Tag: Marko Mitrović

Zimmerman joins final pre-Olympics USMNT camp as overage player

The veteran defender appears likely to be heading to the Olympics as an overage player

U.S. men’s Olympic head coach Marko Mitrović has called in a 25-player roster for the team’s upcoming training camp and friendly against Japan.

For the first time this cycle, the roster includes one overage player: Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman, who now looks like a safe bet to head to the Olympics as one of the team’s overage options.

Zimmerman has earned 42 caps with the senior USMNT, starting three of four games at the 2022 World Cup. He is one of 19 players on this roster with at least one senior cap.

This camp represents the last chance Mitrović will have to evaluate players ahead of naming his 18-player roster in July for the Olympics. The men’s tournament is restricted to under-23 players, with the exception of three spots for overage players.

The U.S. will hold a training camp in Kansas before a match against Japan on June 11 at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.

For the first time since 2008, the U.S. men qualified for the Olympics this summer. Mitrović’s team will open the tournament against host France on July 24, and will then face New Zealand and Guinea in the group stage.

USMNT U-23 June roster

Goalkeepers (2): Patrick Schulte (Columbus Crew), Gaga Slonina (Chelsea)

Defenders (7): Nathan Harriel (Philadelphia Union), Jalen Neal (LA Galaxy), Bryan Reynolds (KVC Westerlo), John Tolkin (New York Red Bulls), Jonathan Tomkinson (Norwich City), Caleb Wiley (Atlanta United FC), Walker Zimmerman (Nashville SC)

Midfielders (7): Cole Bassett (Colorado Rapids), Gianluca Busio (Venezia), Benjamin Cremaschi (Inter Miami), Jack McGlynn (Philadelphia Union), Aidan Morris (Columbus Crew), Rokas Pukstas (Hajduk Split), Tanner Tessmann (Venezia)

Forwards (9): Paxten Aaronson (Eintracht Frankfurt), Esmir Bajraktarevic (New England Revolution), Taylor Booth (Utrecht), Cade Cowell (Chivas), Damion Downs (Köln), Johan Gomez (Eintracht Braunschweig), Duncan McGuire (Orlando City), Kevin Paredes (Wolfsburg), Griffin Yow (Westerlo)

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Mitrovic named U.S. U-23 men’s head coach ahead of 2024 Olympics

U.S. Soccer has its men’s coach for the Paris Olympics

U.S. Soccer has promoted two youth national team head coaches on the men’s side of the program.

Marko Mitrović was on Wednesday named the Under-23 head coach, with the 45-year-old taking charge ahead of the team’s preparations for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. Additionally, Michael Nsien has been named the new head coach for the Under-19 men’s national team.

The first camp of Mitrović’s tenure will be held during the October international window.

“We couldn’t be more excited to have Marko and Michael continue to be an important part of our men’s program as both of these teams serve as crucial steps in the National Team pathway,” said U.S. Soccer sporting director Matt Crocker in a press release. “During his time with the Under-19s, Marko was instrumental in guiding our rising talents.

“We’re looking forward to him now leading our Under-23 men’s youth national team as this age group provides these players with an incredible opportunity to continue their development by facing elite opposition on the world stage and competing for an Olympic world title. We’re also confident that Michael is ready to lead our U-19 age group, a critical level for our young players aiming to take the next step in their careers for club and country.”

Mitrović to lead U.S. men’s Olympic team in 2024

Mitrović joined U.S. Soccer in April 2022, taking charge of the U-19 team. He also worked as an assistant coach for the senior team under interim head coaches Anthony Hudson and B.J. Callaghan.

“It’s been an honor working for U.S. Soccer and I’m tremendously proud of the opportunity to lead the USA at the Olympics,” said Mitrović. “I’ve gotten to see first-hand the high-potential players rising through our development system and I’m excited for them to represent their country proudly on such an important stage.”

Previously, Mitrović has worked as an assistant coach for Serbia’s U-20 team, the U-15s at Red Star Belgrade, before arriving in the U.S. as a member of Veljko Paunovic’s staff with the Chicago Fire. Mitrović stuck with Paunovic when the latter was hired by Reading in the English Championship, returning stateside to accept the U-19 men’s post last year.

Nsien, who was an interim assistant under Callaghan during the USMNT’s Gold Cup run this past summer, was hired in November 2022 as the U-16 boys’ head coach. The Oklahoma native spent four years as the head coach of FC Tulsa in the USL Championship, leading the team to playoff appearances in 2020 and 2021.

Nsien’s duties as head coach of the U-19 team will coincide with a role as the head coach of the U.S. men’s team for the PanAmerican Games, which will take place from October 27-November 4 in Chile. The team for the PanAmerican Games must be selected from players born on or after January 1, 2001.

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