
ILLINOIS SOCCER INDUCTEES
CLASS OF 2024
CLASS OF 2025
Cuauhtémoc Blanco
Teams
América
Necaxa
Real Valladolid
Chicago Fire
Santos Laguna
Veracruz
Irapuato
Dorados
BUAP
Puebla
Mexican National Team
Awards
Mexican Primera División Clausura 2005
CONCACAF Champions' Cup 1992, 2006
Mexican Primera División Invierno 1998
Pan American Games Silver Medal 1995
CONCACAF Pre-Olympic Tournament 1996
FIFA Confederations Cup Silver Boot 1999
FIFA Confederations Cup Silver Ball 1999
CONCACAF Gold Cup Best XI 1998
FIFA International Football Hall of Fame 2023
C.J. Brown
Teams
San Jose State
Santa Cruz Surf
San Francisco Bay Seals
Chicago Fire
US Men's National Team
Teams Coached
Real Salt Lake
Chicago Fire
New York City
Orlando City
New York Red Bulls
Chicago House
U23 US Men's National Team
Awards
MLS Cup 1998
U.S. Open Cup 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006
USISL Pacific Division Rookie of the Year 1993
​​
Steve Cherundolo - From Rockford IL
Teams
Mt. Carmel High School - Rancho Penasquitos
University of Portland Pilots
Hannover 96
United States International U18
United States International U20
United States International U23
US Men's National Team
Teams Coached
Hannover 96
Las Vegas Lights
Los Angeles FC
Awards
CONCACAF Gold Cup Winner 2005
Supporters' Shield (Coach) 2022
Dieter Ferner
Teams
Bayer Leverkusen
Rot-Weiß Oberhausen
1. FC Saarbrücken
1. FC Bocholt
Chicago Sting
Teams Coached
1. FC Saarbrücken
1. FC Saarbrücken II
FC Kutzhof
SC Friedrichsthal
Borussia Neunkirchen
Awards
NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981
Rudy Glenn
Teams
Indiana University Hoosiers
Chicago Sting
Chicago Shockers
Team America
US Men's National Team
Teams Coaches
Niles West High School
Loyola Academy
Sting FC
Awards
​NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981, 1984
​
Sarah Gorden - From Elk Grove Village IL
Teams
James B. Conant High School Soccer
DePaul University Blue Demons
Chicago Red Stars
Angel City Football Club
​
Karl Heinz-Granitza
Teams
Eintracht Dortmund
Lüner SV
DJK Gütersloh 50
SV Röchling Völklingen
Hertha BSC
Chicago Sting
Chicago Power
Awards
Number 2 All-Time NASL Scorer
NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981, 1984
National Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee 2003
​
Lindsay Kennedy-Eversmeyer - From Alton IL
Teams
Alton High School Soccer
University of Kansas Jayhawks
Harris-Stowe State University Hornets
River Cities Futbol Club
St. Louis Steamers
Teams Coached
Harris-Stowe State University Hornets
University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons
Fire & Ice SC
SWIC - Southwestern Illinois College - Men's Program
Awards
First Woman to Play in the MISL
​
Frank Klopas - From Chicago IL
Teams
Mather High School Soccer
Chicago Sting
AEK Athens
Apollon Athens
Kansas City Wizards
Chicago Fire
US Men's National Team
Teams Coached
Chicago Storm
Chicago Fire
Montreal Impact
Awards
Greek Super Cup Champion
Greek League Cup Champion
Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee 2005
​
Pato Margetic
Teams
San Telmo
Temperley
Detroit Express
Chicago Sting
Kansas City Comets
Borussia Dortmund
Cleveland Crunch
Tacoma Stars
Chicago Power
Detroit Rockers
Teams Coached
Chicago Power
Magic Soccer Club - Michigan
Awards
NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981, 1984
Brian McBride - From Arlington Heights IL
Teams
Stevenson High School Soccer
St. Louis Billikens
Milwaukee Rampage
VfL Wolfsburg
Columbus Crew
Preston North End
Everton
Fulham
Chicago Fire
Wembley
US Men’s Olympic Soccer Team
US Men's National Team
Awards
CONCACAF Gold Cup Team of the Tournament
CONCACAF Gold Cup
MLS All-Star Game MVP
MLS Goal of the Year Award
MLS Fair Play Award
MLS All-Time Best
Fulham F.C. Player of the Year
