Friday, November 1, 2002

 

TAMPA, FL – United Soccer Leagues announced today that three coaches and four players will be inducted into the USL Hall of Fame on opening day of its Annual Operations Meeting November 7 in the in the Coaches and Players categories. The seven individuals to be honored have won a combined 17 championships between USL, Major League Soccer and the US Open Cup.

 

The three coaches to be inducted are former Milwaukee Rampage and current Kansas City Wizards head coach Bob Gansler, current Rochester Raging Rhinos head coach Pat Ercoli and former Richmond Kickers head coach Dennis Viollet.

 

Three US Men’s National Team players and the cornerstone of the Canadian Women’s National Team will be inducted. Former Long Island Rough Rider and current Chicago Fire midfielder Chris Armas is joined by two former Milwaukee forwards. Current Columbus Crew striker Brian McBride will be inducted alongside his 1994 teammate Tony Sanneh, who went on to play for Minnesota the following two years before moving on to MLS and eventually the German Bundesliga.

 

Charmaine Hooper, the first woman and Canadian to be inducted, has been the star of the Canadian Women’s National Team since its official formation in 1986 and is still leading the team currently playing in the Gold Cup.

 

The four players account for nine championships. Chris Armas has won four titles, leading the Rough Riders to the 1995 Pro League Championship and the Chicago Fire to the 1998 MLS Cup and 1998 and 2000 US Open Cup titles. Tony Sanneh led DC United to three championships, the 1996 US Open Cup and 1996 and 1997 MLS Cups. McBride has also won the US Open Cup, leading Columbus to its first championship last week at Columbus Crew Stadium. Hooper helped lead the W-League’s Chicago Cobras to the 2000 W-1 Championship.

 

The foursome, meanwhile, are most acclaimed for their play on the international level representing the United States and Canada.

 

This past summer, the male trio were named to the US’ 2002 FIFA World Cup roster. Although Armas would miss the tournament with a torn ACL, McBride and Sanneh led the American squad to one of its best performances ever in the tournament, advancing from a strong group and reaching the quarterfinals before falling in a thrilling 1-0 match to Germany.

 

Hooper, meanwhile, has been one of the stars of women’s soccer internationally. She is the all-time leader in most statistical categories such as caps, goals and minutes for the Canadian Women’s National Team due to her 16-year tenure with the team. She was honored as the Most Valuable Player of the first-ever FIFA Women’s World All-Star Game.

 

“All four of these players are among the best in the sport in North America and we are proud to have them as part of the USL family,” said USL President and founder Francisco Marcos. “We are happy to have helped them develop their games and have enjoyed watching them demonstrate their abilities on the international scene in exciting fashion. We strongly believe that in the coming years, we will continue to see former USL players moving on to similar success.”

 

The three coaches have won eight championships between them. Gansler has won both the A-League and MLS titles while Ercoli has claimed three A-League and one US Open Cup championships. Viollet, who passed away in 1999 from cancer, led Richmond to the double in 1995, winning the Premier League (PDL) and US Open Cup championships.

 

“Great coaches win championships and these men have proven to be some of the most successful in the sport over the last 10 years and I am sure Pat and Bob will continue to be for many years to come.”

The trio of coaches also have three different career paths, representative of the nature of USL. After serving as US Men’s National Team Coach from 1989-91, Gansler revived his career in Milwaukee by proving he could lead a professional club to the top. He then moved on to MLS, where he has continued to be successful. Viollet, a former star forward for Manchester United, was near the end of his career when he guided Richmond, an amateur side at the time, to the first Open Cup championship in the modern professional era. Ercoli, who is still actively coaching in USL for Rochester, may eventually turn out to be a USL lifer, choosing to stay with the Rhinos.

 

“This year’s class will only be the beginning as there are so many people who deserve to be recognized for tremendous efforts and achievements made over the years in and beyond United Soccer Leagues.”

 

“We have wanted to establish a USL Hall of Fame for several years and I am excited to finally be able to honor some of the men, women and organizations who have helped make USL a success over the years. Recording the history of the sport is an important part of establishing soccer as a significant member of the North American sports landscape. Documenting our own history will assist the overall effort of recognizing the long-standing presence of soccer in North America as well as the prominent figures within the sport.”

 

Coaches Inductee Profiles

 

Pat Ercoli
Rochester Raging Rhinos 1996-Present

 

Ercoli is one of the most successful coaches at the professional club level, winning three league championships in five appearances and claiming the 1999 U.S. Open Cup championship. In a period of seven years, his Rochester Raging Rhinos have never missed the postseason and have reached the A-League Championship match five times.

