National Soccer Hall of Fame reveals 2013 candidate class

Taylor Twellman, Jason Kreis, Ben Olsen, and Chris Armas are among the 22 candidates for the 2013 National Soccer Hall of Fame.

U.S. Soccer released the 2013 player ballot on Friday afternoon for this year’s Hall of Fame class, and it also includes Robin Fraser, Tony Sanneh, John O’Brien and Joe-Max Moore. Voting has begun immediately and will run  through Feb. 22. The results are expected to be announced shortly after.

Some of the former players in their first year of eligibility include Olsen, Twellman and two-time MLS champion Wade Barrett. Mauricio Cienfuegos, Roy Lassiter and Tisha Venturini-Hoch, meanwhile, are in their last year of eligibility.

“We are excited to begin the process of selecting the National Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2013 later this year,” Hank Steinbrecher, Chairman of the Hall of Fame’s Board of Directors, said in a statement released by U.S. Soccer. “The Hall of Fame is the most prestigious honor among the Player, Veteran and Builder candidates who dedicated themselves to the sport. As usual there is a great mix of returning candidates and new names who are worthy of this award.”

To be eligible for election as a player, an individual must be retired for at least three years but no more than 10. They must also have played in either 20 international games for the U.S., or in at least five seasons in an American first division league and named to a postseason All-League or All-Star squad at least once.

Here is the complete 2013 class of candidates for the National Soccer Hall of Fame:

*First year of eligibility ^Final year of eligibility; moves to Veteran ballot in 2014

FRANCO PANIZO