| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andy Najar Rodriguez | ||
| Date of birth | March 16, 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Choluteca, Honduras | ||
| Height | 5 ft 7 in (1.70 m) | ||
| Playing position | Winger | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | D.C. United | ||
| Number | 14 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2008–2009 | D.C. United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2010– | D.C. United | 57 | (10) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2011– | Honduras | 2 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of October 30, 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Andy Najar Rodriguez (born March 16, 1993) is a Honduran footballer currently playing for D.C. United in Major League Soccer in the United States.
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Born in Choluteca in southern Honduras, Najar moved to the United States when he was 13, attended Edison High School in Alexandria, Virginia, and joined D.C. United's youth academy in 2008. During his time with the Academy program, Najar received numerous awards and honors for his outstanding play. He was named to the USSF Development Academy Starting XI in 2009 and was the leading scorer in the US Developmental Academy Finals in Los Angeles in 2009.
Najar left Edison High School and signed a professional Generation Adidas contract with D.C. United on March 22, 2010. Once part of MLS, the league and his team became responsible for his education.[1] He is the second player to sign with the first team directly from United’s Academy, after goalkeeper Bill Hamid who signed with the first team in September 2009.
He made his professional debut on March 27, 2010, in DC's opening game of the 2010 MLS season against the Kansas City Wizards,[2] and scored his first professional goal on April 28, 2010 in a U.S. Open Cup game against FC Dallas.[3] He was named MLS Rookie Of The Year following the 2010 season.[4]
Najar is considered by pundits such as Soccer America's Paul Gardner to be one of DC United top players already, at the young age of 17.[5] He has received interest from European clubs, according to his agent, and is expected to move his services there later in his career, possibly as soon as the end of this season.[6] However, it was announced in mid-December that Najar had signed a multi-year contract with D.C. United.[7].
Najar was voted MLS Rookie of the Year for the 2010 season ahead of Tim Ream and Danny Mwanga.[8] He is currently the youngest player on DC United.
On November 27th, Najar agreed to join with Tottenham Hotspur for a 1 week trial.[9]
On April 6, 2011 Najar formally announced that, should the opportunity arise, his choice would be to play for the Honduran national team.[10] He made his first appearance for Honduras on September 3, 2011, against Venezuela entering in the 67th minute.[11]
| Club | Season | Major League Soccer | US Open Cup | CONCACAF | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | App | Goals | ||
| D.C. United |
2010 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 2 | - | - | 31 | 7 |
| 2011 | 31 | 5 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 33 | 6 | |
| Club Total | 57 | 10 | 7 | 3 | - | - | 64 | 13 | |
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