Category: Boys Soccer

Zlatan Ibrahimovic on United States soccer’s pay-to-play model: ‘it was pretty expensive’

Zlatan Ibrahimovic talks about the ‘pay-to-play’ model in the United States.

BASKING RIDGE, N.J. — One of the best soccer players of his generation, former Swedish international Zlatan Ibrahimovic still believes that the United States model for player development should look and feel different. The now AC Milan executive said that playing soccer in the United States faces the unique challenge of being expensive to play.

Ibrahimovic made his comments as part of a media event at The Pingry School to promote AC Milan‘s tour of the United States. His most recent thoughts about American soccer echo similar comments he made while as a player for the LA Galaxy.

These new thoughts also come at a time when the United States is taking a hard look at the program given that the men’s national team crashed out of Copa America in the group stages.

Having spent two years in MLS, Ibrahimovic had an up-close look at the developmental system in the United States. Ibrahimovic was critical of the ‘pay-to-play’ system present throughout much of youth soccer, where players (or more aptly, their families) are expected to foot the bill to join a club.

This is in direct contrast with much of the rest of the world where organized soccer is not a commodity as much as it is a community.

“I had the experience when I was here that it was pretty expensive to put the kids in the academy or the football – you call it soccer – soccer teams,” Ibrahimovic said on Friday.

“In Europe, it is free to play the game – they have a small membership I think for insurance or whatever. But it’s not the same price as it was here.

“For me, football is for everybody you just put the ball in the middle and everybody plays, obviously. Then you have different levels, different structure, different way of doing things. If that is the key, I don’t know – listen, I’m not here. The game continues, the game gets better. What the key is? I don’t know. Football is for everybody because it is connecting everybody, it is the world’s biggest sport and everybody should be able to enjoy it.”

Ibrahimovic, who enjoyed two storied spells with AC Milan as a player, is now a senior advisor to the club. AC Milan finished second in the Serie A last year.

Oh, and Ibrahimovic knows a thing or two about player development. His son, Maximilian, just signed with AC Milan in mid-July.

The rising star is 17 years old.

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Teenager Cavan Sullivan makes historic MLS debut, is congratulated by Freddy Adu

Cavan Sullivan is the youngest player in MLS history.

Cavan Sullivan became the youngest player in MLS history, entering in the 85th minute of the Philadelphia Union‘s 5-1 win over DC United on Wednesday night. The American midfielder is being hailed as the next big thing in MLS and the national team.

At 14-years old, Sullivan eclipses the record previously set by Freddy Adu for the youngest debut in MLS history. Adu set the record in 2004, making his much-heralded debut at 14 years and 307 days old.

Sullivan turns 15 years old in September.

The debut came with the game well in hand for the Union. Sullivan is a member of the United States U-15 national team and is considered one of the top players in the world in his age group.

Becoming the youngest player in league history is something Sullivan says he didn’t necessarily aim for.

“Obviously it’s pretty cool to have. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to reach for it,” Sullivan told reporters after the game.

“It’s about where you finish. If I didn’t make it today or if I didn’t make it Saturday and I was the second youngest or the third youngest…As long as I make my debut and start my career here – it doesn’t matter to me.”

Sullivan said the buzz from the fans every time he was on the ball stood out to him.

Following the debut of Sullivan, the now-retired Adu posted on social media a congratulatory message for the Union debutant.

 

“It was pretty cool to have some words from someone like him. He really paved the way for young guys like me,” Sullivan said of Adu’s post.

“I only have respect for him because he held the record for how many years – it was pretty awesome to hear from him.”

Adu would play 17 times for the United States national team. His club career saw him play for DC United and Real Salt Lake (as well as three seasons with the Union) in MLS along with European stops that included the likes of Benfica and Monaco.

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Watch: American soccer’s 14-year old phenom, Cavan Sullivan, scores first professional goal

United States national team and Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan scores his first professional goal.

The future of United States soccer registered his first professional goal over the weekend. Cavan Sullivan, a 14-year-old midfielder who is with the Philadelphia Union, broke onto the scorer’s sheet with a nice individual effort.

Sullivan’s goal came for the Philadelphia Union II, who play in MLS Next Pro. He has reportedly signed with Manchester City in the English Premier League.

As can be expected from a wunderkind, Sullivan is technically proficient. Confident on the ball, he is a sharp passer and a good finisher.

In early June, he made his first start for the Philadelphia Union II, the developmental arm of the MLS club. The Union have one of the best academy system’s in North America, with Sullivan projected to be the next impact player to come up through the system.