 

A native of Toronto, Ercoli is no stranger to Rochester soccer fans. Ercoli starred for the Rochester Lancers of the NASL for three seasons (1978-80), where his hard work and tenacious play made him a fan favorite.

 

Ercoli was selected as a coach for the All-Star Game twice (1997 and 1998) and was honored as the A-League Coach of the Year in 1998 for leading the club to the best record in A-League history at 24-4. In addition, Ercoli was selected as coach of the USL Select team that toured Portugal in December of 2001.

 

Ercoli began his professional soccer career with Toronto Italia (NSL) in 1976 before moving to the Toronto Castors the following season where he won a championship. While playing the next three seasons with the Lancers, Ercoli began playing indoor soccer for the New York Arrows of the MISL; he also spent time playing with Buffalo, Baltimore (where he captured three MISL divisional championships and one league title), and Detroit in the MISL before ending his ten-year professional career with the Cleveland Force.

 

Prior to joining up with the Rhinos, he ventured into private business and kept active in soccer by coaching youth leagues, and working as an assistant at Finger Lakes Community College and Monroe Community College.

 

Bob Gansler
Milwaukee Rampage 1996-98, Kansas City Wizards 1999-Present, US Men’s National Team 1989-91

 

A former U.S. National Team head coach, Gansler revived his career with the Milwaukee Rampage after being passed over by Major League Soccer in its inaugural season. He proved highly successful with Milwaukee and led the team to an A-League championship in 1997 and posted a three-year regular season record of 44-30 with an 8-4 postseason mark.

 

Gansler became the second full-time head coach in Wizards history, inheriting a 0-7 team from Ron Newman on April 28, 1999. The Wizards finished the season with an 8-24 record, including an 8-17 mark under Gansler.

 

He then masterminded a worst-to-first finish in 2000, guiding the new-look Wizards to a 16-7-9 record and an appearance in the playoffs for the first time since 1997. His second-year effort earned him the 2000 Major League Soccer‘s Coach of the Year award. He coached the West in the 2000 All-Star game and finished the season with the 2000 Supporters Shield for the best record in MLS. Gansler and the Wizards met the Chicago Fire in MLS Cup 2000 where the Wizards came out victorious, 1-0.

 

Gansler, 59, previously served as the head coach of the U.S. National Team, and is most renowned for leading the United States to the 1990 World Cup. It was the first time that the United States qualified for the event in 40 years.

 

Gansler, who still currently teaches in the off-season at soccer camps for prospective coaches vying for their A-license, also helps with soccer camps in Kansas City during the season. He served as the head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee from 1984 to 1988. In addition, he coached the U.S. Under-20 National Team for three years (1987-89) and the Under-19 National Team for four years (1979-82).

 

Gansler was a premier player in America during the 1960s, as he appeared 25 times for the U.S. National Team between 1963 and 1969. He captained the 1964 and 1968 Olympic Teams as well as the 1967 Pan American Team. Gansler also participated on 1968-69 National Team that attempted to qualify for the 1970 World Cup. In January 2000, he received the Walt Chyzowych Award, recognizing Gansler’s achievements and dedication to the growth of soccer in America.

 

Dennis Viollet (1933-1999)
Richmond Kickers 1995-96

 

After playing for Manchester Schoolboys, Viollet joined United as an amateur in the 1949-50 season, turning professional at the age of 17. He was one of the many players of this era to have graduated from United's 'nursery' system, which produced players such as Duncan Edwards, Eddie Colman and Bobby Charlton. He was one of the 'Busby's Babes' who won a League Championship medal in 1956 and 1957, partnering Tommy Taylor in United's attack. Although Viollet lacked the physical attributes which were so evident in his team mate Taylor, he was a forward of the highest class with an enormous amount of skill and vision. His greatest attributes were pace and accurate shots. He still holds the Manchester United goal scoring record, 32 League goals in one season (1959-60). His actual tally for all first team games was 179. Considering Viollet made 294 appearances, his return of goals speaks for itself. In 1958 he was one of the players who journeyed to Belgrade for the quarterfinals of the European Cup, scoring one of the goals in a 3-3 draw. The game of course lost all significance in the wake of the events that followed the match. He was one of the lucky players, escaping from the blazing wreckage at Munich Airport, with injuries which were initially thought to be career threatening. However, he recovered in time to take his place in the 1958 F.A. Cup final, only to see United's courageous efforts thwarted by Bolton Wanderers. In 1962 he surprisingly left Old Trafford to join Second Division Stoke City. There he won a Second Division Championship medal (1962-63) and a League Cup runners' up medal (1964). After spells in America and the Irish League with Linfield, where he won an Irish Cup winners' medal, he emigrated to Baltimore in the early 1970's. He later moved to Florida, where he coached youngsters. Such was his work in this area that he was granted the freedom of the City of Jacksonville in the late 1990's.

