Peter Vermes is one of those people who has “done it all” in the game of soccer.

Score a game-winning goal? Sure. Vermes did that in high school to lead his team to the state championship in 1983. He also still holds the record in the Rutgers men's program history for most game-winning goals in a single season (10 in 1987).

Earn national recognition? Vermes did that too, taking home a variety of accolades at every level of his playing career. He was even named U.S. Soccer’s Male Athlete of the Year and Olympic Player of the Year in 1988.

Play professionally? Vermes’s professional career spanned 14 years across the world. His stints included time in Hungary, Holland and Spain, while playing integral roles with the U.S. Men’s National Team. He also spent several years as a top defender in the American Soccer League and Major League Soccer.

Now the manager for Sporting KC, Vermes can add another accolade to his already extensive soccer résumé: National Soccer Hall of Fame inductee, as announced by U.S. Soccer in early April.

With all this experience (plus more) making up who he is today, the NSCAA made a visit to Sporting’s training center recently to speak with Vermes about the coaching career and advice for fledgling coaches.

You can read more about Vermes soccer journey in SportingKC.com’s article announcing his induction.

Vermes is the first Sporting Kansas City player or manager elected into the National Soccer Hall of Fame from the Veteran ballot. Former Kansas City managers Bob Gansler (2011) and Ron Newman (1992) were each inducted from the Builder ballot, while former Kansas City players Tony Meola (2012), Preki (2010) and Alexi Lalas (2006) were voted into the Hall of Fame on the Player ballot.

The 2013 National Soccer Hall of Fame induction class also includes Joe-Max Moore from the Player ballot.

Photo credit above and in video: Gary Rohman

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