The last two-plus months in American soccer have been one giant maelstrom of ideas, opinions, criticism, skepticism, accusations, power struggles, and so much more. They climaxed two weeks ago with a 12-year presidential incumbent, Sunil Gulati, announcing he would not seek re-election, ensuring the United States Soccer Federation will have a new leader come February.

In light of that, it’s nice to have some clarity. It’s nice to have some fleeting calm and structure in a U.S. Soccer presidential race that has, so far, lacked both. Last Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to submit applications and the three nomination letters required to become an official candidate. U.S. Soccer finally confirmed the official slate on Wednesday.

One of the nine candidates, Paul Lapointe, has dropped out. But eight did get their three letters, and passed background checks, meaning eight candidates are in this thing for the long haul. They’re the names you’ll be hearing over the next two months, leading in to the Feb. 10 election. There are surely more twists and turns to come. But for now, it’s time to get to know those eight, and to familiarize ourselves with their visions for U.S. Soccer.

Five of the eight have already spoken at at least one of two candidate forums. Full recordings of the GotSoccer forum and the US Club Soccer forum are available. Many, but not all, have also given media interviews, and/or released formal plans. Five have spoken with Yahoo Sports, and links to those features are below.

Also below is a look at all eight, their backgrounds, their platforms and more. In the order they declared their candidacies …

STEVE GANS

Bio: A Boston-based attorney who played collegiately and, briefly, professionally. He worked on Boston’s 1994 World Cup host city bid, has been a board member and lawyer for a local U.S. Development Academy club, and has done consulting work for European clubs.

Campaign: Gans announced he was exploring a run back in May. He announced his candidacy in September, and has campaigned while maintaining his job at his law firm. His campaign team includes a former senator’s press secretary.

Platform: Gans, like other candidates, wants to give all constituents a louder, more meaningful voice. He says many people across the American soccer landscape aren’t being listened to. He wants to hold a soccer summit to listen to those voices, and implement a youth soccer task force “to solve the counterproductive competition amongst sanctioning organizations.” He wants to form a search committee to select the next men’s national team manager, and in general introduce more collaborative decision-making processes.

Other: Gans has been very critical of the election process. He called for independent oversight of it in a letter to U.S. Soccer on Tuesday, saying it had not been conducted in a “fair, open manner,” and claiming the federation has “displayed neither fairness or transparency.”

More: Gans has a full 21-point platform on his website. He’s also on Twitter. He participated in both candidate forums. He has given several interviews, including one with Yahoo Sports.

[FC Yahoo: Steve Gans is the original U.S. Soccer presidential challenger]

ERIC WYNALDA

Bio: A former U.S. national team striker who played at three World Cups, and scored 34 goals in over 100 caps. He had a 14-year professional playing career, most notably in Germany and MLS. After retiring as a player, he has coached in the NASL, UPSL and a local Californian amateur league. He has served as a technical director and director of coaching at youth clubs. He has also worked as an on-air analyst for ESPN and, most recently, Fox Sports.

Campaign: Wynalda had been plotting a run for some time. He publicly announced his candidacy on Oct. 20, and has taken a leave from his role at Fox. He’s been active on the campaign trail since.

Platform: He is largely seen as the anti-establishment candidate. Throughout his career, he has been unafraid to challenge authority – and unafraid to ruffle feathers. He wants to move MLS to the European soccer calendar, and find a way to institute promotion and relegation. He wants to empower youth clubs, and halt the “overcoaching” of kids. He has called the federation’s relationship with the women’s national team “toxic,” and said he wants to “tear up” the current collective bargaining agreement in favor of a better deal for the players that gives them equal pay.