Lenarduzzi and Wilson To Be Inducted Into U.S. National Soccer Hall of Fame

Ottawa, Ontario – Former Canadian Nationals Bob Lenarduzzi and Bruce Wilson will be inducted into the U.S. National Soccer Hall of fame this weekend in Oneonta, New York.



Lenarduzzi was a defender-midfielder who played more games in the North American Soccer League than any other man, 312, including 288 in the regular season and 24 in the playoffs. In the course of this achievement, playing in a league dominated by United States-based teams, he probably had more influence on American soccer than any other player ever who wasn’t an American citizen and never played for an American club.



Lenarduzzi’s entire 11-season NASL career, from 1974 to 1984 was spent in his hometown with the Vancouver Whitecaps. He played in 35 games in the Whitecaps’ championship season of 1979 and more than 30 in five other seasons. Although primarily a defensive player, he did score 33 NASL goals. Lenarduzzi was an NASL North American all-star in 1978, ’79, ’81, ’82 and ’84.



Lenarduzzi won 47 full international caps for Canada. He played for Canada in both the 1984 Olympic Games and the 1986 World Cup finals, and was Canada’s national-team coach from 1992 to 1997. He played two seasons in the Major Indoor Soccer League.



Bruce Wilson, a Canadian defender who played for several North American Soccer League teams is considered one of the best North American players in the NASL’s history.

Wilson was a stay-at-home style of defender. Although his 299 games (276 regular season and 23 playoff) rank him second only to fellow Canadian Bob Lenarduzzi in NASL appearances, he scored only eight NASL goals. He played 11 seasons in the NASL, 1974-77 with the Vancouver Whitecaps, 1978 and ’79 with the Chicago Sting, 1980 with the New York Cosmos and 1981-84 with the Toronto Blizzard. He played at least 20 games in each of those seasons.



Wilson was an NASL all-star six times. Three of those were first-team selections, in 1977, when he was with Vancouver, 1979, when he was with Chicago, and 1984, when he was with Toronto. He also was an NASL North American all-star in 1979, ’82, ’83 and ’84. He was a member of the squad when New York won the NASL championship in 1980, and was runner-up in both 1983 and ’84 with Toronto.



Wilson was capped 51 times for Canada and played in the 1984 Olympic Games and captained the 1986 World Cup team. In 1998, he was the lone Canadian player elected to a CONCACAF “team of the century.”



The 2003 inductees are:

Players:

Carlos Alberto (Brazil)

Paul Child (England/USA)

Karl-Heinz Granitza (Germany)

Bob Lenarduzzi (Canada)

Arnie Mausser (USA)

Ace Ntsoelengoe (South Africa)

Alan Willey (England/USA)

Bruce Wilson (Canada)



Builders:

Ahmet Ertegun

Nesuhi Ertegun

Ted Howard

Lee Stern

Elizabeth Robbie

Joe Robbie

Steve Ross

Clive Toye