Member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame
NCAA Div. 1 Men’s Soccer Top Goal Scorers
​
Victor Nogueira
Teams
Rangers FC Mayfair
Newcastle United
Atlanta Chiefs
Montreal Manic
Chicago Sting
Cleveland Force
San Diego Sockers
Milwaukee Wave
US National Futsal Team
Team's Coached
West Coast FC
Orange County Soccer Club
Awards
NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1984
MISL Champion 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992
NPSL Champion 1998, 2000, 2001
Goalkeeper of the Year- 1989, 1991
​
Willy Roy
Teams
FC Hansa
Kansas City Spurs
Saint Louis Stars
Ukrainian Lions
US Men's National Team
Teams Managed
Chicago Sting
Northern Illinois University Huskies
​Awards​
Coach:
NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981, 1984
NASL Premiership 1984
Division Title 1980, 1981, 1984
Player:
Rookie of the Year 1967
First Team All-Star 1967
Coach of the Year 1981
National Soccer Hall of Fame 1989
Ken Snow - From Arlington Heights IL
Teams
Hoffman Estates High School
Indiana Hoosiers
Miami Freedom
Chicago Power
Tampa Bay Terror
Detroit Neon
St. Louis Steamers
Philadelphia KiXX
US Men's National Team
Awards
4X First Team All-American IU (Indiana) 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990
2X Hermann Trophy Award Recipient 1988, 1990
​
C.J. Seestadt - From Chicago IL
Teams
Romeoville High School
Bolingbrook High School
College of DuPage
Sterling College - Kansas
Chicago Serbians
Chicago Celtic
FC Tampere Finland
FC Koparit Finland
Teams Coached
North Side College Preparatory High School
William H. Taft High School
Endicott College
Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago Power Strikers SC
Chicago Red Devils
Chicago City SC
Awards
Player
First American to Play in Finland
Coach
CPL City of Chicago Championship - Wiliam H. Taft HS
Chicago Public Premier Northwest Conference Champions
​​​
Steve Trittschuh - From Granite City IL
Teams
Granite City High School North
SIU Edwardsville Cougars
St. Louis Steamers
Busch Seniors
Tampa Bay Rowdies
Sparta Prague 13
SVV Dordrecht
Fort Lauderdale Strikers
St. Louis Ambush
Montreal Impact
Tampa Bay Terror
Colorado Rapids
Tampa Bay Mutiny
US Men's International Team
Teams Coached
SIU Edwardsville Cougars
Colorado Rapids
Colorado Springs Switchbacks
St. Louis FC
Awards
Czechoslovakia League Champion 1991
SIUE Athletic Hall of Fame 2011
First US Player to play in the European Cup
​​​
​
Matt Eliason
Teams
Glenbard East Hish School
Northwestern University Wildcats
Red Bulls U-23
Þróttur
Awards
Top Scorer Þróttur 2014
Julie Ertz
Teams
Arizona Arsenal Soccer Club
Sereno Soccer Club
Santa Clara Broncos
Chicago Red Stars
Angel City FC
US Women’s National Team
Awards
2x FIFA Women’s World Cup Champion 2015, 2019
CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship 2012
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup Champion 2012
CONCACAF Women's Championship 2014, 2018
Olympic Gold Medal 2016
U.S. Soccer Female Player of the Year 2017, 2019
CONCACAF Women's Championship Golden Ball 2018
Best NWSL Player ESPY Award 2021
NSCAA All-American First Team 2011, 2013
All-WCC First Team 2011, 2012, 2013
NCAA Division I Women All-West Region First Team 2012
NSCAA All-West Region First Team 2013
WCC Player of the Year 2013
​
​
​
CLASS OF 2026
Vanessa DiBernardo - From Naperville IL
Teams
America's Soccer Club
University of Illinois
United States Women's National Team U-17
United States Women's National Team U-20
United States Women's National Team U-23
Awards
​Big 10 Medal of Honor Winner
NWSL x Liga MX Femenil Summer Cup
CONCACAF U-20 Women's Championship 2012
FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 2012
​
Ted Eck - From Springfield IL
Teams
​Sacred Heart-Griffin High School
Western Illinois University
Teams Coached
Ogden Outlaws
