Carlos Bocanegra was voted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame for his myriad accomplishments as a player in results announced by the organization Tuesday.
The playing career of Bocanegra, Atlanta United’s vice president, spans MLS, as well as some of the top leagues in Europe, and an international career in which he captained the U.S. men’s national team in a World Cup.
“It’s a huge honor,” Bocanegra said in a video provided by Atlanta United. “I love representing the country, especially on the global stage.”
The induction ceremony will be held next year as part of the combined classes of 2020 and ’21. The date hasn’t been determined.
Bocanegra’s former teammate, Tim Howard, who is the godfather of Bocanegra’s son, broke the news during a video session with the team Tuesday morning at the team’s training ground in Marietta.
Bocanegra said he had no idea this was coming. Atlanta United President Darren Eales said they worked hard to surprise him.
“Carlos is an important part of the history (of soccer) in the United States men’s national team and the growth of soccer, and I couldn’t be more delighted that he’s got this award,” Eales said in a video provided by the team.
Bocanegra was in his third year on the ballot for the Hall of Fame, whose museum is in Frisco, Texas. A candidate must be on 66.7 percent of the ballots submitted to be inducted. He appeared on 68.5 percent. Each of the approximately 300 voters could select up to 10 candidates per ballot in the players category.
Bocanegra played for the U.S. men’s national team 110 times, scored 14 goals (a team record for a defender) and captained it in the 2009 Confederations Cup and 2010 World Cup.
Bocanegra said later watching videos of the late goal that beat Algeria in the 2010 World Cup was “a piece of sport that brought so much joy and happiness to people in the United States. For one day to bring some cheer was pretty amazing to feel what sport can do for a country. It’s something I’ll never forget.”
He was part of teams that won the Gold Cup in 2002 and ’07. He captained the team 64 times. Bocanegra said defeating Mexico to win the 2007 Gold Cup in Chicago was among his proudest moments. Another was upsetting Spain in the Confederations Cup and reaching the final against Brazil.
He made more than 380 appearances for club teams in a career that included the Chicago Fire (2000-03), Fulham in England’s Premier League (2004-08), Rennes (2008-10) and Saint-Etienne (2010-11) in France’s League 1, Rangers (2011-13) in Scotland’s Premiership, Racing Santander (2012-13) in Spain’s second division, and Chivas USA (2013-14) in MLS.
“Being able to play soccer as a job, I got to see the world,” Bocanegra said. “I learned about myself and grew up through the game.”
Drafted fifth from UCLA, Bocanegra twice was named MLS Rookie of the Year in 2000, and Defender of the Year in 2002, ’03 while helping Chicago win the U.S. Open Cup and advanced to MLS Cup.
After retiring following the 2014 MLS season, Bocanegra was named Atlanta United’s technical director in May 2015. The club won the MLS Cup in 2018, and the U.S. Open Cup and Campeones Cup in 2019.
“He’s proven that he’s a really important figure in United States soccer history,” Eales said.
Credit: ALASTAIR GRANT
Credit: ALASTAIR GRANT
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