Looks like he's an '87 defender from Miami who played at Holy Cross and is now at Oriente Petrolero. Unfortunately, the club's web site seems to not exist, so this is cobbled together from a few sources I'm not 100% convinced of. Will try to find out more...
Time to change the thread title. No question mark needed. Melean is a YA at Oriente Petrolero Melean is one of the rising stars of the Bolivian leauge and he played well in the Copa Libertadores this year Here's a brand new interview with him MELEAN ON THE RISE IN BOLIVIA
If he can somehow make it to the Argentine Primera or Brazilian Liga then he'd be worth some consideration for the Nats.
No link for you, but he was just called up to Bolivias team for qualifying games against Argentina and Venezuela. Seems like a prize for his form lately, I doubt very highly that he sees the field. He's a case of a guy whose improved tremendously since he arrived. I didn't think he'd even make the squad when he got there, he was very raw, he's still raw but he's a quick learner and is improving quickly. His team is in a good spot to qualify for Libertadores and they've already qualified for next years Sudamericana. Don't know if this cap ties him though, I think the US has a lot of depth though so this shouldn't be a big blow.
Only cap-ties him to Bolivia if he steps on the field and plays. But, I can confirm what you said: he is on the Bolivian team.
Brian Sciaretta @BrianSciaretta Yesterday in Bolivia's 4-1 WCQ win vs Uruguay, American CB Alejandro Melean was cap-tied to Bolivia. Holy Cross alum is an underrated player
What's interesting about Melean, who was born and raised in the USA, is that he left college just looking for an MLS tryout. He couldn't even get one. Since then he's put on strong performances in the Copa Libertadores and been capped by Bolivia in a 4-1 win over Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier.
Some players just don't work in certain systems or leagues.... yet can blossom in others. I hope for Melean, he can be Bolivia's next good defensive mid.
Yeah.. it's certainly an interesting case. Melean wasn't the typical American dual national who spent most of his formative years in another country. Melean is truly a product of American soccer. He was born in Miami and played in the United States consistently all the way through four years of NCAA soccer with Holy Cross - which is not even a strong college program. He would have played in MLS and for US Soccer if he was given a shot. Despite him not playing for the United States internationally, his success is good for American soccer.
Maybe he wanted to play in for a country were all every thing goes mad for 90min. That altitude is a trip, players pinging shots from all over the pitch, I feel bad for the keepers. I've seen a few Bolivia home matches and you'll see visiting players 25-30 minutes in with hands on their hips, I don't know how they do it.
Meh.... altitude is overrated. No doubt it plays some part.... but it isn't EVERYTHING... Bolivia's record at home so far this qualifier proves that, and in last qualifiers losing at home a good amount... With that said, I think melean has come out stating he would have played for either NT that would call him first.
It's a reminder of how many guys slip through the cracks given the flaws in our youth development system, many of them not dual nationals who might not have access to a Plan B elsewhere, as Melean fortunately did. Also a more robust minor league system might have kept this guy here. Continued good luck to him with Bolivia. Our loss.
Started & went 84 minutes for Oriente Petrolero in a 1-0 win over Uruguay's Nacional in the Copa Libertadores tonight
Yup. No altitude either. 1st half, Oriente dominated and mustered one goal. Very open first half. Second half, Oriente just put players to the back. Nacional also surprisingly played defensively in the 2nd half as well. Boring, but pitch was horrible.
Had some minutes vs. Spain and Greece. Looked decent. Rumors were spreading that he was going to be one of the reinforcements for Bolivar (one of four teams left in the libertadores)--but it doesn't seem to be the case anymore.
The condition of Dick's sporting goods' stadium--mainly the grass is AMAZING! Such a nice pitch. Enjoying that more than Bolivia's play right now.
Tell me about it. There's a need for total reform with our football. The head honcho though is tied into the Conmebol Mafia. Bolivar's Billionaire owner stepped up to take him out of office in the recent election just 2 weeks ago among other strong candidates. He figured out how to make them ineibigle with some 'writing' in the FBF's constitution or something, so it was only him and a guy that had no chance left. He won essentially all the votes minus the 5 guys that ran against him. Claure, Bolivar's owner (sprint's new CEO), is going to complain to FIFA directly, not to conmebol for obvious reasons. Chavez, the current and never leaving president of the FBF said he wants to keep Azkargorta on. Why? He needs to go. He did great for Bolivar, but I think his time has even ran out with them also. He lost this team, the public and looks like the players to out there not giving a shit. Raldes our captain is in over his head and was ran all over the field vs Ecuador. He's too slow, but at one point was a serious quality defender. We just need a guy with new ideas with little to no ties to bolivia. Azkargorta is too 'bolivian' now and from what I saw on facebook from friends that are tied to 'santa cruz' and their 'fraternity' of ex players, he has his own click of guys that he eats and drinks with which I think doens't help his player selection for the NT. The guy is leaving out some crucial players that could help us right now because of his 'connections'. He needs to go. I heard that Julio Falcioni, ex Boca coach and current Universidad Catolica coach in Chile may be leaving his spot there soon. He was once tied to Bolivia as a candidate. I think he'd be great. THere's also whispers of two of the better internal coaches taking over, but that's another discussion I will save for another thread. Anyway--I hope Melean maybe one day comes to MLS to play--but I don't know if that would ever happen. He may be just at the NASL level if that ever happens...