Hugo Perez gets another shot at Hall of Fame

• by Soccer America , Jan 29, 2008

Hugo Perez, perhaps the most accomplished U.S. soccer player who is not in the National Soccer Hall of Fame, is among 15 players in the Hall's 2008 Veteran Ballot. Perez, who starred in the NASL and MISL, represented the USA at the 1984 Olympics and 1994 World Cup, and played a key role in successful qualifying campaigns for the 1988 Olympics and 1990 World Cup. The Hall also announced its 2008 Builders Ballot.

2008 Veteran Ballot
Desmond Armstrong - U.S. national team (81 caps, 1987 - 1994)
Barry Barto - U.S. national team (16 caps, 1972 - 1975), NASL (1972-1977, Montreal, Philadelphia Atoms, and Fort Lauderdale)
George Best - Northern Ireland, NASL (1976-1981, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale, and San Jose)
Hubert Birkenmeier - Germany, NASL (1979-1984, New York Cosmos)
Teofilo "Nene" Cubillas - Peru, NASL (1979-1983, Ft. Lauderdale)
Steve David - Trinidad and Tobago, NASL (1974-1981, Miami, Los Angeles, Detroit, California, San Diego, and San Jose)
Linda Hamilton - U.S. women's national team (71 caps, 1987-1995)
John Kerr Jr. - U.S. men's national team (16 caps, 1984-1995), MLS (1996-1997, New England)
Bill McPherson - American Soccer League (1922-1931), St. Louis Major Soccer League (1932-1934)
Bruce Murray - U.S. national team (85 caps, 1985-1993)
Glenn "Mooch" Myernick - U.S. national team (10 caps, 1975-1979, NASL (1977-1984, Dallas, Portland, and Tampa Bay)
John "Harp" O'Connell - U.S. national team (4 caps, 1949-1954), American Soccer League (1946-1956, Brooklyn Wanderers, New York Americans, and New York Hakoah)
Hugo Perez - U.S. national team (73 caps, 1984-1994), NASL (1982-1984, Tampa Bay, and San Diego)
Bob Rigby - U.S. national team (6 caps, 1973-1975), NASL (1973-1984, Philadelphia Atoms and Fury, New York Cosmos, Los Angeles, Montreal, and Golden Bay)
Kyle Rote, Jr. - U.S. national team (5 caps, 1973-1975), NASL (1973-1979, Dallas, and Houston).
(The Ballot will be submitted to all Hall of Famers for a vote.)

2008 Builders Ballot
Bruce Arena - coach, Univ. of Virginia, D.C. United, U.S. men's national team, New York Red Bulls
Esse Baharmast - MLS, National and international referee
Chuck Blazer - soccer administrator and executive, FIFA Executive Committee Member, CONCACAF General Secretary
Robert 'Bob' Contiguglia - former president of U.S. Soccer and Chair, U.S. Youth Soccer
Bill Cox - soccer investor, founder of the International Soccer League in the 60s, president of the NASL's San Diego Toros
Gino D'Ippolito - NASL, National and international referee
Anson Dorrance - Univ. of North Carolina and U.S. Women's national team coach
Bob Gansler - MLS and U.S. men's national team coach
Robert Kraft - MLS investor - operator, New England Revolution
Frank Longo - collegiate soccer and U.S. Soccer administrator
Joe Machnick - collegiate coach, professional referee, currently Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner for On-Field Competition at Major League Soccer
Francisco Marcos - Founder of the United Soccer Leagues and current president of USL
Fritz Marth - former Executive Director of U.S. Amateur (now Adult) Soccer Association
Thom Meredith - executive with the North American Soccer League, U.S. Soccer and the Women's United Soccer Association
Kevin Payne - President and CEO, D.C. United of Major League Soccer
George Strawbridge - owner of the NASL's Tampa Bay Rowdies.

The Ballot will be submitted to all Hall of Famers and a select group of current soccer administrators for their vote.