CLAUDIO REYNA WINS 2000 HONDA PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Former Two-Time Honda Finalist Wins Coveted Award in Third Try and Finally Wins A Car

LOS ANGELES (December 19, 2000) -- United States National Team midfielder Claudio Reyna has been selected as the 2000 Honda Player of the Year in a vote by the American media.

Reyna, 27, received the most prestigious honor in U.S. professional soccer this afternoon during a gala luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel marking the award's 10th anniversary. The luncheon was hosted by Andrés Cantor and Amy Allman (NBC Olympics commentator).

Unable to attend the festivities in person due to his club team commitments with Glasgow Rangers of the Scottish Premier Division, Reyna joined the event live via satellite from Scotland.

Reyna, who had been nominated as a Honda finalist on two separate occasions (1997 and 1999), will now have his name added to the coveted Honda trophy and will receive a Honda Accord EX. Additionally, $5,000.00 will be donated to the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) on Reyna's behalf by the American Honda Motor Company.

"After being a finalist on two previous occasions, it's a tremendous honor to be finally recognized by the media as the 2000 Honda Player of the Year," Reyna said. "This is the highest recognition a player can receive in U.S. professional soccer."

Launched by Fútbol de Primera and American Honda in 1991, the Honda Player of the Year Award honors the best player on the U.S. National Team as chosen by the media and is often called the 'Heisman Trophy' of U.S. professional soccer.

This year's other two Honda finalists, Tony Meola and Joe-Max Moore, trailed Reyna in close nationwide balloting by 233 print and broadcast journalists from across the country. In the end, Reyna received 226 points (54 first place, 20 second place and 24 third place votes) to second-place Meola's 210. Moore finished third in the overall vote count with 134 points. Each first place vote by the journalists was worth three points, a second place vote two points, and a third place vote one point.

Considered the go-to-man in the U.S. National Team midfield, Reyna started 11 matches for the Americans in 2000, recording a goal and two assists, while helping the United States move a step closer to a berth in the next World Cup. Reyna has tallied at least one goal and one assist every year since joining the National Team in 1994.

Reyna has been a member of two World Cup teams, and he played every minute for the U.S. during the 1998 World Cup. He also played in both the 1992 Olympics, as the youngest player on the team, and the 1996 Olympics as one of three "overage" players.

Reyna now joins a select group of previous Honda Players of the Year: Kasey Keller (1999), Cobi Jones (1998), Eddie Pope (1997), Eric Wynalda (1996 and 1992), Alexi Lalas (1995), Marcelo Balboa (1994), Thomas Dooley (1993) and Hugo Perez (1991).

Today's Honda luncheon was attended by many top figures in U.S. professional soccer, including US Soccer Honorary President Alan Rothenberg, US Soccer Executive Vice-President Sunil Gulati, previous Honda Players of the Year, and other U.S. National Team players. FIFA Sr. Vice-President Julio Grondona was also present for the festivities.