Youth: Five foreign-based players in U.S. U-18 squad
- by Mike Woitalla @MikeWoitalla, Feb 2, 2018
The squad includes five European-based players: Konrad De La Fuente (Barcelona), Jalen Hawkins (Bayern Munich), Owen Otasowie (Wolverhampton), Stuart Ritchie (FC Groningen) and Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa), and Ian Hoffmann (Karlsuhe).
• Ten players are with MLS Development Academy teams, including FC Dallas' Bryan Reynolds, who signed an MLS Homegrown contract in November of 2016.
• Taylor Booth is reportedly being courted by Bayern Munich. But Booth, who has been playing for Real Salt Lake's academy player, doesn't turn 18 until May of 2019. FIFA prohibits international transfers of players under age 18, with the exception of EU passport holders moving to Europe.
U.S. U-18 men's national team
GOALKEEPERS (3): David Ochoa (Real Salt Lake
academy; Oxnard, Calif.), Jacob Schick (Chargers SC; Palm Harbor, Fla.), Kris Shakes (Philadelphia Union academy; Austin, Texas).
DEFENDERS (6): Julian Araujo (Barca Academy;
Lompoc, Calif.), Nico Benalcazar (New York City FC academy; Wilton, Conn.), Ian Hoffmann (Karlsuhe/GER; Karlsruher, Germany), Nelson Martinez (D.C. United academy; Woodbridge, Va.), David Mendoza
(Chicago Fire academy; Gage Park, Ill.), Leonardo Sepulveda (LA Galaxy academy; Corona, Calif.).
MIDFIELDERS (9): Taylor Booth (Unattached; Eden, Utah), Cameron Duke (Sporting
KC academy; Overland Park, Kan.) Roberto Hategan (Sac Republic FC; Chicago, Ill.), Aidan Morris (Crew SC Academy; Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.), Owen Otasowie (Wolves/ENG.; New York, N.Y.), Marcelo Palomino
(Houston Dynamo; Houston, Texas), Stuart Ritchie (FC Groningen/NED; Pleasanton, Calif.) Thomas Roberts (FC Dallas academy; Little Rock, Ark.), Indiana Vassilev (Aston Villa/ENG; Savannah, Ga.).
FORWARDS (6): Konrad De La Fuente (Barcelona/ESP; Barcelona, Spain), Jalen Hawkins (Bayern Munich/GER; Regensburg, Germany), Ulysses Llanez (LA Galaxy academy; Lynwood, Calif.), Bryan
Reynolds (FC Dallas; Frisco, Texas), Jose Rivas (Crew SC Academy; Weston, Fla.), Stefan Stojanovic (Sockers FC; Chicago, Ill.).
How does this guy Namazi get into the ranks of Nats coaches? He never played at a high level, nor coached at a high level. You can't tell me we couldn't do better for our youth team. This smacks of all the problems the candidates running for president have been ranting about.
R2 Dad, there is an Namazi that played professionally in the US and coaches professionally including Iran's national team. I expect that this is him.
My question is why only 24 U18 players at the camp? Only 6 backs? If they are just taking a look at people, why not look at 40 U18s?