Talking about the Netherlands, anyone remember our opening game of the 2005 U-20 World Cup in Holland? Our first game was USA v Argentina and pitted a 16 year old Freddy Adu vs an 18 year old Lionel Messi. The US won that game 1-0 and I remember footage of Adu showing off all sorts of skills and seemingly getting the better of Messi. However, the US would go on to crash out in the 2nd round while the Argentine's would recover and go all to the way to final which they'd win thanks to 2 Messi goals. That tournament would sort of be Messi's breakthrough. Messi + Argentina's run to the final this year after the loss against Saudi kind of reminded me of their u-20 win in 2005. Crazy to think where Adu and Messi went after that game....
On This Day in 2004 🗓️14-year-old soccer phenomenon Freddy Adu was selected by DC United as the number 1 draft pick. pic.twitter.com/qFCQcKrnmF— Classic Football Shirts (@classicshirts) January 16, 2023
It was more than just a lack of quickness. Adu had a tremendous feel for the game, skills, vision, and was a nightmare to cover 1v1 even 1v2. That said, he was weak, had extremely poor Football IQ, had fitness issues like many Americans in his generation who would burn out after a half, had no ability whatsoever off the ball, and then you add the quickness issues where he was quick but not elite quickness which he would need considering his weaker core. Still the most talented and gifted Nat I've seen by a mile. I agree with his Monaco manager who said Freddy is like a U13 that was pulled out and never learned the things you would learn from U13-U21 and yet he's trying to play the professional game. The best case would have been Freddy going to Milan or Inter and playing there for 5-6 years under the U-squads and when he's finally ready, becoming an excellent B-tier player like Jay Jay Okocha. He was never going to be world-class but he had some world-class qualities like Jay Jay did. Many of the issues Jay-Jay had, Freddy had but Freddy had them much worse due to jumping out of HS at 13 to go to the MLS where his development stopped. He would have still been a Nat till this day if he went down the right path. The biggest issue with Adu was moreso Adu. He didn't have the drive and work ethic needed and was always given chances due to the insane talent which he displayed.
The original USMNT wonder kid Freddy Adu ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/fSQiPSOWOE— Takes 🇺🇸 (@USMNTTAKES) February 7, 2023
I know that’s what the date says at the start of the thread, but I have good reason to believe this thread is actually just over 17 years old.
Ah, the old, "If you're good enough, you're old enough". Wait, what? How much longer can they keep trotting out these friggin articles? "He's still just 33". He's played, what? 1 month of Swedish 3rd tier ball and got dismissed after a month for not being fit enough. For a semi-pro Swedish team. So really has hasn't played for coming up on 5 years. If you weren't fit then, you sure as shit aren't now many years (and a pandemic!) later at 33. The author is really scraping the bottom of the barrel here. Must've had a deadline to meet. In some cases, AI reporting will be an improvement.
I asked.... "Write an article on the current prospects of Freddy Adu" Boom... Freddy Adu is a name that once held great promise in the world of soccer. As a young player, he was touted as the next big thing in American soccer, with a level of skill and talent that was said to rival that of the great Pele. However, as time has passed, Adu's career has not lived up to the early hype, and many are left wondering about his current prospects in the sport. Adu burst onto the scene in 2004 when he signed with D.C. United at just 14 years old, becoming the youngest player in MLS history. He quickly showed his talent on the field, scoring his first professional goal in his second game and earning MLS Rookie of the Year honors. In 2006, Adu made a high-profile move to Europe, signing with Benfica in Portugal. However, his time in Europe was marked by a lack of playing time and loan moves to various clubs. In the years since, Adu's career has been marked by a series of short stints with clubs around the world, including the Philadelphia Union, Bahia in Brazil, and KuPS in Finland. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance on the field, Adu has not been able to find a permanent home with any club, and his career has stagnated as a result. Currently, Adu is without a club, having last played for Osterlen FF in the Swedish third division in 2020. At 32 years old, Adu is still relatively young for a soccer player, but his career trajectory has not been a positive one in recent years. Many fans and analysts alike are left wondering what the future holds for the once-promising player. There are a few potential paths forward for Adu, each with its own set of challenges and opportunities. One possibility is for him to continue his career in lower-level leagues around the world, hoping to catch the eye of a higher-level club that may be willing to take a chance on him. This path is not without its challenges, as Adu's history of short stints with clubs may make it difficult for him to find a stable home. Another option for Adu is to shift his focus away from playing and towards coaching or broadcasting. Adu has expressed an interest in coaching in the past, and his knowledge of the game and experience at a high level could make him an attractive candidate for youth coaching positions. Additionally, Adu has worked as a pundit and commentator in the past, and could potentially build a career in broadcasting if he chooses to do so. Ultimately, the current prospects for Freddy Adu are uncertain. His career thus far has been marked by both great promise and disappointing results, and it is unclear what the future holds for him. However, whether he continues to pursue playing, coaching, broadcasting, or something else entirely, it is clear that Adu has a wealth of experience and knowledge to offer the world of soccer. With the right opportunity and mindset, there is still a chance that he could make a significant impact in the sport.
“If you are lucky enough to have seen Freddy as a young man then wherever you go for the rest of your life, it stays with you, for Freddy is a moveable feast.” (c)
Went to Lisbon for a couple of days en route to a trip to Sao Tome & Principe in west Africa and first thing I did was head off to Estadio da Luz to check out the Benfica museum (and later the Sporting one too). Anyhow, you can't really compare the two museums but we interesting to see Freddy has his little place in history way up on the 3rd floor of the museum where they pay homage to internationals who played for Benfica. He got not one but three mentions there...