[Shibb]

I finally saw some game footage of the baby Yanks yesterday in a replay of the UAE / USA match. They looked pretty good, creating a lot of opportunities and dominating possession, although it sure would have been nice if they could have put away some more of the great opportunities that they created. This got me thinking back to an earlier U-17 (2005), where I was dazzled by some of the skills shown by the kids on the pitch. But the guys I remember aren't around anywhere. Some of them that didn't gain my notice are making some waves, most notably Jozy Altidore. So I thought it would be fun to go back and post the rosters from earlier U-17 championships and do a "Where are they now?" retrospective.

The point being that it's normally tough to gauge who's going to emerge as a "star" and who is going to become a trivia question or amusing anecdote.

We'll start in 1985 when it was the "1985 FIFA U-16 World Championship". This was the first one and the USA has been represented in each since.

If you know (or are) any of these guys please feel free to share your observations on how things were, how they've changed and to what extent you think we've progressed.

[Shibb]

# Pos Player Birthdate Club at time
1 GK Tom Foley 10 August 1968 Billerica
2 MF Brian Adcock 13 February 1970 Evan Hut
3 FW Brian Benedict 13 August 1970 Lauderh Lions
4 MF John Cocking 27 January 1971 Concorde
5 DF Neil Covone 24 January 1969 Hialeah Lakes
6 DF Brian Donally 9 April 1969 Scott Gallagher SC
7 Tony Epifani 9 June 1970 Sporting Foot
8 MF Hendrig Gutierrez 4 June 1970 Date County
9 DF John Gwin 24 May 1970 Torrance United
10 Chris Hillyer 23 December 1971 Juventus SC
11 MF Kris Kelderman 13 April 1970 Neenah Eagles
12 FW Larry McPhail 22 February 1971 Titans
13 DF Derek Missimo 29 October 1969 Comets
14 MF David Mueller 8 May 1969 Rangers SC
15 FW Curtis Pride 9 February 1970 Saddlebrook
16 DF Joey Valenti 13 January 1970 Tampa Bay Rangers
17 MF Lyle Yorks 15 February 1971 Mansfield SC
18 GK Mike Gaub 22 March 1970 W Valley United

The head coach was Angus McAlpine. USA finished third in their group behind host country China and Guinea. They beat Bolivia who finished last, but lost to both China (3-1) and Guinea (1-0).

None of those player's names leap out at me, but it's not surprising given that there wasn't much of anywhere to go in terms of professional soccer for Americans at the time.

[kool-aide]

Originally Posted by Shibb

# Pos Player Birthdate Club at time
1 GK Tom Foley 10 August 1968 Billerica
2 MF Brian Adcock 13 February 1970 Evan Hut
3 FW Brian Benedict 13 August 1970 Lauderh Lions
4 MF John Cocking 27 January 1971 Concorde
5 DF Neil Covone 24 January 1969 Hialeah Lakes
6 DF Brian Donally 9 April 1969 Scott Gallagher SC
7 Tony Epifani 9 June 1970 Sporting Foot
8 MF Hendrig Gutierrez 4 June 1970 Date County
9 DF John Gwin 24 May 1970 Torrance United
10 Chris Hillyer 23 December 1971 Juventus SC
11 MF Kris Kelderman 13 April 1970 Neenah Eagles
12 FW Larry McPhail 22 February 1971 Titans
13 DF Derek Missimo 29 October 1969 Comets
14 MF David Mueller 8 May 1969 Rangers SC
15 FW Curtis Pride 9 February 1970 Saddlebrook
16 DF Joey Valenti 13 January 1970 Tampa Bay Rangers
17 MF Lyle Yorks 15 February 1971 Mansfield SC
18 GK Mike Gaub 22 March 1970 W Valley United

One name jumps out at me. But not b/c of his on field exploits.

[Shibb]

1 GK Drew Burwash 26 August 1970 Cape Coral Tornado
2 DF Troy Dayak 29 January 1971 Livermore SC
3 DF Mike Burns 14 September 1970 Marlborough SC
4 DF Tom O'Connor 17 October 1970 Sunnyvale United
5 DF Peter Cochran 12 January 1971 Tualatin Hills United
6 MF Erik Imler 1 June 1971 Bowie Strikers
7 MF Tim Gallegos 30 October 1970 Striker United
8 MF Chad Deering 2 September 1970 Dallas Comets
9 FW Steve Snow 2 February 1971 Maroon SC
10 FW Ben Crawley 6 May 1971 Austin Flyers
11 Gil Kang 5 August 1971 Philadelphia Suburban
12 MF Scott McDoniel 8 April 1971 Busch SC
13 MF Marco Ferruzzi 15 October 1970 Austin Capitols
14 Lance Killian 24 February 1971 FC Portland
15 DF Brian Scott 1 September 1970 Eastside Crossfire
16 FW Mike Smith 13 November 1970 Oceanside United
17 MF Nelson Medina 22 April 1971 La Jolla Nomads
18 GK Mark Dulle 6 August 1970 Liebe SC

Coached by Roy Rees, again winning once and losing twice. This one was closer to home, in Canada. We finished bottom of group on goal difference, beating Ecuador, who finished 3rd, 1-0, while losing a close match to Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) and a goal fest to Korea 4-2. Already there are some familiar names creeping in, even though this was 22 years ago.

The most professional success would be Chad Deering and of course Mike Burns, who both had nice professional careers and a number of senior caps.

