Tatu Elected to National Soccer Hall of Fame
Former Dallas Sidekicks player and coach Tatu was chosen through the Veteran Ballot for induction in 2027.
Updated on Nov. 13, 2026 in Soccer
Tatu was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame through the Veteran Ballot. He will be inducted April 16, 2027, in Frisco, alongside Megan Rapinoe, David Beckham and Julie Ertz.
Why it matters
The honor recognizes a career spent largely in Texas indoor soccer, where Tatu played and coached for the Dallas Sidekicks. The election places a figure from the state's indoor game among the sport's most prominent honorees.
Tatu scored 857 regular-season indoor goals and won six scoring titles, five MVP awards and four championships as a player. He also led The Highlands School in Irving to three state titles and Prince of Peace Christian School in Carrollton to seven.
The players
Tatu
A former Dallas Sidekicks player and coach whose indoor soccer career earned him a place in the National Soccer Hall of Fame.
National Soccer Hall of Fame
The United States institution that honors notable figures in American soccer, with inductees selected through its voting process.
Texas Lone Star SC
A Texas soccer club that named Tatu its director of coaching in September 2026.
The details
Tatu played for the Dallas Sidekicks from 1984 to 2003 and coached the team from 1998 to 2004 and again from 2012 to 2015. He was known for tossing an estimated 600 jerseys into the stands during his signature celebration, a practice he said was meant to bring more fans to games. The Sidekicks kept extra jerseys on the sidelines for that purpose.
Timeline
1984 to 2003: Tatu plays for the Dallas Sidekicks.
1998 to 2004: Tatu coaches the Dallas Sidekicks.
2012 to 2015: Tatu coaches the Sidekicks again.
September 2026: Texas Lone Star SC names Tatu director of coaching.
April 16, 2027: Tatu is inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Frisco.
Season Trajectory
Tatu's selection through the Veteran Ballot recognizes indoor soccer contributions that the National Soccer Hall of Fame has historically honored alongside outdoor and national-team figures. The honor adds a Texas indoor-league name to a Hall that is typically associated with the sport's broader national narrative.
Fans of Texas indoor soccer can follow Tatu's new role as director of coaching at Texas Lone Star SC. The April 2027 induction ceremony in Frisco gives local supporters a date to plan around.
The takeaway
Tatu's induction recognizes a Texas career built across playing, coaching and youth-school titles. For fans, it is a reminder that the state's indoor soccer history has produced figures with national recognition.
What happens next
Tatu is scheduled to be inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame on April 16, 2027, in Frisco.
Further reading
Explore more Texas soccer coverage for context on the state's indoor and club game.
