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The United States U-23 men's national soccer team is a youth soccer team operated under the auspices of the United States Soccer Federation. Its primary role is qualification into and competition at the quadriennial Olympic Football Tournament, the next of which is to be held during the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. The team's most recent major tournament was the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament, in which the United States earned an Olympic berth after finishing as the tournament's runner-up. The current head coach is Piotr Nowak.
The roster can be augmented with three "overage" players, ostensibly possessing veteran experience, during Olympic competition, in accordance with FIFA regulations.
[edit] History
Men's Olympic soccer as an under-23 competition officially began during the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. A win over Kuwait was not enough for qualification past the group stage, and, as expected, a loss to Italy and a draw with Poland eliminated the United States in the first round. Several US players on the roster, however, would go on to have a major influence with the United States men's national soccer team in the 1994 FIFA World Cup, which the United States would host.
The 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia would be the first time that teams could add overage players to their rosters. With the advantage as the host nation, and with Major League Soccer in the middle of its inaugural season, the USSF tapped then-D.C. United head coach Bruce Arena to manage the Olympic team. They would fall short again, however, as a loss to eventual-silver medalists Argentina, offset favorable results in a win against Tunisia and a draw with Portugal.
The 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia marked a significant turnaround in the fortunes of the team. This time, the United States, led by head coach Clive Charles, won their group on goal difference, based on draws with Czech Republic and eventual-gold medalists Cameroon, and a win over Kuwait. A tense quarterfinal match against Japan ended in a penalty shoot-out, which the United States won. Losses to Spain in the semifinals and Chile in the bronze medal match fell short of rising expectations, but a fourth-place finish in a sixteen-team tournament led to the national youth team's greatest result at the Olympics.
The team did not compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece; the United States, led by head coach Glenn Myernick, would lose to Mexico in the semifinals of the CONCACAF qualifying tournament.
In late 2006, former Chivas USA head coach Bob Bradley was given the reins to both the senior national team and under-23 national team. His tenure would be brief, and his elevation to full-time head coach of the senior team would result in him handing control of the under-23 team to his assistant head coach, Piotr Nowak. Under Nowak, the United States qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics after a 3-0 win over Canada in the 2008 CONCACAF Men's Pre-Olympic Tournament, thanks to goals by Freddy Adu and Sacha Kljestan. They would end their tournament as runners-up to Honduras, but with an Olympic berth in hand.
