Former Tiger, U.S. star Bruce Murray named to National Soccer Hall of Fame

Bruce Murray, who helped lead Clemson to two NCAA titles in men’s soccer and who later starred with the United States National Team, has been named to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

Bruce Murray, a veteran U.S. National Team midfielder and forward, played in 86 games and scored 21 goals during his international career. When Murray retired from the national team in 1993, he was its all-time leader in both caps and goals. Murray made his first full international appearance against England in 1985 and his last was against Venezuela in 1993.

Murray played in all of the United States’ games in the 1990 World Cup, including all 10 qualifiers during 1988 and 1989 and the three games in the finals in Italy in 1990. Murray scored the United States’ goal against Austria in its last game of the World Cup finals.

He also played in all of the United States’ games in its victorious efforts in the 1991 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 1992 U.S. Cup, as well as playing for the United States in the 1988 Olympic Games, the 1992 Intercontinental Cup and the 1993 Copa America.

Murray played several seasons with the Washington Stars and Maryland Bays of the ASL/APSL and one season with the Atlanta Ruckus of the A-League.

At Clemson, Murray won the Hermann Award as the top men’ soccer player in the nation in 1987. He led Clemson to NCAA championships as a freshman in 1984 and as a senior in 1987, and was a two-time All-American. Murray scored the winning goal in three NCAA tournament games for the Tigers in 1987, leading up to the national title.

He was named first team All-ACC in 1985 and 1987, and was the first Clemson player in history in the 40-40 club (over 40 goals and 40 assists in a career). He is sixth in school history in total points with 142 and seventh in total goals with 48. Murray ranks second in school history with 46 career assists.

In the 84 games he played during his career, Murray had either a goal or an assist in 56 games. He is a member of the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team and was named one of the top 50 male athletes in ACC history in 2003.

Joining Murray in the 2011 induction class include Cobi Jones, the U.S. National Team’s all-time leading cap winner and long-time member of the LA Galaxy; Eddie Pope, a perennial anchor of the U.S. defense for nearly a decade and winner of three MLS Cups with D.C. United; Earnie Stewart, a three-time World Cup veteran; and former U.S. National Team and Kansas City Wizards head coach Bob Gansler.