US U-18 midfielder Andrija Novakovich has signed a pro contract with Reading FC. He was going to play in college at Marquette but opted to go pro in England Marquette announced the deal http://m.gomarquette.com/m/sports/m-soccer/spec-rel/040414aaa.html
His father was born in Yugoslavia (the Serbian part according to one report), though I'm not sure what citizenship he would claim. Croatia & Slovenia are the former republics now part of the EU. Obviously, he would need some EU passport to play in England right now.
Turns out his mother is the proud holder of a UK passport, according to SBI: Novakovich’s move to England was expedited because his mother was born in England while his father was born in a part of Yugoslavia that is now in Serbia. Novakovich graduated from high school early as well.
That being said, the thought of a player from Wisconsin playing in England has me excited. Looks like Wisconsin may have another soccer figure besides Jay Demerit if things turn out well
Called to the US U-20s: http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/artic...adline-mls-academy-contingent-called-us-u-20s
I remember when everyone was going insane over the 2011 group and how we would dominate the world in 2014... so, i'm not going to be holding my breath. I don't see Gyau, etc on the roster this year. The youths seem always like a major crap shoot, I wouldn't get overly excited about names until you see some real progress. I fully expect the US team to crash out again in 2015 in the second round or earlier.
http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/andrija-novakovich-1628421.aspx "While both of his parents are ethnically Serbian, his mother, Zorka Novakovich, was raised in England—near Reading—and holds British citizenship. Indeed his grandfather, Rade Prpa, played for Bicester Town and Oxford City." What's the good word on this guy?
http://forums.bigsoccer.com/threads/andrija-novakovich-signs-for-reading.2002853/ I guess this is the second time I've done this to you in a week. Sorry.
All you need to know is in this interview. In fact, it is kind of cool to see that the club used this interview for its news release. You would think that they would speak to their own player for their own original article on his signing http://americansoccernow.com/articles/striker-andrija-novakovich-18-moves-to-fc-reading
Ugh--why did Reading just post this to my News Feed, then?! Silly me, thinking I could scoop the likes of....everyone else.
I had no idea that Marquette had a program capable of attracting a player of this caliber. In any event, good for Andrija. Hope to see him leading the line in New Zealand next summer.
Christian Herrera from RSL. I believe he is 6' 5" http://ussda.demosphere.com/teams/60852305/47187217-60852392/52588487.html
Called into the US U20 camp for friendlies in California: Tab Ramos' latest U-20 roster: Goalkeepers: Santiago Castano (New York Red Bulls; Union City, N.J.), Zack Steffen (Maryland(m); Dowlington, Pa.) Defenders (7): Michael Amick (UCLA; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Conor Donovan (Railhawks Academy; Fuquay Varina, N.C.), Luis Martir (Chivas de Guadalajara; Los Angeles, Calif.), Chris Odoi-Atsem (Maryland; Mitchellville, Md.), John Requejo Jr. (Club Tijuana; Carpinteria, Calif.), Caleb Smith (Solar Chelsea SC; Arlington Texas), Jesus Vasquez (UANL Tigres; San Luis Obispo, Calif.) Midfielders (6): Fernando Arce (Club Tijuana, Chula Vista, Calif.) Russell Canouse (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim; Lancaster, Pa.), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Romain Gall (FC Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Lynden Gooch (Sunderland AFC; Santa Cruz, Calif.), Jacori Hayes (Wake Forest; Bowie, Md.) Forwards (5): Paul Arriola (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Bradford Jamieson (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, Calif.), Benji Lopez (Arizona United SC; San Diego, Calif.), Andrija Novakovich (Reading FC; Muskego, Wis.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.)
Scored for the U18s today (and had a PK saved) in a 2-1 loss to Tottenham: Walkes escaped with a caution – and we escaped without conceding as Glover leapt to his left to tip away Novakovich’s penalty. Novakovich blasted into the side netting shortly afterwards, but he did finally get himself on the scoresheet when he collected a cross-field ball and finished low into the far corner two minutes into added time. http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/u18-reading-home-report-251014/
Another call-up coming ... and an appearance in a documentary? Striker Novakovich has been selected by the USA's under 20 squad for three games in Spain, when they take on Russia, Ireland and Canada Along with his fellow American Aleks Gogic, who is on our books as a goalkeeper, Andrija was recently part of a US film documentary that will be released in the coming months, featuring the likes of Tim Howard et al. http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/novakovich-edwards-291014-2048873.aspx#URGGYo1VsqaiwZut.99
Kyle Scott of Chelsea U18 was 2-1 winner over Novakovich's Reading FC http://t.co/sUEq9MuULV— Dallas Cup ⚽️ (@dallascup) November 1, 2014 Chelsea Jared Thompson; Charlie Wakefield, Fikayo Tomori (Ali Suljic h/t), Jake Clarke-Salter, TrevohChalobah (George Brady); Mukhtar Ali, Isaac Christie-Davies, Kyle Scott; Miro Muheim (Faiq Bolkiah), Tammy Abraham, Ike Ugbo Unused sub Nathan Baxter Scorer Abraham 20 Reading Lewis Ward, Tennai Watson, Jake Sheppard, Harrison Bennett, Gabriel Osho, Marc Ethelston, Sam Smith, Noor Husin, Harry Cardwell, Andrija Novakovich, Conor Davis Scorers Cardwell 22, Smith 55
Highlights from Novakovich against Southampton U18s. He looks good and now has 7 goals on the year for the U18s.