CARSON, Calif. – LA Galaxy legends David Beckham and Kevin Hartman headline the list of seven former LA Galaxy players nominated for U.S. Soccer’s 2017 National Hall of Fame draft class.
Beckham won two MLS Cups and made the MLS All-Star team three times during seven seasons with the Galaxy, while Hartman lifted two MLS Cup trophies, won the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 1999 and is currently the all-time leader in MLS appearances.
Beckham and Hartman are joined by five other fellow former Galaxy players Chris Albright, Danny Califf, Joe Cannon, Brian Ching, and Pablo Mastroeni who are also in their first year of eligibility.
To be eligible for election as a player, an individual must be retired for at least three full calendar years, but not more than 10 and have either: played in 20 full international games for the U.S. National Team –10 if the player played before 1990 –or played in at least five season in an American first-division professional league and be named to a postseason league All-Star team at least once.
Galaxy holdovers from the last year’s list of nominees include club president Chris Klein, former team captain Gregg Berhalter, Galaxy assistant coach Ante Razov as well as former players Chris Armas, Frankie Hejduk, Eddie Lewis, Clint Mathis, and Tony Sanneh. Also, included in the builder category is former AEG CEO and President Tim Leiweke.
Voting will begin immediately with the voting pool including all past and present senior USMNT and USWNT coaches, all current MLS and NWSL head coaches with at least four years of experience as a head coach at the top level in the USA, management representatives from MLS and NWSL, Commissioners and Executive Directors of MLS and NWSL, U.S. Soccer CEO/Secretary General, U.S. Soccer President, designated media members, and all elected Hall of Famers.
A player must appear on 66.7 percent of ballots to earn election.The results of the voting and the induction ceremony for the Class of 2017 will be announced at a later date.
