Jason Kreis Nominated for National Soccer Hall of Fame

Orlando City SC Head Coach Jason Kreis was nominated for election in the player category for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2017, U.S. Soccer announced. The results of the voting, which will remain open for another three weeks, and induction ceremony details for the Class of 2017 will be announced at a later date.

Kreis, 44, had a prolific 12-year MLS career as player, amassing 305 games and 108 goals, a number that ranks him as the sixth all-time goal scorer of the league. He played for the Dallas Burn, now FC Dallas, from 1996 to 2004, and for Real Salt Lake, from 2005 to 2007, becoming the first player to ever a score a goal for both franchises. Kreis’ No. 9 was the first MLS player number to be officially retired on July 4, 2011. 

Orlando’s gaffer also had a short stint with the U.S. National Team, scoring one goal in 14 appearances, in a 2-2 drawn against Jamaica in Kingston.

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/Executive Director, U.S. Soccer CEO/Secretary General, U.S. Soccer President, designated media members and all Hall of Famers.

Each voter can select 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.

The 2017 Class includes names such as English superstar David Beckham and other active MLS coaches like Columbus Crew SC’s Gregg Berhalter, Colorado Rapids’ Pablo Mastroeni and D.C. United’s Ben Olsen.

2017 National Soccer Hall of Fame Player Ballot

Chris Albright

Chris Armas

David Beckham

Gregg Berhalter

Danny Califf

Joe Cannon

Steve Cherundolo

Brian Ching

Jeff Cunningham

Tina Frimpong Ellerston

Eddie Gaven

Amado Guevara

Kevin Hartman

Frankie Hejduk

Chris Klein

Jason Kreis

Eddie Lewis

Kate Sobrero Markgraf

Pablo Mastroeni

Clint Mathis

Tiffeny Milbrett

Heather Mitts

Jaime Moreno

Ben Olsen

Pat Onstad

Leslie Osborne

Steve Ralston

Ante Razov

Tony Sanneh

Briana Scurry

Taylor Twellman

Aly Wagner

Josh Wolff