
1990, Pele
1991, Sonny Carter, U.S. astronaut
1992, Anson Dorrance, U.S. Women’s National Team Coach
1993, Andrew Shue, TV/Movie actor
1994, Carolyn McKenzie-Edwards, Soccer in the Streets
1996, Lamar Hunt, Investor/Operator, Major League Soccer
1998, Bob Ley, ESPN
1999, Tony DiCicco, U.S. Women’s National Team Coach
2000, Michelle Akers, U.S. Women’s National Team
2001, Heroes and Victims of Sept. 11, 2001; accepted by Joe Brosi and Wyman Iriarity, Fire Dept. of New York soccer team
2003, Walter Bahr, Frank Borghi, Harry Keough, Gino Pariani and John Sousa, Members of the 1950 U.S. World Cup, Team; Zachary Ty Bryan, TV/Movie actor
2004, U.S. Servicemen and Servicewomen Using Soccer for Outreach; accepted by Capt. Alexander Fyfe and,, Lt. Joshua Walters
2005, Jon Stewart; comedian/TV talk show host
2006, John and Maureen Hendricks; founders of the Discovery Channel
2007, Kristine Lilly, five-time U.S. Women’s World Cup player
2008, Dr. Sandra Magnus, U.S. astronaut
2009, JP Dellacamera, ESPN
2010, Joe Gaetjens, 1950 U.S. Men's National Team member who scored the goal to defeat England 1-0, perhaps the most significant goal in the history of American soccer