Post by theblackswans on Dec 28, 2008 7:52:28 GMT -5
Before he spurned the U.S. and picked Serbia’s National soccer team this week, Neven Subotic was the target of a global manhunt for soccer skills.
Four nations wanted a piece of the 21-year-old defender. Subotic’s family migrated throughout his childhood, leaving a trail of drooling soccer federations.
The U.S. had a strong claim, perhaps the best claim. Subotic spent most of his teenage years as a resident of Utah and Florida, playing alongside Jozy Altidore, Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley at the U-20 World Cup in 2007.
These developmental years usually dictate the course of national commitment. U.S. coaches were in his ear. Friendships were forged with teammates and roommates at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Subotic would easily be the USMNT’s best young defender right now, boosting the chances of a team virtually assured a spot in the 2010 World Cup.
It seemed like the logical decision.
But Subotic’s loyalty to the U.S. uniform never developed. Either that or somebody in the U.S. soccer federation dropped the ball.
Subotic selected his home country instead, Serbia, the place his family fled 18 years ago to avoid a civil war. A formal letter to U.S. soccer officials sealed his soccer citizenship.
Subotic made the decision "to return to his roots," reads the Serbian soccer federation’s Web site.
This isn’t the first player with U.S. ties to deny Bob Bradley’s team.
Striker Giuseppe Rossi, who was born in Teaneck and raised in Clifton, preferred the home country of his parents (Italy). The 21-year-old is probably the world’s best American-born prospect, having scored an Olympic-high four goals for Italy in Beijing. Rossi never really considered the USMNT as anything more than a fallback option. He moved to Italy at 13 to develop in Parma’s youth program. It was a path designed by his father, Fernando, the longtime Clifton High School soccer coach.
The other big-time defector is Vedad Ibisevic, a refugee from Bosnia who was an All-American at St. Louis University. Ibisevic was briefly involved with teams in the United Soccer League, but was scooped up by a Bosnian coach of a French league team. The quick departure ended all hopes of a USMNT appearance. Ibisevic has since signed with 1899 Hoffenheim of the Bundesliga, and has played for Bosnia in World Cup qualifiers.
While some players have chosen the U.S. over their home countries, there is currently a large gap between the notable one who did and those who didn’t. Ibisevic and Subotic are regular starters in the Bundesliga, earning labels like "hot young prospects." Rossi scored 17 goals last year for Villarreal, which finished second in La Liga.
On the flip side, Freddy Adu can’t get on a soccer field in Europe – first with Benfica in Portugal, now with Monaco in France. It was a big deal when Adu chose the U.S. over his home country, Ghana. As the 19-year-old continues his already long career, it seems more like he is more hype than world-class.
Maybe Subotic should have gotten that seven-figure endorsement. He might have stayed.
The article is a bit innacurate, Subotic is from Bosnia and is a Bosnian Serb. He didn't flee Serbia to avoid war...
Four nations wanted a piece of the 21-year-old defender. Subotic’s family migrated throughout his childhood, leaving a trail of drooling soccer federations.
The U.S. had a strong claim, perhaps the best claim. Subotic spent most of his teenage years as a resident of Utah and Florida, playing alongside Jozy Altidore, Freddy Adu and Michael Bradley at the U-20 World Cup in 2007.
These developmental years usually dictate the course of national commitment. U.S. coaches were in his ear. Friendships were forged with teammates and roommates at the IMG Soccer Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Subotic would easily be the USMNT’s best young defender right now, boosting the chances of a team virtually assured a spot in the 2010 World Cup.
It seemed like the logical decision.
But Subotic’s loyalty to the U.S. uniform never developed. Either that or somebody in the U.S. soccer federation dropped the ball.
Subotic selected his home country instead, Serbia, the place his family fled 18 years ago to avoid a civil war. A formal letter to U.S. soccer officials sealed his soccer citizenship.
Subotic made the decision "to return to his roots," reads the Serbian soccer federation’s Web site.
This isn’t the first player with U.S. ties to deny Bob Bradley’s team.
Striker Giuseppe Rossi, who was born in Teaneck and raised in Clifton, preferred the home country of his parents (Italy). The 21-year-old is probably the world’s best American-born prospect, having scored an Olympic-high four goals for Italy in Beijing. Rossi never really considered the USMNT as anything more than a fallback option. He moved to Italy at 13 to develop in Parma’s youth program. It was a path designed by his father, Fernando, the longtime Clifton High School soccer coach.
The other big-time defector is Vedad Ibisevic, a refugee from Bosnia who was an All-American at St. Louis University. Ibisevic was briefly involved with teams in the United Soccer League, but was scooped up by a Bosnian coach of a French league team. The quick departure ended all hopes of a USMNT appearance. Ibisevic has since signed with 1899 Hoffenheim of the Bundesliga, and has played for Bosnia in World Cup qualifiers.
While some players have chosen the U.S. over their home countries, there is currently a large gap between the notable one who did and those who didn’t. Ibisevic and Subotic are regular starters in the Bundesliga, earning labels like "hot young prospects." Rossi scored 17 goals last year for Villarreal, which finished second in La Liga.
On the flip side, Freddy Adu can’t get on a soccer field in Europe – first with Benfica in Portugal, now with Monaco in France. It was a big deal when Adu chose the U.S. over his home country, Ghana. As the 19-year-old continues his already long career, it seems more like he is more hype than world-class.
Maybe Subotic should have gotten that seven-figure endorsement. He might have stayed.
The article is a bit innacurate, Subotic is from Bosnia and is a Bosnian Serb. He didn't flee Serbia to avoid war...