Tag: Freddy Adu

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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Freddy Adu congratulates Cavan Sullivan for breaking his MLS record

The Union phenom broke a record that had stood for 20 years

Freddy Adu has congratulated Philadelphia Union midfielder Cavan Sullivan for breaking his record as the youngest player in MLS history.

Sullivan entered Wednesday’s game against the New England Revolution late in the second half, setting the new record at age 14 years and 293 days.

Adu was 13 days older than Sullivan when he set the record in 2004, making his debut as a much-hyped prospect for D.C. United.

Just minutes after Sullivan took the field at Subaru Park in the Union’s 5-1 win, Adu posted a message on X.

“Big congrats to Cavan Sullivan for his record-breaking debut today,” Adu said. “That’s a hard record to break and the kid did it. Well done and good luck my man.”

In the post-game press conference on Wednesday, Sullivan said he had already seen the message from the former U.S. men’s national team forward.

“I already re-posted it on my Instagram,” Sullivan said. “It was pretty cool to have some words from someone like him. He really paved the way for young guys like me. I only have respect for him.”

In May, Sullivan signed the most lucrative Homegrown Player deal MLS has ever seen. The deal includes a clause that will see him join Manchester City in 2028 when he turns 18.

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Reflecting on past mistakes, Freddy Adu says he’ll retire ‘sometime soon’

“Sometimes, having all the talent in the world is not enough”

Freddy Adu has admitted his retirement is coming “sometime soon” as he reflected on some of his past mistakes during an interview with ex-teammate Charlie Davies.

Adu’s most recent professional minutes came in 2018 with USL side Las Vegas Lights, and though he signed with Swedish third-tier outfit Österlen FF in 2020, he would not play a minute for the club.

The onetime prodigy appeared on CBS Sports Golazo Network’s “Morning Footy” show on Friday, and spoke candidly with Davies about some of the poor decisions he made early in his career.

The 33-year-old said as a teenager, he was able to get into bars with his older friends, which went on to eventually impact his performance on the field.

“I was enjoying all that stuff. Rather than focusing on the little things like getting the rest you need, your diet, getting some stretching in, just taking care of your body, I didn’t do enough of that,” he said. “You can get away with it a little bit when you’re younger, but as you get older, those are bad habits.”

Adu was considered a future superstar when he signed with D.C. United at age 14. But nearly 20 years later, he admitted that talent alone wasn’t enough for him to ultimately reach his full potential.

“Sometimes, having all the talent in the world is not enough,” Adu said. “You have to work your butt off to maximize that talent. And guys that aren’t as talented as you, if they work their a—s off, they’re going to surpass you. And it happened in my case.”

Davies would later ask Adu about his playing future and whether he was ready to announce his retirement.

“Sometime soon,” Adu replied. “I’m technically, technically not retired yet.”

Watch the full Adu interview below

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Freddy Adu still isn’t ready to call it quits

Adu’s most recent professional minutes came in 2018 with the Las Vegas Lights

Freddy Adu still hasn’t given up on his playing career.

Adu’s story has become folklore by now: a child prodigy who turned pro at 14, only to become a journeyman who played on more than a dozen teams and never lived up to his billing as “the next Pelé.”

Now 33, Adu’s career seems for all intents and purposes to be finished. His most recent foray into the game came when he signed for Swedish third-tier club Österlen FF in 2020. But he would never play a minute for the club, which terminated Adu’s contract just a month after he arrived in Sweden.

“We were actually a little surprised at how unprepared he was when he came here,” Österlen vice chairman Filip Lidgren told Aftonbladet at the time.

Adu’s most recent professional minutes came in 2018 with USL side Las Vegas Lights. Though it’s now been four years since he last played professionally, Adu, who has worked as a youth coach in Maryland in recent years, is still hoping that he can find a club to hand him a trial.

“I know that wherever I go, they’re probably going to need to see me, because it has been a couple of years since I have really played at a high level,” Adu told Offers.Bet.

“But if the opportunity arises, I’ll definitely attack it. I’ve had a few family things that I’ve been helping on, but now that everything is more settled, I have to get in the best shape of my life and attack it if the opportunity arises.

“But it’s not something I’ve given up on. I still want to play and I love the sport way too much, and I know that I have a lot more to give – so that’s why I haven’t called it quits yet.”

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