Galaxy coach Arena named to National Soccer Hall of Fame

By Bud L. Ellis

It would be hard to argue Bruce Arena’s impact on soccer in the United States.

Most people know him as the current Los Angeles Galaxy head coach and general manager, the man who did the nearly unthinkable by leading the U.S. national team to the quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup.

But the truth is Arena’s impact goes way beyond those feats, which is reason why he has been elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Arena landed on 78 percent of the ballots in the Builder category. It’s no surprise, considering all he’s accomplished.

At the University of Virginia, Arena directed the Cavaliers to five national championships, including four consecutive titles from 1991-1994, and 295 victories.

He led D.C. United to the first two MLS Cups in 1996 and 1997. After the U.S. finished last in the 1998 World Cup, Arena was tabbed to rebuild the national team. Nobody gave the Americans much of a chance of becoming relevant on the world stage, but that’s exactly what Arena did. Team USA stunned Portugal in the first game of the 2002 World Cup, beat Mexico to reach the quarterfinals and nearly upended world power Germany.

In eight seasons as national team head coach, Arena guided Team USA to 71 victories.

Back to MLS, Arena spent one season as coach of the New York Red Bulls before joining the Galaxy in 2008. Last season, the Galaxy reached the MLS Cup, losing in a shootout to Real Salt Lake.

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Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 8:19 pm by bud

Tags: Bruce Arena, D.C. United, Los Angeles Galaxy, Major League Soccer, MLS Cup, National Soccer Hall of Fame, New York Red Bulls, Real Salt Lake, Virginia, World Cup