November 18, 2003 should have been one of the greatest, if not THE greatest day in American soccer history. Instead, i’s remembered with disgust and resentment by a miniscule handful of soccer fanatics. If you find yourself pondering why this particular date is so significant, I commend you, as you’ve managed to erase one of the most tragic soccer stories from the bowels of your brain. On November 18, 2003, MLS wantonly seized the attention of the soccer world with the announcement that fourteen year-old Freddy Adu would be suiting up for the league’s most storied club, D.C. United.
On this infamous day, MLS reached an agreement with the Dallas Burn, the holders of the first overall pick in the 2004 SuperDraft, which fatefully placed the budding Freddy Adu with his hometown team, D.C. United. The trade between Dallas and D.C. seemed lopsided at the time, as United was set to acquire what many hailed as the Pele of American soccer for a mere player allocation. Former United coach Ray Hudson went so far as to say “A blind man on a galloping horse can see his talent. He’s a little Faberge egg.” That blind man must have fallen off his horse and suffered a debilitating head injury before assessing Adu’s talent.
Dallas would go on to turn the trade in their favor by packaging the draft pick with little used defender Shavar Thomas and a 2005 SuperDraft second round pick in exchange for the seventh overall pick from the Kansas City Wizards. With that pick, Dallas selected defender Clarence Goodson. Goodson featured in the Dallas starting eleven for three stellar seasons before moving to Norwegian side IK Start and the U.S. National Team.
An ungodly amount of hype surrounded Adu months before the young striker stepped foot on an MLS pitch. Features of Adu on ESPN were as frequent as McDonald’s commercials. MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis went so far as to say “He is the best young player in the world right now; not in the United States, in the world.” With hundreds of similar quotes littering newspapers, blogs, radio talk shows, and just about every other media outlet, it was nearly impossible for a fourteen-year-old boy to live up to such lofty expectations. At a time when most boys struggle with puberty, Freddy Adu had the entire weight of American soccer on his meager shoulders.
The soccer world was finally graced with the savior of American soccer’s presence on April 3, 2004. Adu appeared as a substitute in the second half against the San Jose State Earthquakes. Just two weeks later he punched home his first career goal in a 3-2 road loss in East Rutherford, New Jersey to the MetroStars. His career tumbled through a rough patch after his first two seasons in Washington, a patch he has yet to find his way out of.
After a paltry loan attempt with EPL powerhouse Manchester Untied, Adu was traded to perennial MLS doormat Real Salt Lake in the winter of 2006. Adu failed to acclimate to his new Utah surroundings, quickly falling out of favor with RSL management and fans. Later in the summer of 2007, he was pawned off to Portuguese side Benfica. Without surprise, the young American’s game has missed the boat in Europe. After repeated dismal spells in Portugal, Benfica has loaned the young American out on four occasions. Since his departure from MLS in 2007, Adu has appeared in fifty-one European contests, notching a skimpy total of nine goals.
A once shining beacon of hope for the U.S. National Team, Adu has not been selected to the national team since 2009, with his last goal coming in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match against lowly Grenada. Instead of cracking the National Team’s 23-man World Cup Roster in 2010, Adu was left pleading his case to make the squad from his Twitter account. While Landon onovan, Tim Howard, and the rest of the Yanks captured the hearts of Americans across the country, Adu was sitting at home watching on ESPN.
As this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup hastily approaches, Adu has about as much of a chance appearing on the U.S. roster as Stevie Wonder does waking up tomorrow morning and driving himself down Sunset Boulevard in a convertible. While current New York Red Bulls and U.S. National Team phenom Juan Agudelo is making headlines for leading the Yanks to a 1-1 draw against La Albiceleste, Adu is making headlines for the ever so daunting feat of playing an entire forty-five minute half for Caykur Rizespor of the Turkish second division. If that’s not a headline, I don’t know what is.
As an American soccer fan, I am left hopelessly dreaming that at twenty-one years of age Freddy Adu will somehow develop into the future player that was advertised when Adu was fourteen. Nothing would make me happier than to see his play transpire into something positive for the U.S.A National Team. The best-case scenario would be a reborn twenty-five year old Freddy Adu teaming up with a twenty-one year old Juan Agudelo in a 4-4-2 at the 2014 World Cup in Brasil. But in all likelihood, the next time Adu’s name will hold any significance will be on some sports writer’s “biggest busts of all time” list. Keep watch for this baby faced American as he tries to salvage his once promising career in the backwoods of Europe. Until his time comes, if it ever does, I bid you Adu.
