USA

USA hosted the 1996 Olympics but the team this time has an advantage over the last one as there in now an existence of a professional league in the United States. Here is some information about their better players.:

 

Name : Chris Albright

Position : Forward

Date of birth : 14/1/79

Team : DC United (USA)

Notes : Spent two years at University of Virginia earning All-America honours in 1998 after scoring 20 goals. USA U/18, U/20, U/23 and full international having played at 1999 World Youth Cup. Joined Project-40 in 1999 where he was allocated to Miami but was traded to DC United on 16/7/99

 

Name : DaMarcus Beasley

Position : Midfielder

Date of birth : 24/5/82

Team : Chicago Fire (USA)

Notes : Member of U/17 World Cup side in 1999 which reached semi-finals. Was given Silver Ball as second best player behind teammate Landon Donovan in this tournament. Joined Project-40 program in March 1999, being allocated to Los Angeles Galaxy. Moved to Chicago Fire for 2000 season swapped for the 1st Round draft pick in the 2000/2001 Superdraft that LA Galaxy used for Danny Califf in 2000.

 

Name : Landon Donovan

Position : Forward

Date of birth : 4/3/82

Team : Bayer Leverkusen (Germany)

Notes : Was named best player  of World U/17 Championships in 1999 as USA made fourth place in the tournament. Star of this team who signed a contract at 16 with Bayer Leverkusen. Has also played for U/23 and full international team.

 

Name : John O'Brien

Position : Midfielder

Date of birth : 29/8/77

Team : Ajax Amsterdam (Holland)

Notes : In 1994 was accepted into Ajax youth training program. Was loaned to Utrecht for a season in 1998/99. Returned to Ajax, made his first team debut on 15/9/99 and has been a regular since then. Full US international, made his debut Vs Austria on 22/4/98. Played at 1997 World Youth Cup.

 

Name : Ben Olsen

Position : Midfielder

Date of birth : 3/5/77

Team : DC United (USA)

Notes : Was named 1997 Soccer America College Player of Year whilst with University of Virginia. Was allocated to DC United as a Project-40 player on 27/11/97. After an impressive first season was named MLS Rookie of the year. Helped DC United finish runner-ups in 1997 but helped them win in 1999 with a man of the match performance in the MLS Cup. Was involved in 1997 World Youth Cup and made international debut Vs Australia on 16/11/98.

 

Name : Josh Wolff

Position : Forward

Date of birth : 25/2/77

Team : Chicago Fire (USA)

Notes : US U/18, U/20, U/23 and full international. Went to 1997 World Youth Cup. Went to University of South Carolina before being assigned to Chicago as a Project-40 player on 26/1/98 before the 1998 season. In first year helped Chicago win the double of the MLS and the US Open Cup. Was named Chevrolet/ US Soccer Youth Player of Year in 1998. Has continued to impress since then.

 

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