MARYLAND NATIVE ON TRIALS WITH MANCHESTER UNITED 01/24/2014 United Sport Group L.L.C. help setup trials for Bethesda Lions Academy player and USG North American Showcase participant Alonzo Clarke with Blackpool Football Club, Manchester United (based on performance with Blackpool Football Club), and Club Brugge. http://www.usgsoccer.com/1/post/2014/01/maryland-native-on-trials-with-manchester-united.html Young American confirms he will join up with Manchester United in February for second trial By Sam Peoples at 4:30 am 15/01/2014 Alonzo Clarke has confirmed he will return to Manchester United in February to undergo a second trial at the club. The 16-year-old, who currently plays for Bethesda-Olney Academy, already underwent a trial with both Blackpool and United but will come back to Carrington next month in order for our academy staff to make their final judgement on him. http://thepeoplesperson.com/2014/01...nchester-united-in-february-for-second-trial/ Alonzo Clarke – Centre Back 16-year-old American centre back who plays for Bethesda Lions. Clarke was actually spotted by United’s scouts while on trial at Blackpool who have since offered him a place in their academy for next year. Has been over to United on trial already and is due to come back again. http://mufclatest.com/the-future-of-manchester-united/ Alonzo Clarke 5 @ClarkeKent97 #BethesdaLions#Bethesda-Olney Academy Bound Alonzo Clarke 5@ClarkeKent97Apr 11 Moyes Blows. pic.twitter.com/XJqr89u7Gl DMV Soccer@DMVsoccer96May 2 Alonzo Clarke Of U16 Bethesda Training In England Right Now With Manchester United. Played With The Reserves 2 Days Ago!#MUFC #RepDMV
Anyone know anything about the kid, other than that he's also eligible for Jamaica? Would be AWESOME to see a Yank at Man U.
An update (Al) on 'Zo: But when his passport expired in August and he could no longer work legally in England, Clarke and his family decided it would be best for him to put soccer on hold for the moment and return to school. “After he gets his high school diploma, he can decide — college versus going pro,” said his mother, Deborah Wallace of New Carrollton, who added that she would prefer for Clarke to earn a college degree because “every mom wants their child to have ‘plan B.’” But she said she would stand behind her son “100 percent” if he has the opportunity to play professionally again. Clarke, who comes from a family of soccer players — including his father, older brother and uncle — said he has scholarship offers from about four schools in the U.S. http://www.gazette.net/article/2014...round-career-soccer-decision&template=gazette
Visas come in all flavors and not all can be renewed. But a general UK visitor visa can go up to 6 months. After that, you have to prove you need to be in the country. There is a point when they don't want you hanging around if you don't have a valid reason to stay. Doesn't sound like he found a club, so he was going to have to leave eventually.
Has been reported before, but Clarke is headed to Akron. Recruiting class: http://www.gozips.com/sports/msoc/2015-16/releases/20150724byj9qr
Checking in on Clarke, he's seen limited minutes as a freshman on a winning Akron team. Don't know if that's because of health or coach's decision.
Ny provspelare i Djurgården, Alonzo Clarke. 18-årig amerikansk försvarare. Intervju med Clarke kommer upp på @FotbollDirekt senare idag...— Anton Zetterman (@azetterman) January 21, 2016 Seems like he's going to be trialing with my club Djurgårdens IF. The guy who wrote the tweet is a writer on Fotbolldirekt.se and he says that there will be an interview with the player published later today on their site.
I can give some additional info now since both the clubs official website and FotbollDirekt have written articles on the guy. With his parents blessing Clarke has left school for this semester to try to get a professional contract as a footballer. He will be trialing with us for quite a long time, three weeks in total, which I guess will include the upcoming training camp in Turkey. He's described as a versatile defender who can play both in central defence and as fullback, and even as defensive midfielder if necessary (we don't need that though). He also apparently knows former short time Djurgården player Gale Agbossoumonde who has told him positive things about the club.
Best of luck to the kid. Probably time for a thread title change, as current one will generate unnecessary hype.
Swedish TV are going a bit over the top this year and are broadcasting 40+ preseason games so I had the chance to watch my Djurgården play away against Örebro today in a game where two american defenders got some playing time. Brendan Hines-Ike started for ÖSK and played 60 minutes together with a recently promoted youth player but you couldn't tell really since they kept the defence together well although to be fair our attack was a bit blunt. Still though, a very positive first impression to me. Alonzo Clarke on the other side came on around the 65th minute and looked a bit lost in his positioning, something in which he wasn't alone in on our team. Overall I would say that he did look a little in over his head but it's probably not fair to judge so soon since he only recently arrived.
It does. I'm guessing this thread should probably go in the Academy forum though while the Brendan Hines-Ike one should be moved from there to this forum.
In the preview article for our next preseason game the club writes that Clarke has been injured and won't be taking part. It doesn't really specify anything about the injury though, so no idea if this means that the trial is over or not. He was originally supposed to stay around for another week with the squad traveling to a camp in Turkey.
The club announced today that Clarke won't be offered a contract or travel with the squad to Turkey. Instead he will spend next week trialing with second tier Superettan club Assyriska who had seen him in training with us and apparently wanted to take a closer look themselves.