LAS VEGAS – Las Vegas Lights FC Head Coach Steve Cherundolo can now add another accomplishment to his accomplished career – Hall of Famer. 

The former U.S. Men’s National Team stalwart was surprised live on-air during Wednesday night’s ESPN broadcast of the U.S. Men’s National Team’s 4-0 victory against Costa Rica where he thought he was going to be interviewed about his experience playing 16 professional seasons in Europe.  Instead, his former U.S. Men’s National Team teammates Taylor Twellman and Tim Howard – who also serves as a supporting owner of USL Championship club Memphis 901 FC – surprised him on-air that he had been selected into the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Nicknamed the Mayor of Hannover for his domestic success at Bundesliga club Hannover 96, where he made 370 appearances as a one-club man in the club game, Cherundolo made 87 appearances for the United States at the senior level and was part of three FIFA World Cup squads in 2002, 2006 and 2010. The 43-year-old joined Lights FC this season as its new Head Coach, and this past Saturday claimed his first victory with a 2-0 win against Tacoma Defiance.

Cherundolo appeared on 43 ballots to earn 89.6 percent of the vote to earn induction. He will be inducted alongside former U.S. Women’s National Team legend Christie Pearce Rampone, former D.C. United legend Jaime Moreno and Kevin Payne, elected in the Builder’s category.

The official induction ceremony will take place in October 2021 at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco, Texas.