[Shibb]

Originally Posted by kool-aide

One name jumps out at me. But not b/c of his on field exploits.

Seems like he's done well for himself as an agent. I'm impressed.

[Shibb]

1 GK Chris Hightower 5 January 1973 San Jose United
2 DF Bill Heiser 13 January 1973 Bethesda Sting
3 DF Todd Haskins 13 April 1973 Howard Courage
4 Joel Russell 23 November 1972 Varder III
5 Rivers Guthrie 8 September 1973 Junior Raiders
6 John Cairel 11 December 1973 Livermore SC
7 DF Jorge Salcedo 17 September 1972 Huntington Beach SC
8 MF Claudio Reyna 31 March 1973 Union County SC
9 MF Billy Baumhoff 20 September 1972 Scott Gallagher SC
10 MF Nidal Baba 2 October 1972 Thunderbirds SC
11 David McGuire 18 July 1973 Longhorns SC
12 FW A. J. Wood 27 October 1972 Bethesda United
13 MF Imad Baba 10 December 1972 Kline Texas
14 Richard Wisdom 15 November 1972 Brentwood SC
15 Harry Weiss 26 October 1972 Scott Gallagher SC
16 DF Brian Bates 29 December 1972 Prince William Spartans
17 Steven Sietsema 11 August 1972 Columbia Diplomats
18 Brian Bailey 27 August 1972 Howard Courage

This one was in Scotland, and the USA did well but still finished in third place. Roy Rees again was the coach and managed to get the team up for a 1-0 victory over Brazil. This was followed by a 5-2 drubbing at the hands of East Germany (who I'm sure played fair in this sports competition, the last in which they'd appear I'm guessing). Since we only managed a 2-2 draw against Australia it was another early exit for our Yanks.

Of course there's one bright star in that galaxy, not to diminish the others.

[Shibb]

1 GK Kyle Campbell 19 April 1975 La Jolla Nomads
2 DF Matt McKeon 24 September 1974 No club
3 Michael Dunne 19 May 1975 Sockers FC
4 Gabe Serda 15 June 1975 Internacionale San Antonio
5 FW Temoc Suarez 19 April 1975 Charleston Battery
6 FW Cesar Torres 24 February 1975 No club
7 DF Shawn Bryden 19 October 1974 Texans
8 DF Julio Guzman 5 February 1975 Miami FC
9 MF Mike Slivinski 31 October 1974 No club
10 FW Mark Jonas 17 October 1974 Bethesda
11 MF Nelson Vargas 6 August 1974 Emerson Express
12 MF Alberto Montoya 19 February 1975 No club
13 FW Shohn Beachum 5 July 1975 ISA United
14 DF Roy Gmitter 2 August 1974 Santa Rosa United
15 DF Mike Fisher 28 May 1975 Sockers FC
16 MF Brian Kelly 6 October 1974 Delco FC
17 DF Will Kohler 13 March 1975 Narberth
18 Sal Fontana 11 April 1975 Bohemia 74

In 1991, it's Coach Roy Rees again, but now the tournament has been rechristened as the U-17s. It looks like a group of death with the host Italians and Argentines plus the Chinese. But somehow with this bunch they manage to finally advance by winning the group! USA beats both Italy and Argentina by 1-0 scores, then pounds the People's Republic 3-1.

Then they tie Qatar in the quarterfinal, 1-1, but lose out on PKs by a 5-4 margin.

Several players had modest professional careers out of this group, but nothing spectacular.

[Shibb]

I'll post the rest of the 90s here later this evening when I get a chance.

[Revolt]

Originally Posted by Shibb

12 DF Troy Dayak 29 January 1971 Livermore SC

He had a solid pro club career.

[Balerion]

Originally Posted by Shibb

# Pos Player Birthdate Club at time
1 GK Tom Foley 10 August 1968 Billerica
2 MF Brian Adcock 13 February 1970 Evan Hut
3 FW Brian Benedict 13 August 1970 Lauderh Lions
4 MF John Cocking 27 January 1971 Concorde
5 DF Neil Covone 24 January 1969 Hialeah Lakes
6 DF Brian Donally 9 April 1969 Scott Gallagher SC
7 Tony Epifani 9 June 1970 Sporting Foot
8 MF Hendrig Gutierrez 4 June 1970 Date County
9 DF John Gwin 24 May 1970 Torrance United
10 Chris Hillyer 23 December 1971 Juventus SC
11 MF Kris Kelderman 13 April 1970 Neenah Eagles
12 FW Larry McPhail 22 February 1971 Titans
13 DF Derek Missimo 29 October 1969 Comets
14 MF David Mueller 8 May 1969 Rangers SC
15 FW Curtis Pride 9 February 1970 Saddlebrook
16 DF Joey Valenti 13 January 1970 Tampa Bay Rangers
17 MF Lyle Yorks 15 February 1971 Mansfield SC
18 GK Mike Gaub 22 March 1970 W Valley United

The head coach was Angus McAlpine. USA finished third in their group behind host country China and Guinea. They beat Bolivia who finished last, but lost to both China (3-1) and Guinea (1-0).

None of those player's names leap out at me, but it's not surprising given that there wasn't much of anywhere to go in terms of professional soccer for Americans at the time.

That name caught my eye. It's safe to say that Curtis Pride remains our only U-17 prospect ever to go on to play for both the Red Sox and the Yankees. Not bad for a deaf guy!

I had no idea he was a soccer player.


BTW: Those birth dates seem all wrong.