 

Viollet joined the Richmond Kickers in their third season and immediately turned the club around, guiding it to its first winning season (15-3), the Premier League (PDL) title and the U.S. Open Cup championship, where it downed the El Paso Patriots in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. The club moved up to the Select League (Third Division) the following year and led the team to a 10-8 season, reaching the final before falling to California, 2-1, via a shootout. His two-year stint with the Kickers concluded with a regular season record of 25-11 and a postseason mark of 4-2.

 

On the March 6, 1999 Dennis Viollet died at his home in Florida after battling against a malignant brain tumor. The following day Manchester United played Chelsea in the quarterfinals of the FA Cup, all the players wore a black armband as a mark of respect. During his career, Dennis Viollet represented the Football League on the three occasions and won only two England Caps, scoring once. The lack of international recognition still remains a mystery to this day, as he was one of the country's top strikers during the late 1950's and early 1960's. Dennis Viollet was born in Manchester September 20, 1933.

 

Players Inductee Profiles

 

Chris Armas
Long Island Rough Riders 1994-95

 

US National Team: 1998-Present
A perennial starter and one of the top defensive midfielders to ever play for the USA, Armas has remained one of the most consistent and durable performers in the U.S. side. Armas was slated to be one of the key players for the US in the 2002 FIFA World Cup before suffering a torn ACL in his right knee during a warm-up match against Uruguay leading up to the tournament. He played every minute of the 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Armas was named U.S. Soccer’s 2000 Chevrolet Male Athlete of the Year for his steady play in 2000. Was named as an over-age player for the 2000 Olympic squad before the knee injury forced him to withdraw from the tournament. Missed out on the FIFA Confederations Cup after injuring his knee during a scrimmage in Mexico. First Appearance: Nov. 6, 1998, vs. Australia. First Goal: Jan. 16, 2000, vs. Iran.

 

Major League Soccer: 1996-Present
Since joining the Fire in 1998, Armas has destroyed opposing offensive schemes and is considered the nation’s premier defensive midfielder. Armas has been a member of Chicago's 1998 MLS Cup Championship team, 1998 & 2000 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Championship teams, 2000 & 2001 Central Division Champions, 2000 MLS Cup runner-up squad, and L.A.’s 1996 MLS Cup runner-up team. Armas has been named to the Pepsi MLS Best Eleven four times (1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001), tying D.C.’s Marco Etcheverry for most in MLS history. He has also been a member of the 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 MLS All-Star squads.

 

United Soccer Leagues: 1994-95
Armas was a key player during the Long Island Rough Riders’ championship campaign in 1995 and ultimately helped the team win the championship with a goal and an assist. Before a crowd of 4,118 fans Armas gave the Rough Riders the lead just before halftime and with seconds remaining in the match, he set up the game-winning goal by Giovanni Savarese.

College

 

Selected NCAA All-American his senior year. Finished his collegiate career with 17 goals and 15 assists for 49 points in 73 games played.

 

Charmaine Hooper
Chicago Cobras 1998-00, Rockford Dactyls 1995-97

 

Canadian National Team: 1986-Present
Hooper may go down as one of the best women’s soccer players outside of the United States. She is Canada’s all-time goal and caps leader and has represented her country since the inception of the World Cup team in 1987, playing in the last two FIFA Women’s World Cups. She has also played in the CONCACAF Championships three times and the 2000 Gold Cup. She was a two-time selection for the World All-Stars and was the Honorary Ambassador for the 2002 FIFA Women’s Under-19 World Championships held in Canada. First Appearance: July 7, 1986 vs USA

 

Women’s United Soccer Association: 2001-Present
Hooper has led the Atlanta Beat in scoring the last two seasons and has been one of the league’s top scorers. She led the WUSA in game-winning goals with six in 2002 and tied the league record for consecutive games with a goal, scoring in five straight in 2002. She was named to the All-WUSA First Team in 2001 and was played in the 2002 All-Star game, tallying a goal and two assists.