He signed with the Union on May 9. He is also a member of the United States U15 National Team.

Check out the goal from Sullivan, a well-taken effort with some individual class:

 

Sullivan now has a goal and an assist on the season.

 

 

Ransford Gyan named 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year

The Clemson Tiger commit goes back to back!

Ransford Gyan’s remarkable journey from Ghana to perennial soccer power St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) added another impressive accolade to the story this week, with the dynamic midfielder being named 2023-24 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year.

The surprise announcement came while Gyan competed in a youth soccer tournament in Tennessee, with his coaches and teammates joining in on the impressive achievement. To help add to the trophy celebration, USMNT star Christian Pulisic gave the next-generation talent a congratulatory call.

(Photo: Joe Greer, Courtesy of Gatorade)

It’s back-to-back Player of the Year nods for Gyan, who adds his name again to an impressive list of past winners—an all-star roster that has combined for over 12 National Championships and includes 13 MLS first-round draft picks. 

And the selection over the half a million other student-athletes who play high school boys’ soccer, was more than well-deserved.

“Ransford Gyan is one of the most talented players to emerge from the high school soccer arena in the past decade,” noted J.R. Eskilson, National Analyst for PrepSoccer.com in a statement.

“A wizard with the ball at his feet, Gyan has that rare ability to create chances for his team in the blink of an eye. Lightning quick and sublimely skillful, he does things on a soccer pitch comparable to what you see at the professional level. Playing with a target on his back all season as the reigning Gatorade Boys Soccer National Player of the Year, Gyan raised his game and found multiple ways to help his team win even though he was regularly surrounded by a handful of defenders. The left-footed maestro delivered a masterpiece performance in his final high school season.” 

Gyan was equally valuable outside the lines. He was involved with everything from volunteering on behalf of Newark’s St. Mary’s Parish Toussaint Food Pantry to coaching young athletes in association with the CSA Newark Roots Program—all while maintaining a 3.68 GPA in the classroom.

It’s that type of overall resume that caught the attention of Gatorade, with Gatorade president and general manager Michael Del Pozzo noting that “Ransford won the top award in high school sports because he is someone who is a leader in all facets of his life.”

What’s next on the journey?

The soccer standout now heads off to Clemson, where he’ll help build on a nationally ranked Tigers squad that won the program’s fifth ACC Championship and a fourth National Championship in 2023.

(Photo: Joe Greer, Courtesy of Gatorade)

Editors note: This article has been updated to show that Clemson won the ACC championship in 2023.

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Watch: An elk starts playing soccer in Colorado with two boys (and isn’t half bad)

Two boys in Colorado play soccer with an elk.

A visitor from the great outdoors wanted a kick-around in Colorado this week. An elk playfully crashed a game of pick-up soccer and showed better ball control than lackluster England did in their opening match of Euro 2024.

Perhaps the elk just wanted to join the Caribous of Colorado, one of the most fascinating team names in all of sports. The team lasted just one season in the old NASL but had some of the greatest uniforms in soccer history.

And given their 8-22 record in their one season of play in 1978, our elk friend here in this video might be an upgrade to some of the players on that Caribous roster.

(And yes, we here at USA TODAY High School Sports know the difference between an elk and a caribou).

Have to wonder if the elk stuck around for orange slices after the kickaround.

This is a neat video on so many levels. First, the interaction of nature and the boys is simple happiness and content. There is also the fact that the elk figured out how to interact with the ball (and the boys) at a friendly level.

And, there is the very nonchalant nature of the soccer players in their own interaction with the elk. Very, very cool.

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High school game in New York City canceled after migrants refuse to leave the field

Club soccer game in New York City called off after migrants refuse to leave the field.

Politics and sports mixed on a Sunday afternoon in New York City, providing a snapshot of growing tensions over the presence of migrants. Last Sunday, a group of alleged migrants refused to leave a soccer field despite two club teams producing a permit to play on the field.

It produced a scene where one parent involved said that “the guys who refused to follow the rules won.”

The incident, which involved uniformed members of the New York Police Department showing up to escort the migrants off the field, resulted in the cancelation of the club soccer game. The Manhattan Kickers and FA Euro New York, two high-profile club teams in New York, were supposed to play each other last Sunday, April 14.

When they arrived at Thomas Jefferson Park in East Harlem, they were unable to secure the field.

The New York Post detailed a scene where “a group of about 30 men who appeared to be African migrants and spoke little English, wouldn’t leave.”

