Six former Kansas City players are on the finalized ballots for the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2017 elections, U.S. Soccer announced Wednesday.
Sporting Legend Chris Klein, former goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and former striker Josh Wolff are among the 33 names on the Player ballot, while former midfielders Mike Burns, Chris Henderson and Mike Sorber are among the 15 players up for selection on the Veteran ballot.
Individuals eligible for selection as a Player must be retired for at least three years but no more than 10 years and have either made 20 international appearance for the U.S. or played at least five seasons in an American first-division professional league and named to a postseason league All-Star team at least once.
In order to be eligible for selection as a Veteran, a former player must be retired for more than 10 years and meet one of the two requirements mentioned above, or played at least five seasons in the MISL between 1984-1992 and earned first-team postseason All-Star honors in at least one of those seasons.
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.
Chris Klein – Player ballot
Inducted into the Sporting Legends Hall of Honor in 2015, Klein amassed 43 goals and 54 assists in 254 appearances for Kansas City from 1998-2005. We won all three major domestic trophies during his stay in KC, leading the side to a Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup double in 2000 before hoisting the 2004 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. He continued his MLS career with Real Salt Lake and LA Galaxy while also scoring five goals in 22 career games for the U.S. Men’s National Team between 2000-2006.
Kevin Hartman – Player ballot
Hartman started every MLS match for Kansas City from 2007-2009, finishing with 100 appearances for the club in all competitions. The goalkeeper pieced together a remarkable MLS career from 1997-2013, amassing 465 league appearances and winning two MLS Cups with the LA Galaxy. The MLS All-Star played six times for the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Josh Wolff – Player ballot
Wolff scored 46 total goals for Kansas City during two separate stints with the club from 2003-2006 and 2008-2010. He ranks third on the team’s all-time goal-scoring charts and places seventh with 30 assists in all competitions. Wolff recorded nine goals in 52 career appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team during an international career that spanned from 1999-2008, including trips to the 2002 and 2006 FIFA World Cups.
Mike Burns – Veteran ballot
Burns was a regular starter for Kansas City in 2001 and 2002, helping the club to consecutive appearance in the MLS Cup Playoffs. He featured 62 times for Kansas City in all competitions to end a seven-year MLS career that began with the New England Revolution (1996-2000) and San Jose Earthquakes (2000). Burns made 75 appearances for the U.S. Men’s National Team from 1992-1998, joining the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup rosters.
Chris Henderson – Veteran ballot
Henderson delivered two standout seasons for Kansas City in 1999 and 2000, notably recording nine goals and nine assists during the club’s Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup double-winning campaign in 2000. He made 69 appearances for Kansas City over the two seasons, notching 13 goals and 15 assists. The midfielder earned 79 caps for the U.S. from 1990-2001, and at the age of 19 was the youngest player on the country’s 1990 FIFA World Cup roster. He also competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Mike Sorber – Veteran ballot
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Sorber was a regular starter during Kansas City’s inaugural MLS season in 1996 with four goals and nine assists. He competed for the United States at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in his come country and finished his international career with 62 caps.
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
First year of eligibility
*Final year of eligibility; moves to Veteran ballot in 2018
2017 National Soccer Hall of Fame Veteran Ballot
- George Best
- Chico Borja
- Mike Burns
- John Doyle
- Marco Etcheverry
- Linda Hamilton
- Mary Harvey
- Chris Henderson
- Dominic Kinnear
- Shep Messing
- Cindy Parlow
- Tiffany Roberts
- Mike Sorber
- Tisha Venturini-Hoch
- Roy Wegerle
