Friedel, Ramos, Donovan, Dempsey among U.S. Soccer's All-Time Best XI
Brad Friedel beat out the likes of Kasey Keller, Tim Howard and Tony Meola to be the goalkeeper on U.S. Soccer's All-Time Best XI. (Nick Wass/AP)
If U.S. Soccer wanted to start a conversation with its All-Time Best XI selections, it has accomplished just that.
A day after releasing its women's Best XI, U.S. Soccer unveiled its men's team -- which was voted on by select past players (who were permitted to vote for themselves, according to a U.S. Soccer spokesperson), administrators and media members -- with some inclusions and omissions that have stirred the pot a bit as the federation's 100th year winds down.
Based on the early reaction in SocialMediaVille, there's a slight outrage at Brad Friedel being selected as the goalkeeper over Kasey Keller, just as there was some controversy about Brianna Scurry being selected over Hope Solo for the women's Best XI.
Among the other notable names missing out include Michael Bradley (who some voters may reconsider once he appears in another one or two World Cups) and all-time cap winner Cobi Jones. The active players included on the squad -- in addition to Friedel, who still plays for club but not country -- are Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey, Steve Cherundolo and Carlos Bocanegra.
Here is a visual representation of the complete men's and women's Best XIs, followed by a voting breakdown:
U.S. Soccer Men's All-Time Best XI
STRAUS AND CREDITOR: Our U.S. men's Best XI selections
VOTING RESULTS
Goalkeepers
Brad Friedel 25, Kasey Keller 14, Tim Howard 13, Tony Meola 4, Arnold Mausser 1, Frank Borghi 0, David Vanole 0
Defenders
Marcelo Balboa 35, Eddie Pope 33, Carlos Bocanegra 25, Steve Cherundolo 25, Thomas Dooley 20, Paul Caligiuri 18, Jeff Agoos 16, Alexi Lalas 14, Frankie Hejduk 9, Harry Keough 6, Pablo Mastroeni 3, Fernando Clavijo 2, Tony Sanneh 2, Mike Windischmann 2, Gregg Berhalter 2, Desmond Armstrong 0, Jimmy Banks, Brian Bliss 0, Mike Burns 0, John Doyle 0, Mike Lapper 0, Oguchi Onyewu 0, Werner Roth 0
Midfielders
Landon Donovan 52, Claudio Reyna 45, Tab Ramos 42, Clint Dempsey 25, Michael Bradley 20, Cobi Jones 12, Walter Bahr 6, John Harkes 6, Hugo Perez 3, Adolf Bachmeier 2, Rick Davis 2, John O’Brien 2, Al Trost 2, DaMarcus Beasley 1, Ed McIlvenny 1*, Joe-Max Moore 1, Brian Quinn 1, Mike Sorber 1, Chris Armas 0, Chris Henderson 0, Eddie Lewis 0, Preki 0, Ed Souza 0, John Souza 0
Forwards
Brian McBride 45, Eric Wynalda 43, Earnie Stewart 16, Billy Gonsalves 7, Jozy Altidore 6, Peter Vermes 3, Joe Gaetjens 2, Archie Stark 2, Roy Wegerle 2, Roy Lassiter 1, Clint Mathis 1, Benny McLaughlin 1*, Ed Murphy 1*, Bruce Murray 1, Kyle Rote Jr. 1, Willy Roy 1, David Brown 0, Brian Ching 0, Aldo “Buff” Donelli 0, Frank Klopas 0, Bill Looby 0, Bert Patenaude 0, Josh Wolff 0
*Write-in votes
U.S. Soccer Women's All-Time Best XI
VOTING RESULTS
Goalkeepers
Briana Scurry (31), Hope Solo (24), Mary Harvey (1)
Defenders
Joy Biefeld Fawcett (56), Carla Werden Overbeck (49), Christie Rampone Pearce (46), Brandi Chastain (31), Kate Markgraf Sobrero (9), Lori Chalupny (5), Ali Krieger (2), Rachel Buehler (1), Linda Hamilton (1), Heather Mitts (1), Cat Reddick Whitehill (1), Stephanie Cox Lopez (0), Lori Henry (0), Amy LePeilbet (0), Kelly O’Hara (0)
Midfielders
Michelle Akers (55), Kristine Lilly (55), Julie Foudy (40), Shannon Boxx (13), Carli Lloyd (13), Shannon MacMillan (8), Megan Rapinoe (6), Heather O’Reilly (5), Shannon Higgins (4), Tobin Heath (1), Tiffany Roberts (1), Tisha Venturini (1), Lauren Holiday Cheney (0), Lorrie Fair (0), Angela Hucles (0), Lindsay Tarpley (0), Aly Wagner (0)
Forwards
Mia Hamm (56), Abby Wambach (52), Alex Morgan (15)
