IN SOME WAYS, WYNALDA SHOWS SHADES OF GRETZKY.

Byline: San Francisco Chronicle 

He scores goals with his feet rather than a hockey stick, but Eric Wynalda hopes to be the Wayne Gretzky of his sport.

Wynalda, at age 27, is already the top goal-scorer in this country's soccer history, and the San Jose Clash forward is trying, much like Gretzky did, to make his sport more popular in the United States. Wynalda also idolizes the hockey star, who also set numerous offensive records at a young age.

``Gretzky . . . don't even get me started,'' Wynalda said. ``I've always tried to play soccer like he plays hockey.

``When Wayne was playing for the L.A. Kings, I'd bug everyone for tickets. His agent sent me a signed statue of him, and it's my most prized possession. It's always the first thing I pack when I move - and I take it myself; I don't trust the movers with it.''

Said Clash goalie Dave Salzwedel, who has known Wynalda since the age of 9: ``He loves Gretzky. It's so funny - if you want to touch a nerve with Eric, just say something bad about Gretzky.''

Wynalda, who is from Westlake Village, has some of the same marketability pluses as Gretzky: He's handsome, charismatic and has enjoyed great success on the international stage.

Wynalda has 30 goals in 83 appearances with the U.S. national team, including 12 goals in his last 18 international games. He's peaking as an elite player; in 1997, between the U.S. team and the Clash, he has scored six goals in five contests.

``Eric's probably the most talented American player in the U.S.; he could easily play on the best clubs around the world,'' U.S. coach Steve Sampson said. ``He's an attacking-minded player, which is very entertaining, and he does a wonderful job promoting the sport. Plus, he's a good-looking guy and a true-blue American.''

If soccer's popularity here approached its international appeal, Wynalda would be a media sensation. During his four years playing professionally in Germany, Wynalda said if he and his wife, Amy, dined out ``whatever we had was in the paper the next day.'' Amy Wynalda said her car was towed once, and it made the papers.

Stateside, Wynalda is rarely recognized.

``He doesn't make the money that Gretzky or Michael Jordan make, but if the sport was elevated, Eric would be recognized as one of the top athletes in the U.S.,'' Clash coach Laurie Calloway said. ``He certainly has the credentials and the qualities to be a superstar.''

Wynalda believes that things are changing. He's approached more often to do endorsements, and Reebok will feature him in an upcoming nationwide campaign. U.S. national player Alexi Lalas also is in demand for ads.

``It's a sign of the times,'' Wynalda said. ``The interest level in soccer is growing. I'm not on a par with Shaq or Shawn Kemp, but in any other country, I'd be a household name. It's kind of a blessing in disguise; this way, I'm allowed to have a life.''

The only negatives associated with Wynalda are his history of tempestuous relationships with coaches and his on-field temper tantrums. He says he's working on staying calm, though he says his reputation for being difficult has been overstated.

``Being the all-time leading goal scorer - well, you may as well put a target on my back,'' he said. ``It's the Barry Bonds syndrome: A lot of people want to see you fail. A lot of people misconstrue you as a prima donna.''

After several confrontations with Wynalda in 1992, Calloway went so far as to dump him from the San Francisco Bay Blackhawks, and Wynalda admits he intentionally provoked Calloway in order to get out of his contract.

``At that time, Eric was a little unprofessional, and I wasn't going to lower my standards,'' Calloway said. ``Now we have an outstanding relationship. In the past - excuse the pun - we clashed, and sometimes his competitiveness worked against him. Now he's realized he can be so much more focused if he learns to handle frustrations and not show petulance.''

Calloway says he's giving the increasingly mature Wynalda more leadership duties on the field, and Wynalda is responding.

``I sense this will be a big year for Eric,'' Calloway said. ``He's already considered one of the best - now he's ready to earn the title as the best player in the league.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) Soccer star Eric Wynalda has 30 goals in 83 appearances with the U.S. national team, including 12 goals in his past 18 international games.

Daily News File Photo

(2) GRETZKY