Devann Yao: France to Ipswich Town?

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

You may remember the name from an old Soccer America article:

United Sports Foundation is organized like a pyramid. At the top is a residency program for three boys. One is 11-year-old Devann Yao, from Harlem in New York. His father played professional soccer in France, his mother is Italian, and Devann is trilingual. United Sports Foundation arranged a scholarship to the private Montgomery School and housing in a private home.

Yao trains four days a week from 6 to 7 a.m. with Williams and the two other residency players, both 13: Ernest Winhoffer of Mahway, N.J., and Chris Cano, a U.S. citizen from Colombia who lives in Staten Island, N.Y. After school they have study hall with a professional tutor. In the evening they train with Foundation players.

Yao goes home on weekends to play with his club team, FC Westchester, and returns on Sunday nights. He's been to England, where he trained with Manchester United and Arsenal. Arsenal invited him back in March.

Link:
http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=56208000

Well, I happened to turn this link up in Google's cache but I have no idea what it means.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:YPo7GtaRo78J:www.tsfsens.org/sport/indiv_stats.php%3Fhd%3D0.2.0.4-3%26year%3D2003%26sort_key%3Dgoals%26start_index%3D180+%22Devann+yao%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:sNhZRvS9MukJ:www.tsfsens.org/sport/indiv_stats.php%3Fhd%3D0.2.0.4-3%26year%3D2003%26sort_key%3Drcard%26start_index%3D150+%22Devann+yao%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:P8xH9Pu-G1MJ:www.tsfsens.org/sport/indiv_stats.php%3Fhd%3D0.2.0.4-3%26year%3D2003%26sort_key%3Dycard%26start_index%3D180+%22Devann+yao%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

Maybe that he's with Metz?

I don't know French and couldn't figure out whether there was a youth section of the club's site.

http://fcmetz.com/

Can someone maybe investigate?

[sidefootsitter]

I don't know French and couldn't figure out whether there was a youth section of the club's site... It's not under "Equipes" (team). There's only a pro roster on the site, as far as I can tell.

[Jacques Strappe]

You may remember the name from an old Soccer America article:

United Sports Foundation is organized like a pyramid. At the top is a residency program for three boys. One is 11-year-old Devann Yao, from Harlem in New York. His father played professional soccer in France, his mother is Italian, and Devann is trilingual. United Sports Foundation arranged a scholarship to the private Montgomery School and housing in a private home.

Yao trains four days a week from 6 to 7 a.m. with Williams and the two other residency players, both 13: Ernest Winhoffer of Mahway, N.J., and Chris Cano, a U.S. citizen from Colombia who lives in Staten Island, N.Y. After school they have study hall with a professional tutor. In the evening they train with Foundation players.

Yao goes home on weekends to play with his club team, FC Westchester, and returns on Sunday nights. He's been to England, where he trained with Manchester United and Arsenal. Arsenal invited him back in March.

Link:
http://www.socceramerica.com/article.asp?Art_ID=56208000

Well, I happened to turn this link up in Google's cache but I have no idea what it means.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:YPo7GtaRo78J:www.tsfsens.org/sport/indiv_stats.php%3Fhd%3D0.2.0.4-3%26year%3D2003%26sort_key%3Dgoals%26start_index%3D180+%22Devann+yao%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:sNhZRvS9MukJ:www.tsfsens.org/sport/indiv_stats.php%3Fhd%3D0.2.0.4-3%26year%3D2003%26sort_key%3Drcard%26start_index%3D150+%22Devann+yao%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:P8xH9Pu-G1MJ:www.tsfsens.org/sport/indiv_stats.php%3Fhd%3D0.2.0.4-3%26year%3D2003%26sort_key%3Dycard%26start_index%3D180+%22Devann+yao%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

Maybe that he's with Metz?

I don't know French and couldn't figure out whether there was a youth section of the club's site.

http://fcmetz.com/

Can someone maybe investigate?


I don't know French either, but either way it sound like this Williams guy is doing some cool things with trying to create a youth academy residency program. It sounds like the kids are getting a good education too.

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Don't know when this link is from (found it using Google) but it looks like ODP has "found" this player:

http://www.region1.com/BoysODP/Other/FR-IT%20Roster.htm

That said I have no idea if he's still in Europe or ever was or what.

[roma52]

Yao Devann is presently in Livorno, Italy, training with the local team.
May you let me know his father full name and who he played with in France?


Thank you
Vanda Croasdale
Livorno, 08/25/2007

[USvsIRELAND]

Yao Devann is presently in Livorno, Italy, training with the local team.
May you let me know his father full name and who he played with in France?


Thank you
Vanda Croasdale
Livorno, 08/25/2007

Training with A.S. Livorno?

[saintobsolete]

devann yao is with a.s. livorno 2007 -2008

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Can we substantiate this in any way? Clicking through the "Giovanili" section of the club site...

http://www.livornocalcio.it/

... I can't seem to find him mentioned.

[saintobsolete]

he was at metz now he is at livorno ,2007 -2008, i think you are looking at 2006-2007 he was not signed then.who are you/ why are you asking?does devann know you? he has not played football here since he was 13-he is now 17-

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

he was at metz now he is at livorno ,2007 -2008, i think you are looking at 2006-2007 he was not signed then.who are you/ why are you asking?does devann know you? he has not played football here since he was 13-he is now 17-

Nope, I don't know Devann. We just try to follow the whereabouts of as many American players as possible on this board. So, having good and current information is quite valuable.

[saintobsolete]

while devan was at metz ,he tried out with region 1 odp,but did not make the team,this was 2 years ago he took atrain to paris from metz and met up with the team.then they flew to italy for a tournament.he is now concentrating on his club.that is all that has happened .and now he is at livorno.he is a 90 player.i will try to keep you up to date.

[devannyao]

ok im devann yao. i used to play three years in france for fc metz now i play fot a.s livorno go to settore giovanile, primavera look for devann yao and im registered for the 07\08 roster. i hoped this clears up everything

[fitbaed]

congrats on playing in Italy. Whats the training like?

[TheBrand]

Nice. Another player playing Primavera ball. Good luck Devann!

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Devann tells me he's now with the primavera squad of Pisa Calcio, currently in Serie B.

[DaPrince84]

Devann tells me he's now with the primavera squad of Pisa Calcio, currently in Serie B.
loan deal or he is signed there?

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Free transfer.

[Sandon Mibut]

How old is Yao?

[Friedel'sAccent]

How old is Yao?

Given Dave's original post back in 2005, I'm guessing he's 13-14 now?

Edit: Nevermind, since someone who knows him posted recently that he's 17, then I'm guessing he's 17 or 18 now. :D

[Dave Marino-Nachison]

Yao is a 1990.