The police asked to see the permit from the club teams for use of the field, which was produced after a 30-minute delay.

The migrants left, but the game was called off with the Post reporting that parents felt unsafe given the situation. This feeling of uncertainty led them to cancel the game.

New York City has been at the center of a highly-publicized tug of war involving the increased presence of migrants in the five boroughs. A sanctuary city, New York has struggled with providing housing and resources for the influx of migrants in recent months.

Even the goals are bigger in Texas: Watch Hudson Vickery get a birthday game-winner from midfield

Hudson Vickery scored an incredible goal for Boerne this week.

This is one of the best goals you will ever see in high school soccer. Midweek, Hudson Vickery booked his team a spot in the state championship game down in Texas with a dramatic free-kick goal from midfield.

And Vickery did so on his 18-year-old birthday, scoring a goal with the audacity of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and the bend of Roberto Carlos.

(Don’t come at us with the David Beckham line…if you know, you know).

Vickery’s goal secured a 1-0 win for Boerne (Boerne, Texas) over Kilgore (Kilgore, Texas) that sent them to the state championship game in Texas.

And as if scoring a game-winning goal on his birthday isn’t enough, Vickery’s shot was pure brilliance.

Following the game, Vickery said that the strong wind in the game led him to think “Why not? I just went for it.”

And went he did.

 

“It was great. It’s my birthday, got a goal, got a birthday goal, a birthday win. We fell short last year,” Vickery told KENS5 following the semifinal win.

“I’m very excited to go back and hopefully win.”

Now, Boerne fell short on Friday in the state championship with a 1-0 loss to San Eilizario (San Elizario, Texas) but how they got there was incredible. What a goal and moment from Vickery.

Ransford Gyan named 2022-23 Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year

Gyan scored 20 goals and added 14 assists.

St. Benedict’s (NJ) junior middle fielder Ransford Gyan has been named the Gatorade National Boys Soccer Player of the Year for the 2022-23 season.

Gyan scored 20 goals total (including in 16 of his team’s 17 games) and added 14 assists, helping lead the Gray Bees to a 17-0 record and a Non-Public Prep A state championship.

J.R. Eskilson at PrepSoccer.com calls Gyan a brilliant attacker:

“With a dynamic burst and an unreal ability to keep the ball glued to his feet even while surrounded by defenders, he proved nearly uncontainable in leading his team to a perfect season. His humility enabled him to take his game to another level as a junior. A brilliant attacking talent, he’s already staked a claim as one of the most dangerous offensive players in high school soccer in recent memory.”

Off the field, Gyan has volunteered at a local food pantry and worked as a camp counselor and youth soccer coach while earning a 3.64 GPA.

Heading into his senior year, Prep Soccer has Gyan ranked as the No. 12 national prospect in the class of 2024.

Ransford, who is from Ghana, has not seen his family in over a year while competing in the U.S. He was surprised with the news while on a Zoom call with his mother, and his teammates and coaches showed up with the trophy at school.

Watch the full video:

https://youtube.com/shorts/LyWiqiCsM1g?feature=share

More Gatorade Player of the Year winners

Ava Brown wins Gatorade Softball Player of the Year

Max Clark wins Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year

Meet the nominees for All-USA Today HSSA Boys Soccer Player of the Year

These 24 standouts will be honored as nominees for national Boys Soccer Player of the Year

The USA TODAY High School Sports Awards is pleased to announce the 2021-22 All-USA TODAY HSSA Boys Soccer Team!

These 24 standouts will be honored as nominees for national Boys Soccer Player of the Year. The winner and three finalists will be revealed on July 31 during an on-demand broadcast. This year will feature top athletes in 29 boys and girls sports awards categories as well as special honors like Special Olympics Athlete of the Year, Rising Star and Play of the Year. 

All national nominees must register to provide show information and receive important updates regarding the show. To register, click on the “REGISTER” button on the event website.

