Claudio Reyna Named to Virginia Sports Hall of Fame

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Jan. 18, 2017

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Former Virginia men’s soccer standout Claudio Reyna was named to the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017, as announced Wednesday and chosen by the statewide Honors Court committee. The 46th annual induction banquet will be held on Saturday, April 29, at the Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel in Portsmouth, Va.

A member of the Virginia men’s soccer program from 1991-93, Reyna won NCAA championships in each of his three seasons, while earning first-team All-America honors three straight years. He was awarded the Hermann Trophy in 1993, presented to the top player in college soccer. Reyna also was named the 1992 and 1993 Soccer America Player of the Year.

Reyna scored 21 goals and added 22 assists in 65 career matches with the Cavaliers. In addition to being a three-time All-American, Reyna also was named first-team All-ACC three straight years. He was named the offensive MVP of the NCAA College Cup in 1991 and 1992 and the MVP of the 1991 ACC Tournament. Reyna also was tabbed the 1991 ACC Rookie of the Year.

Reyna joined the professional ranks in 1994 with German Bundesliga club Bayer 04 Leverkusen after playing in the 1994 FIFA World Cup. He had a 13-year professional career in Europe. Reyna played for the Bundesliga’s Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg from 1995-99, Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier League from 1998-2002, followed by Sunderland and Manchester City of the Premier League from 2001-07. In 1999-2000, Reyna helped lead Rangers to its 11th Scottish Premier League title in 12 years. Reyna concluded his playing career with two years in Major League Soccer with the New York Red Bulls in 2007 and 2008 before announcing his retirement on July 16, 2008.

Reyna played for the United States Men’s National Team for 13 straight years from 1994-2006, earning 112 caps and 94 starts. He was a member of four FIFA World Cup teams and was captain of the 2006 team. Reyna was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2012. He scored eight goals with the national team, and his 19 career assists ranks third all-time.

Reyna is joined in the 2017 Hall of Fame Class by:
• Beth Anders, a former field hockey coach who spent 30 years at Old Dominion University and led them to 28 NCAA tournament appearances.
• Dre Bly, a three-time All-American football player at the University of North Carolina, Super Bowl XXXIV Champion and a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
• Jack Bogaczyk, a writer who spent 28 years in the sports media business in Roanoke.
• Bimbo Coles, a former Virginia Tech basketball standout who enjoyed a 14-year NBA career.
• Kim Hamilton Anthony, a former gymnast on the U.S. National Team, who was a six-time All-America selection at UCLA.
• C.J. Woollum, a former Director of Athletics at Christopher Newport University and basketball coach who transformed CNU into a Division III powerhouse.