Real Salt Lake
Awards
1987 Mid Continent Conference Player of the Year
​​
Charles (Charlie) Fajkus - From Chicago IL
Teams
​Wheaton Central High School
Indiana University
Chicago Sting
Golden Bay Earthquakes
Kansas City Comets
US Men's National Team
​Awards
NCAA Championship 1978​​​
NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981
​
Evan Fiffles - From Oak Lawn IL
​Teams Coached
Richards High School​
Sandburg High School
Morraine Valley Community College
Chicago Magic
Arsenal
Lewis University
Awards
​Most Winningest Men’s Coach in Illinois History - 367 Wins
​
Bradley Guzan - From Evergreen Park IL
Teams
​Chicago Magic Soccer Club
Providence Catholic High School
University of South Carolina
US Men's National Team
​Awards
MLS Cup 2018
US Open Cup 2019
CONCACAF Gold Cup 2007, 2017 & 2021
NCAA Second-Team All-American 2004
MLS SuperDraft Second Overall Pick 2005
MLS Best XI 2007
MLS Goalkeeper of the Year 2007
Aston Villa Player of the Season 2012–13
CONCACAF Gold Cup Golden Glove 2015
​
Brett Hall
Teams
Wheaton College
Chicago Sting
Chicago Power
Phoenix Pride
Cleveland Force
Teams Coaches
Chicago Stingers
Chicago Sockers
Chicago Fire Reserve Team
US Women's National Team
Baylor University
Awards
​NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981​
​
Alex (Flex) Hernandez - From Oak Lawn, IL
Teams
St. Laurence High School​
Lewis University
University of Evansville
Teams Coached
Chicago Fire Academy
Triangle Football Club
Chicago Magic Soccer Club
Lyons Township SC
Carolina United SC
Ahwatukee Foothills Soccer Club
Bravo FC
FC Legends
Bolingbrook High School
Lyons Township High School
Reavis High School
University of Evansville
Lewis University
​State Director of Coaching in Illinois and Arizona
​​
Casey Krueger - From Naperville IL
Teams
​Naperville Central High School
Florida State University
US Women's National Team U20
US Women's National Team U23
US Women's National Team
Awards​
Summer Olympic Games Gold Medal 2024
Summer Olympic Games Bronze Medal 2020
CONCACAF Women's Championship
SheBelieves Cup 2018, 2020, 2021 & 2024
NWSL Best XI 2017, 2019 & 2024
​
Eric Lihaj - From Downers Grove IL
Teams
Downers Grove Road Runners
University of North Carolina
Teams Coached
FC Cincinnati​
Awards
​​
Peter Peel
Teams Coached
US Olympic Men's Team 1924​
Awards
​ 2X President of the United States Football Association
Founded United States Soccer Hall of Fame 1951
​​​
Ashlee Pistorius - From Decatur IL
Teams
Texas A&M​
Boston Renegades
Saint Louis Athletica
Teams Coached
Scott Gallagher SC
Ursuline Academy
St. Charles Community College
Illinois State University
Awards
Big 12 Rookie of the Year​​
Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year
NSCAA All-America Honors 2006
Honda National Soccer Player of the Year 2007
Coach
​NJCAA National Championship Tournament 2014
Carlos Posada
Teams
​Crete-Monee High School​
South Suburban College
Awards
Illinois All-Time Leading High School Goal Scorer - 177 Goals​
​
Janet Rayfield
Teams
University of North Carolina
Dallas Ladies' Football Club
Teams Coached
University of Illinois​
Awards
Player
2x NCAA Women’s Soccer Championship Winner
1st Team All-American
Nike Player of the Year
Top 10 American Soccer Player (Male & Female)
Coach
​The Winningest Coach in Illinois College Soccer History​ - 234 Wins
​​​​
Mark Simanton - From Chicago, IL
Teams
New Trier West High School
Indiana University
Chicago Sting
​Awards​
NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981, 1984​
​
Steve Snow - From Arlington Heights IL
Teams
Hoffman Estates High School
Indianaa University
Standard Liege
FC Boom
Chicago Power
US Men's National Team U16
US Men's National Team U20
US Men's National Team
​​​
Arno Steffenhagen
Teams
West German National Team
Awards
​NASL Soccer Bowl Champion 1981
​​​


