Aug. 2, 2009
THANKFUL AND HUMBLE
Agoos inducted into Soccer Hall of Fame

By Michael Lewis
BigAppleSoccer.com Editor

Oneonta, N.Y. -- Getting into the National Soccer Hall of Fame wasn't about him, but rather the people who helped Jeff Agoos achieve the highest individual honor possible for a player.

"As I quickly found out, this game can be brutally honest, highly subjective and best of all, incredibly beautiful to be a part of," Agoos told an audience of several hundred people on Sunday. "I always felt that ceremonies like this are not certainly not about honoring the individual as much as the people who got them to this place.

"While my name picture maybe immortalized here, my story cannot be told without the people who are responsible. I had the good fortune to be around so many good people, so many good organizations, so many good coaches I feel more of a representative than an inductee."

Agoos, who retired as a player after the 2005 season which he spent with the NY/NJ MetroStars, played five seasons with D.C. United and four more with the San Jose Earthquakes. He finished his national team career with 134 caps and was a member of two World Cup teams and played in five MLS Cup championship teams.

"This is a sport that has given me so much," he said.. "I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to see the world with a different perspective. I have met presidents, prime ministers and certainly enough pundits to last me a lifetime.

"I wish I could say all of this was planned from the very beginning. All I really wanted to do is to have fun and be the best player that I could be."

For at least one day, Agoos got to have some more fun as the Red Bulls sporting director was inducted into the Hall along with former U.S. Women's National Team defender Joy Fawcett.

In a humble and thankful mood, Agoos mentioned several coaches who helped his career -- including L.A. Galaxy assistant coach Dave Sarachan, Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena, San Jose Earthquakes' Frank Yallop and Houston Dynamo's Dominic Kinnear.

Agoos credited Sarachan, who was his roommate at the Macabbiah Games a generation ago as "the driving force of behind my attending UVA [University of Virginia]."

Arena coached Agoos at the college, professional (D.C. United) and National Team levels.

"If I could point to one person who I truly could not be here without, it would be Bruce," Agoos said. "Bruce believed in me. He gave me the opportunity that I never had with any other person or any other coach."

Agoos remembered his first day as a UVA freshman, when Arena introduced him to the team as the starting sweeper.

"Bruce always had that confidence in me," he said.

"I know we've had our ups and downs in the past, but I know Bruce is a huge part of [what he became]. Bruce, I can't thank you enough."

Agoos revealed that he almost quit the game in 2001 after United had traded him to San Jose "from basically what I believed to be the best team . . . to the worst team at that time."

Yallop, who was the head coach, and Kinnear, then the assistant coach, wanted Agoos to be team captain.

"I flatly responded, 'I don't want to go to San Jose. I would rather retire' " Agoos said. "Frank's mouth dropped open as you could imagine."

Agoos decided to keep on playing. "This turned out to be one of the best decisions of my soccer career," he said.

Agoos was afforded a day from his day job as Red Bulls sporting director. The Red Bulls are at the bottom of the MLS heap at enduing a forgettable 2-15-4 year, with no shot at reaching the playoffs.

Agoos said he felt the season reminded him of his career.

"It encapsulates my career to a certain respect," he said after the ceremonies. "I have been at very high points and very low points. This has been without one of the most difficult years in my professional life both on the field and off the field. It's been incredibly disappointing to have gotten the results that we have.

"On the other side, I learned a lot about myself. I learned a lot about people. I learned a lot about my job and I am thankful for some of the lessons that I have learned. . . . I have always been somebody who will work harder than the guy next to me, put in extremely long hours trying to help and turn what I think is a very disappointing season around."