SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC Sporting Director Chris Henderson and Assistant Coach Ante Razov have been named nominees for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2016 elections, both included on the ballot in the Player category. Voting is taking place over the next three weeks for the Player, Veteran Player and Builder categories, with the results being announced shortly thereafter. Induction ceremony details for the Class of 2016 are being announced at a later date.
Both Henderson and Razov played for Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid at UCLA and joined MLS in its inaugural season in 1996. Voting began on Tuesday for the Player, Veteran Player and Builder categories. Of the 28-player ballot, Henderson is one of three that are in their final year of eligibility. If not elected this season, he becomes eligible next season on the Veteran Player ballot. Schmid and former Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller were elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame last year.
Henderson joined the Sounders FC Front Office in 2008, serving as Sporting Director since the club’s MLS inception. As a player, Henderson represented the U.S. at the international level 79 times, winning championships in both MLS and the NCAA. Henderson played 11 seasons for five teams, and upon his retirement following the 2006 season he was the league record-holder in four categories, including career games played and started. At 19 years of age, he was the youngest player at the 1990 World Cup in Italy, in addition to representing the U.S. at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
An Everett native, Henderson was named the 1989 Gatorade National Player of the Year in soccer after his senior season at Cascade High School. He went on to play two seasons for Sigi Schmid at UCLA, where he led the Bruins to the 1990 National Championship.
Razov spent 14 years in MLS from 1996-2009, including seven with the Chicago Fire and four with Chivas USA, and he ranks fourth all-time in MLS scoring with 114 goals. The Southern California-native also ranks 18th in league history with 66 assists across 262 appearances, as well as fifth all-time with 11 goals and 10 assists in the postseason, where his 35 appearances are ninth in MLS Cup Playoffs action. Razov was capped 25 times by the U.S. Men’s National Team, scoring six goals and helping the Stars and Stripes to the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup title. His first USMNT cap came in 1995 against Uruguay while still in college.
Razov played four years at UCLA from 1992-1995 for Schmid, finishing his collegiate career with 40 goals and 29 assists. He was the Bruins’ leading scorer in 1993 and 1994 before finishing second in 1995. He joined Sounders FC as an Assistant Coach prior to the 2015 season.
In order to be eligible for election as a Player, an individual must be retired for at least three full calendar years, but for no more than 10 full calendar years, and have either: 1) Played in at least 20 full international games for the U.S.; if played prior to 1990, the game requirement is reduced to 10 games, or 2) Played at least five seasons in an American first-division professional league and named to a postseason league All-Star team at least once.
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 at the highest level in the United States, MLS and NWSL management representatives, the MLS and NWSL Commissioners, 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 removed from voting contention until they qualify for the Veteran ballot. Complete information about the election and eligibility procedures is available via the following link: http://sndrs.com/4ftx.
2016 NATIONAL SOCCER HALL OF FAME PLAYER BALLOT
Chris Armas
Gregg Berhalter
Brandi Chastain
Wilman Conde
Jimmy Conrad
Jeff Cunningham
Frankie Hejduk
Chris Henderson
Chris Klein
Jason Kreis
Eddie Lewis
Clint Mathis
Kate (Sobrero) Markgraf
Tiffeny Milbrett
Heather Mitts
Jaime Moreno
John O'Brien
Ben Olsen
Pat Onstad
Steve Ralston
Ante Razov
Tiffany Roberts
Tony Sanneh
Briana Scurry
Lindsay Tarpley
Taylor Twellman
Aly Wagner
Josh Wolff
First year of eligibility
Final year of eligibility; moves to Veteran ballot in 2017
The National Soccer Hall of Fame closed its Oneonta, NY facility in 2010. The election process is being administered by U.S. Soccer Federation staff under election and eligibility guidelines established by the Hall of Fame Board of Directors. Established in 1950, the National Soccer Hall of Fame is dedicated to the sport of soccer in America by celebrating its history, preserving its legacy, inspiring its youth and honoring its heroes for generations to come.
