(I posted this over the weekend, but wanted to give our regular readers who may have missed it a chance to chime in.)
With Brian McBride announcing his retirement from professional soccer at the end of the current MLS season there has been an outpouring of emotion from grateful U.S. national team fans who remember him for all his contributions to the game.
This had me wondering just who most people would consider their favorite U.S. national team player ever. Is it McBride? How about Landon Donovan? Do people still have love for Tab Ramos or John Harkes? How about Clint Mathis?
It's time for a poll. Who is your favorite U.S. men's national team player of all time? Remember, this isn't a poll asking who the best USA player ever was, it's who you personally considered your favorite.
Cast your vote after the jump (and apologies to the old-timers, but for the purposes of the poll we're listing players from the modern era, 1990 to present day. Feel free to include write-in ballots):
Photos by ISIPhotos.com
Who did you vote for and why? Was there a tough call you had to make? Who isn't on the ballot that you would like to have seen on it?
Share your thoughts below.
OH, AND I SHOULD MENTION THAT MICHAEL BRADLEY IS GOING TO BE THE 12TH MEMBER TIED IN 2ND PLACE, IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE, AFTER PLAYING SOME MORE GAMES!
I VOTED FOR DONOVAN, WITH AN ELEVEN WAY TIE FOR SECOND; (IN NO PARTICULAR) JOE MAX MOORE, MCBRIDE, WYNALDA, DEMPSEY, HARKES, OLSEN, BEASLEY, POPE, BALBOA, LALAS, KELLER
no tony Sanneh? He’s my favorite
…it does me good to see three players who have worn the shirt of Fulham FC in the poll (why no Carlos Bocanegra?). Clint’s time will come, but the consumate professional, 110% ‘giver’ and all round nice guy who will one day lead the USA as the manager – it has to be Brian McBride…
COYW!!!
Fulham fan, thanking Mcbride for all his services, what a man, what a player!
Harkes may be kind of a jerk, but he was the first American to make a decent splash in Europe. Not the warmest and cuddliest guy, but he deserves some respect for being a trailblazer.
Preki.
Ramos. first sign of technique in America. the best on the team then. a pleasure to watch. gave all of us young players the idea that we could compete technically with the rest of the world. wish he was still playing today. Forza Ramos…even now!
Favorite or best?
Best is Donovan. Favorite is Paul Caligiuri.
Donovan is probably a better player than Dempsey, but we’re talking about favorites. Dempsey has a swagger and personality that Donovan will never have, and it translates to the pitch as well. Dempsey is very likeable, and Donovan is really kind of a prick.
McHead wins for me all day any day. He is a true class act and an absolutely relentless warrior on the pitch. If we had 11 players with McBride’s character and soccer brains and heart we’d be a MUCH better off team for it (and would have easily won our group and put Ghana to rest in WC2010, IMO).
He just poured his soul out right there. I’ve seen worse.
Billy Gonsalves, baby!!! 🙂
That’s easy…Robert Daniels. He holds the all time scoring record in world cup qualifing and world cup finals and led the US to the 2010 world cup title bagging a hat trick while winning the golden ball, he’s also arguably the best created player ever on FIFA World Cup 2010.
Chris Henderson
Interesting results. I’ve followed the nats since 94. McBride is gets my vote for favorite player. I would put him about 4 or 5 on best player for the nats, behind Donovan, Reyna, Friedel, and maybe Dempsey.
Ives, have you ever done a best XI for the nats column? That would be interesting. My two cents on best XI. Keeper: Friedel, Defense: Cherundolo, Onyewu, Eddie Pope, Bocenegra or Balboa. Mids: Donovan, Reyna, Perez or O’brien, Dempsey or Beasley. Forwards: McBride, Mathis (when he was in shape). If it were possible to put all those players together in their prime with a good coach, I think they would have an outside shot at winning a world cup.
Thanks Rob!
And thanks Ives as well. In all the years that I’ve posted on this site this is maybe the second time you’ve responded to any of my comments!
Frankie Hejduk. Hands down. 100%.
Epitomizes the American player. Hard working, tough, excellent fitness, unbridled passion for the game and a never-ending appreciation of the opportunity to play for the Nats and represent the Stars & Stripes.
One of the coolest guys ever to wear the US jersey (former HS national surfing champ), at age 36 was considered by many teammates while in the US pool to be the most fit player on the team, loved to play against Mexico and stir them up so much that their COACHING staff got into a fight with him (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wR9pxXxVeo4).
If that’s enough, the guy downs 14 shots of Starbucks expresso per DAY (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s2MvYoV8A8)
Frankie Hejduk: an American soccer LEGEND
you mean the “mistake” where a Ghanaian destroyed Reyna’s knee? I was at that game and it certainly didn’t look like Reyna gave the ball away as much as the opponent took it, and his MCL with it. Not quite how Clark’s mistake against Ghana this year went down… RC just had a bad touch right to a Ghanaian midfielder who tapped it to a teammate while Clark crashed into him. I think it’s safe to say that although Reyna could perhaps have just blasted the ball away, the knee-on-knee collision was the biggest reason he coughed up the ball.
Okay – the question is favorite USA player, not which one is best. My favorite USA player is Ben Olsen. No one worked harder and, in his prime, no one drove balls across the penalty area like Ben did.
Wasn’t that the Brazil game on July 4th? The one where Tab got flattened by Leonardo just before half time? Yeah, we lost 1-0 to Brazil (with 10 men for a half), but they went on to win that WC.
I used to listen to WSD, but like I said it’s my opinion, as they still had the sponsors and created the show right after they left Sirius (Sirius never canceled them). The timing was fishy, as if death threats would stop after leaving Sirius, but the Liverpool fans didn’t mind they were still sponsored and on a podcast? Hmm. Oh well only Stephen and Kenny know for sure.
no ricardo clark? please im just joking
Not that I voted for him, but he was the highest scorer for the USMNT until LD finally passed him.
I’m in the same boat, but I just like Claudio Reyna. Seems like a cool cat.