[edit] Current Players
Roster selected for the friendly tournament in Toulon. Players in bold were on the Olympic Qualifying roster. Senior team caps and goals listed where relevant.
| No. |
Pos. |
Player |
DoB (Age) |
Caps |
Goals |
Club |
| 1 |
GK |
Chris Seitz |
March 12, 1987 (1987-03-12) (age 21) |
|
|
 Real Salt Lake |
| 2 |
DF |
Rob Valentino |
December 21, 1985 (1985-12-21) (age 22) |
|
|
New England Revolution |
| 3 |
DF |
Eric Brunner |
February 12, 1986 (1986-02-12) (age 22) |
|
|
Miami FC |
| 4 |
DF |
Kyle Davies |
April 11, 1989 (1989-04-11) (age 19) |
|
|
 Southampton |
| 5 |
DF |
Michael Gavin |
March 30, 1986 (1986-03-30) (age 22) |
|
|
Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 6 |
DF |
Julian Valentin |
February 23, 1987 (1987-02-23) (age 21) |
|
|
Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 7 |
DF |
Kamani Hill |
December 28, 1985 (1985-12-28) (age 22) |
2 |
0 |
 VfL Wolfsburg |
| 8 |
MF |
Greg Dalby |
November 3, 1985 (1985-11-03) (age 22) |
|
|
.svg/22px-Flag_of_Belgium_(civil).svg.png) SC Charleroi |
| 9 |
FW |
Gabriel Ferrari |
September 1, 1988 (1988-09-01) (age 19) |
|
|
 Sampdoria |
| 10 |
MF |
Benny Feilhaber |
January 19, 1985 (1985-01-19) (age 23) |
16 |
2 |
Derby County |
| 11 |
FW |
Ellis McLoughlin |
July 8, 1990 (1990-07-08) (age 17) |
|
|
Hertha Berlin |
| 13 |
DF |
Blake Wagner |
January 29, 1988 (1988-01-29) (age 20) |
|
|
FC Dallas |
| 14 |
MF |
Bryan Arguez |
January 13, 1989 (1989-01-13) (age 19) |
|
|
Hertha Berlin |
| 15 |
FW |
Bryan Jordan |
September 13, 1985 (1985-09-13) (age 22) |
|
|
Los Angeles Galaxy |
| 16 |
MF |
Corey Ashe |
March 14, 1986 (1986-03-14) (age 22) |
|
|
Houston Dynamo |
| 17 |
MF |
Lee Nguyen |
October 7, 1986 (1986-10-07) (age 21) |
3 |
0 |
 Randers FC |
| 18 |
GK |
Dominic Cervi |
July 9, 1986 (1986-07-09) (age 21) |
|
|
Out of contract |
| 19 |
FW |
Sammy Ochoa |
September 4, 1986 (1986-09-04) (age 21) |
|
|
 UAG Tecos |
| 20 |
DF |
Tony Beltran |
October 11, 1987 (1987-10-11) (age 20) |
|
|
Real Salt Lake |
| 21 |
MF |
Brek Shea |
February 28, 1990 (1990-02-28) (age 18) |
|
|
FC Dallas |
| 24 |
GK |
Quentin Westberg |
April 25, 1986 (1986-04-25) (age 22) |
|
|
 Troyes |
| 25 |
DF |
Jonathan Leathers |
November 5, 1985 (1985-11-05) (age 22) |
|
|
Kansas City Wizards |
|
The following players have been called in to other U-23 camps in preparation for the 2008 Olympics:
| No. |
Pos. |
Player |
DoB (Age) |
Caps |
Goals |
Club |
|
GK |
Chris Brown |
January 13, 1985 (1985-01-13) (age 23) |
|
|
Boston College |
|
GK |
Billy Chiles |
January 14, 1985 (1985-01-14) (age 23) |
|
|
Out of contract |
|
GK |
Tally Hall |
May 12, 1985 (1985-05-12) (age 23) |
|
|
Esbjerg fB |
|
GK |
Justin Hughes |
April 23, 1985 (1985-04-23) (age 23) |
|
|
Colorado Rapids |
|
GK |
Zac MacMath |
August 7, 1991 (1991-08-07) (age 16) |
|
|
Clearwater Chargers |
|
DF |
Sean Franklin |
March 21, 1985 (1985-03-21) (age 23) |
|
|
Los Angeles Galaxy |
|
DF |
Hunter Freeman |
April 18, 1986 (1986-04-18) (age 22) |
|
|
New York Red Bulls |
|
DF |
Patrick Ianni |
June 15, 1985 (1985-06-15) (age 22) |
|
|
Houston Dynamo |
|
DF |
Chance Myers |
December 7, 1987 (1987-12-07) (age 20) |