Here are the nominees…

2021-22 All-USA TODAY HSSA Boys Soccer:

Palmer Ault

F, Noblesville High School (Indiana) — SR

Ryder Barrett

D, Rockhurst High School (Missouri) — SR

Sebastian Carranza

M, St. Charles East High School (Illinois) — SR

Daniel D’Ippolito

M, Somers High School (New York) — SR

Quin Delamater

D, Hillgrove High School (Georgia) — SR

Nani Deperro

F, Summit High School (Oregon) — SR

Anthony DiFalco

M, Franklin Regional High School (Pennsylvania) — SR

Jaden Dubon

F, Hood River Valley High School (Oregon) — SR

Elyes Ellouz

M, Olathe West High School (Kansas) — SR

Kristian Fletcher

M, Landon School (Maryland) — JR

Ryan Friedberg

G, Westfield High School (New Jersey) — SR

Speed Gregory

M, Phoenix Country Day School (Arizona) — SR

Jack Guggemos

M, Okemos High School (Michigan) — SR

Alex Harris

F, Columbia River High School (Washington) — JR

Denis Krioutchenkov

F, Shorewood High School (Wisconsin) — SR

Jacob Murrell

F, McDonogh School (Maryland) — SR

Nino Pagano

F, Fayetteville-Manlius High School (New York) — SR

Aidan Payne

F, New Hanover High School (North Carolina) — SR

Luciano Pechota

M, St. Ignatius High School (Ohio) — SR

Garrett Slack

F, Lincoln High School (Illinois) — SR

Jack Spencer

G, Elks Rapid High School (Michigan) — SR

Sebastian Tis

D, Conestoga High School (Pennsylvania) — SR

Alex Waggoner

F, Santa Fe High School (New Mexico) — JR

Matt Webb

M, Pike County High School (Georgia) — SR

FINAL Super 25 Fall Regional Boys Soccer Rankings

Check out the FINAL USA TODAY/United Soccer Coaches Super 25 Regional Boys Soccer Rankings.

Each week USA TODAY High School Sports and National Soccer Coaches Association of America will release Super 25 Regional Boys Fall Soccer Rankings. Rankings are based on results from the 2019-20 season, quality of players and strength of schedule. Regions are determined by the NCSAA.

RANKINGS: Boys National | Girls National | Girls Regional

Records shown are through games of Nov. 24.

REGION I (CT, ME, MA, NH, RI and VT)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Yarmouth (Yarmouth, Maine) 15-0-3
2 Longmeadow (Longmeadow, Mass.) 21-0-1
3 Hanover (Hanover, N.H.) 17-2-1
4 Hall (West Hartford, Conn.) 18-1-2
5 LaSalle Academy (Providence, R.I.) 15-3-4
6 Daniel Hand (Madison, Conn.) 15-1-4
7 Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg, Vt.) 16-0-0
8 Stonington (Stonington, Conn.) 17-0-2
9 Stow (Stow, Vt.) 17-0-1
10 Bromfield (Bromfield, Mass.) 18-1-4
11 Campbell (Litchfield, N.H.) 18-0-2
12 Falmouth (Falmouth, Maine) 15-2-1
13 Winchester (Winchester, Mass.) 15-3-5
14 ConVal (Peterborough, N.H.) 16-1-2
15 Lincoln-Sudbury Regional (Sudbury, Mass.) 14-3-3

REGION II (NY)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Brentwood (Brentwood, N.Y.) 22-0-0
2 Jericho (Jericho, N.Y.) 20-1-1
3 Ossining (Ossining, N.Y.) 19-3-1
4 Fairport (Fairport, N.Y.) 16-3-2
5 St. Anthony’s (Melville, N.Y.) 13-4-3
6 Greece Athena (Rochester ,N.Y.) 18-3-2
7 Shenendehowa (Clifton Park, N.Y.) 16-4-1
8 Beacon School (New York, N.Y.) 17-3-2
9 Commack (Commack, N.Y.) 18-1-1
10 Massapequa (Massapequa, N.Y.) 15-3-1

REGION III (PA, NJ)

Rank School W-L-T
1 St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) 19-0-1
2 North Penn (Lansdale, Pa.) 25-1-0
3 Seton Hall Prep (West Orange, N.J.) 22-1-1
4 Clifton (Clifton, N.J.) 22-0-0
5 Lower Dauphin (Hummelstown, Pa.) 22-3-1
6 Elizabeth (Elizabeth, N.J.) 20-1-4
7 LaSalle College (Wyndmoor, Pa.) 20-3-0
8 Boyertown (Boyertown, Pa.) 21-3-2
9 Gill St. Bernards School (Gladstone, N.J.) 18-3-0
10 Franklin Regional (Murrysville, Pa.) 21-1-1
11 Hunterdon Central Regional (Flemington, N.J.) 18-5-0
12 Delbarton School (Morristown, N.J.) 19-1-1
13 Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.) 21-1-1
14 Holmdel (Holmdel, N.J.) 16-0-2
15 Quaker Valley (Leetsdale, Pa.) 24-2-0

