That awkward feeling of meeting people on the first day of a new job or in a new classroom still exists in professional soccer. When Christian Pulisic made the move from Borussia Dortmund to Chelsea last summer, the transition wasn’t the easiest.
The USMNT star experienced some speedbumps with his new club, but he's since made tremendous progress from his first day at Chelsea.
As the Bundesliga returns and other top leagues follow suit, we’re bound to have a number of exciting storylines develop. This might be coming from a biased, even desperate, place, but I think a number of young Americans will become part of the headlines that catch many by surprise.
Here are three American players abroad who already stand out at the youth levels of their clubs and are ready to take the next step once their leagues return to action.
At the turn of the century, Sporting Lisbon was home to three of the most exciting teenage prospects Europe had ever seen.
The 2001-02 campaign saw Sporting capture its 18th Primeira Liga title (a number they haven’t added to since) and the Taça de Portugal. Two of the three aforementioned prodigies played massive roles in that campaign: the 17-year-old duo of Ricardo Quaresma and Hugo Viana.
The U.S. Soccer Federation said on Wednesday it was shutting down its youth development academy permanently due to the financial fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
U.S. Soccer, the sport's governing body in the United States, said in a statement the decision to shutter the academy, which it founded in 2007 and included competitions across five age groups, was effective immediately.
Day 1 of the FIFA Stay and Play Cup is in the books, and while at times it was just ridiculous (an 8-2 scoreline, Twitch host Jimmy Conrad disappearing, people forgetting to unmute their mics), it was an entirely welcome and enjoyable afternoon after over a month of sporting radio silence and the total absence of communal events (competitive toilet paper hoarding aside).
Former MK Dons player Sean O’Hanlon and his two sons are having plenty of fun remastering some of football’s most iconic goals during the shutdown. O’Hanlon tweeted out a video of his boys recreating the best goals of the century.
GOAL OF THE CENTURY. CHOOSE YOU’RE FAVOURITE GOAL! pic.twitter.com/wM2cvnrAgl
— Sean O'Hanlon (@sohanlon23) April 4, 2020
Christian Pulisic might just be the most scrutinized U.S. soccer player of all time. Having moved to Borussia Dortmund at age 16, his career has been well documented and closely followed by American fans eager for a soccer savior.
But how well do you actually know the 21-year-old Chelsea winger? Here are 10 Christian Pulisic facts you might not know.
Pulisic’s middle name comes from his grandfather, Mate Pulišić, who was born in Croatia.
There will come a day when the USMNT boasts a world-class striker. I might not be around to see it, but that day is coming.
After the success of First Team: Juventus and recent releases like The English Game and Ultras, Netflix is continuing its run of soccer-centric content with First Team: Atomic Pineapples, which drops on Wednesday, April 1.
While the likes of Lionel Messi, Bruno Fernandes and Thierry Henry juggle a piece of toilet paper around, Lonestar SC Academy and U.S. U-14 talent Mabry Williams is on to bigger and better things.