Over the next few months, Futbol Intellect will look to the teams that history left behind, either through economic or sporting mismanagement. Starting with Mexico’s …
To Bid You Adu…
- Dan Egner
November 18, 2003 should have been one of the greatest, if not THE greatest day in American soccer history. Instead, i’s remembered with disgust and resentment by a miniscule handful of soccer fanatics. If you find yourself pondering why this particular date is so significant, I commend you, as you’ve managed to erase one of the most tragic soccer stories from the bowels of your brain. On November 18, 2003, MLS wantonly seized the attention of the soccer world with the announcement that fourteen year-old Freddy Adu would be suiting up for the league’s most storied club, D.C. United.
On this infamous day, MLS reached an agreement with the Dallas Burn, the holders of the first overall pick in the 2004 SuperDraft, which fatefully placed the budding Freddy Adu with his hometown team, D.C. United. The trade between Dallas and D.C. seemed lopsided at the time, as United was set to acquire what many hailed as the Pele of American soccer for a mere player allocation. Former United coach Ray Hudson went so far as to say “A blind man on a galloping horse can see his talent. He’s a little Faberge egg.” That blind man must have fallen off his horse and suffered a debilitating head injury before assessing Adu’s talent.
Dallas would go on to turn the trade in their favor by packaging the draft pick with little used defender Shavar Thomas and a 2005 SuperDraft second round pick in exchange for the seventh overall pick from the Kansas City Wizards. With that pick, Dallas selected defender Clarence Goodson. Goodson featured in the Dallas starting eleven for three stellar seasons before moving to Norwegian side IK Start and the U.S. National Team.
An ungodly amount of hype surrounded Adu months before the young striker stepped foot on an MLS pitch. Features of Adu on ESPN were as frequent as McDonald’s commercials. MLS deputy commissioner Ivan Gazidis went so far as to say “He is the best young player in the world right now; not in the United States, in the world.” With hundreds of similar quotes littering newspapers, blogs, radio talk shows, and just about every other media outlet, it was nearly impossible for a fourteen-year-old boy to live up to such lofty expectations. At a time when most boys struggle with puberty, Freddy Adu had the entire weight of American soccer on his meager shoulders.
The soccer world was finally graced with the savior of American soccer’s presence on April 3, 2004. Adu appeared as a substitute in the second half against the San Jose State Earthquakes. Just two weeks later he punched home his first career goal in a 3-2 road loss in East Rutherford, New Jersey to the MetroStars. His career tumbled through a rough patch after his first two seasons in Washington, a patch he has yet to find his way out of.
After a paltry loan attempt with EPL powerhouse Manchester Untied, Adu was traded to perennial MLS doormat Real Salt Lake in the winter of 2006. Adu failed to acclimate to his new Utah surroundings, quickly falling out of favor with RSL management and fans. Later in the summer of 2007, he was pawned off to Portuguese side Benfica. Without surprise, the young American’s game has missed the boat in Europe. After repeated dismal spells in Portugal, Benfica has loaned the young American out on four occasions. Since his departure from MLS in 2007, Adu has appeared in fifty-one European contests, notching a skimpy total of nine goals.
A once shining beacon of hope for the U.S. National Team, Adu has not been selected to the national team since 2009, with his last goal coming in a CONCACAF Gold Cup match against lowly Grenada. Instead of cracking the National Team’s 23-man World Cup Roster in 2010, Adu was left pleading his case to make the squad from his Twitter account. While Landon onovan, Tim Howard, and the rest of the Yanks captured the hearts of Americans across the country, Adu was sitting at home watching on ESPN.
As this summer’s CONCACAF Gold Cup hastily approaches, Adu has about as much of a chance appearing on the U.S. roster as Stevie Wonder does waking up tomorrow morning and driving himself down Sunset Boulevard in a convertible. While current New York Red Bulls and U.S. National Team phenom Juan Agudelo is making headlines for leading the Yanks to a 1-1 draw against La Albiceleste, Adu is making headlines for the ever so daunting feat of playing an entire forty-five minute half for Caykur Rizespor of the Turkish second division. If that’s not a headline, I don’t know what is.
As an American soccer fan, I am left hopelessly dreaming that at twenty-one years of age Freddy Adu will somehow develop into the future player that was advertised when Adu was fourteen. Nothing would make me happier than to see his play transpire into something positive for the U.S.A National Team. The best-case scenario would be a reborn twenty-five year old Freddy Adu teaming up with a twenty-one year old Juan Agudelo in a 4-4-2 at the 2014 World Cup in Brasil. But in all likelihood, the next time Adu’s name will hold any significance will be on some sports writer’s “biggest busts of all time” list. Keep watch for this baby faced American as he tries to salvage his once promising career in the backwoods of Europe. Until his time comes, if it ever does, I bid you Adu.