REGION IV (DE, D.C., MD, NC, VA, WV)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Salesianum School (Wilmington, Del.) 17-1-0
2 George Washington (Charleston, W.Va.) 23-2-0
3 Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.) 19-2-1
4 Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) 17-2-0
5 Wilde Lake (Columbia, Md.) 13-3-1
6 Walt Whitman (Bethesda, Md.) 18-1-0
7 Myers Park (Raleigh, N.C.) 19-2-0
8 St. Christopher’s School (Richmond, Va.) 17-3-2
9 Fairmont (Fairmont, W.Va.) 18-5-3
10 Archmere Academy (Claymont, Del.) 17-1-0

REGION V (IN, KY, OH)

Rank School W-L-T
1 St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) 21-0-2
2 Zionsville (Zionsville, Ind.) 21-0-0
3 Henry Clay (Lexington, Ky) 25-1-3
4 Olentangy Liberty (Powell, Ohio) 18-3-1
5 Reitz Memorial (Evansville, Ind.) 17-3-2
6 Medina (Medina, Ohio) 20-1-1
7 Tippecanoe (Tipp City, Ohio) 23-0-1
8 Daviess County (Owensboro, Ky.) 21-3-2
9 Argos Community (Argos, Ind.) 18-4-0
10 Wellington School (Columbus, Ohio) 18-2-3
11 Lake Central (St, John, Ind.) 12-6-3
12 Oldham (LaGrange, Ky.) 16-6-1
13 Columbus East (Indianapolis, Ind.) 17-1-3
14 East Carter (Grayson, Ky.) 19-4-1
15 Collegiate (Louisville, Ky.) 23-4-1

REGION VI (MI, MN, WI)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Edina (Edina, Minn.) 22-0-0
2 Athens (Troy, Mich.) 20-2-1
3 Verona (Verona, Wis.) 21-1-2
4 Traverse City West (Traverse City, Mich.) 16-4-2
5 Holy Angels (Bloomington, Minn.) 21-0-1
6 Okemos (Okemos, Mich.) 19-2-0
7 Neenah (Neenah, Wis.) 18-2-3
8 Marquette University High (Milwaukee, Wis.) 19-2-1
9 Eastridge (Woodbury, Minn.) 18-3-1
10 Novi (Novi, Mich.) 18-2-1
11 St. Paul Central (St. Paul, Minn.) 20-2-0
12 Brookfield East (Brookfield, Wis.) 17-2-3
13 Forest Hills Northern (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 22-0-1
14 Brookfield Central (Brookfield, Wis.) 14-6-2
15 Minneapolis Washburn (Minneapolis, Minn.) 16-5-1

REGION VII (IL, KS, MO, MT, ND, SD)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Rockwood Summit (Fenton, Mo.) 29-0-1
2 Olathe West (Olathe, Kan.) 20-1-0
3 West Chicago (Chicago, Ill.) 24-2-3
4 DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis, Mo.) 19-4-1
5 Benet Academy (Chicago, Ill.) 20-1-2
6 Morton (Cicero, Ill.) 20-3-2
7 Blue Valley Southwest (Overland Park, Kan.) 15-4-1
8 Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.) 16-3-0
9 Fort Zumwalt South (St. Peters, Mo.) 25-2-0
10 Lee’s Summit (Lee’s Summit, Mo.) 22-1-0
11 Peoria Notre Dame (Peoria, Ill.) 22-2-0
12 Naperville North (Naperville, Ill.) 24-2-3
13 Gateway Legacy Christian School (Glen Carbon, Ill.) 13-3-0
14 Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kan.) 15-5-1
15 Bismarck (Bismarck, N.D.) 15-1-3

REGION VIII (CA, CO, ID, NV, NM, OR)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Albuquerque (Albuquerque, N.M.) 21-0-0
2 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) 26-0-1
3 Broomfield (Broomfield, Colo.) 17-2-1
4 Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) 16-2-2
5 Western (Las Vegas, Nev.) 24-1-0
6 Franklin (Portland, Ore.) 14-3-2
7 Eagle (Eagle, Idaho) 12-7-2
8 Kent Denver School (Denver, Colo.) 19-0-0
9 Eldorado (Las Vegas, Nev.) 20-3-4
10 Mayfield (Las Cruces, N.M.) 19-2-0
11 Summit (Bend, Ore.) 13-3-3
12 Boise (Boise, Idaho) 18-3-0
13 Cleveland (Portland, Ore.) 14-2-2
14 Boulder (Boulder, Colo.) 15-4-0
15 Hobbs (Hobbs, N.M.) 17-6-1

Records shown are through games of Nov. 24.