|
|
Kansas City Wizards |
|
DF |
Michael Orozco |
February 7, 1986 (1986-02-07) (age 22) |
|
|
San Luis |
|
DF |
Pat Phelan |
January 16, 1985 (1985-01-16) (age 23) |
|
|
 Toronto FC |
|
DF |
Steve Purdy |
February 5, 1985 (1985-02-05) (age 23) |
|
|
1860 Munich |
|
DF |
Mike Randolph |
December 3, 1985 (1985-12-03) (age 22) |
|
|
Los Angeles Galaxy |
|
DF |
Jonathan Spector |
January 3, 1986 (1986-01-03) (age 22) |
9 |
0 |
West Ham United |
|
DF |
Nathan Sturgis |
July 6, 1987 (1987-07-06) (age 20) |
|
|
Real Salt Lake |
|
DF |
Anthony Wallace |
January 26, 1989 (1989-01-26) (age 19) |
|
|
FC Dallas |
|
DF |
Tim Ward |
February 28, 1987 (1987-02-28) (age 21) |
|
|
Colorado Rapids |
|
DF |
Marvell Wynne |
May 8, 1986 (1986-05-08) (age 22) |
1 |
0 |
Toronto FC |
|
MF |
Arturo Alvarez |
June 28, 1985 (1985-06-28) (age 22) |
|
|
FC Dallas |
|
MF |
Eric Avila |
November 24, 1987 (1987-11-24) (age 20) |
|
|
FC Dallas |
|
MF |
Alejandro Bedoya |
April 29, 1987 (1987-04-29) (age 21) |
|
|
Boston College |
|
MF |
Michael Bradley |
July 31, 1987 (1987-07-31) (age 20) |
14 |
1 |
 sc Heerenveen |
|
MF |
Nico Colaluca |
July 19, 1985 (1985-07-19) (age 22) |
|
|
Colorado Rapids |
|
MF |
Maurice Edu |
April 18, 1986 (1986-04-18) (age 22) |
3 |
0 |
Toronto FC |
|
MF |
Eddie Gaven |
October 25, 1986 (1986-10-25) (age 21) |
4 |
0 |
Kansas City Wizards |
|
MF |
Michael Harrington |
January 24, 1986 (1986-01-24) (age 22) |
|
|
Kansas City Wizards |
|
MF |
Aaron Hohlbein |
August 16, 1985 (1985-08-16) (age 22) |
|
|
Kansas City Wizards |
|
MF |
Stuart Holden |
August 1, 1985 (1985-08-01) (age 22) |
|
|
Houston Dynamo |
|
MF |
Will John |
June 13, 1985 (1985-06-13) (age 23) |
|
|
Randers FC |
|
MF |
Stephen King |
March 6, 1986 (1986-03-06) (age 22) |
|
|
Chicago Fire |
|
MF |
Quavas Kirk |
April 13, 1988 (1988-04-13) (age 20) |
|
|
D.C. United |
|
MF |
Sacha Kljestan |
September 9, 1985 (1985-09-09) (age 22) |
5 |
0 |
Chivas USA |
|
MF |
Peter Lowry |
October 2, 1985 (1985-10-02) (age 22) |
|
|
Chicago Fire |
|
MF |
Dax McCarty |
April 30, 1987 (1987-04-30) (age 21) |
|
|
FC Dallas |
|
MF |
Robbie Rogers |
July 6, 1987 (1987-07-06) (age 20) |
|
|
Columbus Crew |
|
MF |
Ryan Solle |
September 11, 1985 (1985-09-11) (age 22) |
|
|
Carolina RailHawks |
|
FW |
Freddy Adu |
June 2, 1989 (1989-06-02) (age 19) |
4 |
0 |
 Benfica |
|
FW |
Jozy Altidore |
November 6, 1989 (1989-11-06) (age 18) |
3 |
1 |
New York Red Bulls |
|
FW |
Chad Barrett |
April 30, 1985 (1985-04-30) (age 23) |
|
|
Chicago Fire |
|
FW |
Adam Cristman |
January 8, 1985 (1985-01-08) (age 23) |
|
|
New England Revolution |
|
FW |
Charlie Davies |
June 25, 1986 (1986-06-25) (age 21) |
3 |
0 |
 Hammarby IF |
|
FW |
Robbie Findley |
August 4, 1985 (1985-08-04) (age 22) |
1 |
0 |
Real Salt Lake |
|
FW |
Jacob Peterson |
January 27, 1986 (1986-01-27) (age 22) |
|
|
Colorado Rapids |
|
FW |
Johann Smith |
April 25, 1987 (1987-04-25) (age 21) |
|
|
Bolton Wanderers |
|
FW |
Jamie Watson |
April 10, 1986 (1986-04-10) (age 22) |
|
|
Austin Aztex U23 |
|
FW |
Preston Zimmerman |
November 21, 1988 (1988-11-21) (age 19) |
|
|
Hamburger SV |
|
FW |
Sal Zizzo |
April 3, 1987 (1987-04-03) (age 21) |
1 |
0 |
Hannover 96 |
|
[edit] Coaches
[edit] See also