 

United Soccer Leagues: 1995-2000

Hooper is the only W-League player to lead the league in scoring three times (1995, 1999, 2000). As a member of the Rockford Dactyls, Hooper tallied 31 points. Three years later as a member of the Chicago Cobras, Hooper lead the league in points (52) and goals (23) and was honored as the W-1 Most Valuable Player. She led the team to the W-1 Championship game the following two years, finally claiming the title in 2000 after leading the league in scoring for the third time with 31 points along with her league-leading goal total of 13.

 

Brian McBride
Milwaukee Rampage 1994

 

US National Team: 1993-Present
Widely considered to be the best American player ever in the air, McBride is one of the USA’s most accomplished forwards. He has played in the last two FIFA World Cups for the US (1998 and 2002). He scored one goal in 1998 and helped lead the US to the quarterfinals in 2002 with two goals, both game-winners, and an assist. He won the Gold Boot (top scorer) and Gold Ball (MVP) and was named to the Gold Cup Best XI at 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup after finishing with four goals. He was a member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team while attending Buffalo Grove (Ill.) High School and played for the U.S. at the World University Games in Buffalo, New York in 1993. First Appearance: March 25, 1993, vs. Honduras. First Goal: Nov. 3, 1996, vs. Guatemala.

 

Major League Soccer: 1996-Present

The personification of the Columbus Crew and one of the league's signature players, McBride is a seven-time MLS All-Star, who earned All-Star MVP honors in 1998. He won the 1998 MasterCard Goal of the Year award and was the first player taken in the 1996 Inaugural MLS Draft. McBride helped lead the Crew to the 2002 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup Championship.

Foreign Leagues

Spent the 2000-01 MLS offseason on loan to Preston North End of the English First Division... Scored one goal in a stint interrupted by a blood clot in his right underarm.

 

Spent the 1994-95 season with VfL Wolfsburg in the German Second Division (Oberliga)... Played 18 games, scoring two goals... One of the goals came in a 2-1 victory over Bayern Munich in the German Cup quarterfinals...

 

United Soccer Leagues: 1994
McBride helped lead the Milwaukee Rampage to a 16-2 record in 1994, which was second only to the 18-0 division rival Minnesota Thunder, who eliminated the Rampage in the playoffs. Along the way, McBride was second on the team in scoring with 17 goals and a division-leading 17 assists. US National Team and Rampage teammate Tony Sanneh finished 10 points back of McBride with 14 goals and 13 assists.

 

College:

McBride set numerous records and was honored many times during his four years at St. Louis University (1990-93). He was a two-time All-America selection, a Hermann Award Finalist and runner-up for the Missouri Athletic Club Player of the Year as a senior in 1993. He will become the first SLU player to ever have his jersey retired on November 9, 2002 at a game in St. Louis.

 

Tony Sanneh
USL Clubs: Milwaukee Rampage 1994, Minnesota Thunder 1995-96

 

US National Team: 1997-Present
Has gone from the A-League to MLS to the German Bundesliga while establishing himself as a key contributor for the USA. Sanneh was a key player in the 2002 FIFA World Cup with superb play and a touch of offense, setting up former Milwaukee Rampage teammate Brian McBride for what proved to be the game-winning goal against Portugal, a tournament favorite, for the 3-2 win. First Appearance: January 9, 1997, vs. China. First Goal: February 6, 1999, vs. Germany.

 

Bundesliga: 1998-Present
Sanneh has been playing in the Bundesliga since his 1998 campaign with DC United. He signed with Hertha Berlin in February of 1999 and helped the team reach the 2000 UEFA Champions League playing in five of their last six games (3-0-2). He scored once each in league and cup play the following year as well as playing in six Champions League games. In his third season, he saw action in UEFA Cup matches twice. He was transferred to FC Nurnberg after three seasons with Hertha Berlin.

 

Major League Soccer: 1996-98
Sanneh was a key figure in DC United’s two MLS Cup victories, scoring the game-winner in the 1997 final and the equalizer in the 1996 championship won in overtime.

 

National Professional Soccer League: 1994-95
Sanneh was the runner-up for the Rookie of the Year award after scoring 27 goals and 35 assists indoors for the Chicago Power.

 

United Soccer Leagues: 1994-96
Sanneh was a premier forward for the Milwaukee Rampage and Minnesota Thunder, scoring 33 goals in two and one-third seasons. He finished third on Rampage scoring table with 41 points (14 goals, 13 assists) in 1994 and was the leading scorer for Minnesota in 1995 with 58 points (18 goals, 22 assists). He scored one goal in six games in 1996 before signing with Major League Soccer, but returned to play in the 1996 USL All-Star game hosted by Minnesota.