He wants a chance to show the YNT coaches what he can do. He's still only 17. When he lived in the States they contacted the USSF and was told he could get an invite to a camp either from a coach's recommendation or be scouted. He asked his previous coach's for a recommendation and was told they could only give him one if he played for their club.
[pasted from Gideon's thread] I wasn't aware, but I'm not overly surprised, of the raw deal he's getting from US Soccer. Sounds similar to the Haji Wright treatment. Thanks for setting us straight.
You seem to be close to the situation; is there some kind of highlights package of him? Has he played full games that are on YouTube or anything like that? What are his plans after Nervion? All I’ve seen is short twitter clips and I really have no idea what to think. Every player deserves a fair shot at the USYNT but they’re not great at that. I’m interested in what this kid can do though.
His parents never taped games even when he was younger on the Red Bulls. The Futsal video was made and taped by his coach for the tournament when he was younger. At his level now, most club fields will not allow audience members to film only the club can film. Noah's current coach is getting footage together so he can make a highlight reel. I'm not sure what he plans on doing next season. I will have to ask him and his parents. He is a true 10. Very technical, dynamic and creative. The U20 National Team can benefit from him. He crawled his way up in the past three years, without knowing any Spanish in the beginning, through the different tiers of the youth league to make it to the top tier. When he first left for Spain, his international transfer was rejected by FIFA and he could not play for a year and a half. He had to start in one of the bottom tiers because no one knew he was. They just knew he was American and that does not hold any weight with the Spanish because they don't think much of American footballers. He is now fluent in Spanish and they no longer think of him as "American" but a futbolista. At this point he is just asking for the YNT to take a look at him. I don't know many players that play at the top and NEVER have been called to ANY camp/pool/identification program.
Keaton Parks is the only one I can think of off the top of my head. Now he unlike Noah got to Portugal via his NPSL coach who had played there and had contacts. He went for trials and got signed by Varzim. Then the rest happened. The only other suggestion I have is that Noah or his parents should try reaching out to fellow Americans in Spain like Lederman or De La Fuente and ask them who they're in contact with or what the procedure to get on the radar of the USSF is.
Technically there is a cost to emailing... laptop, internet connection, isp, email service, data exchange, electricity to power the device, etc.... Sir, there is a cost. (This is probably why I don't have many friends....)
If perchance the family needs help making a connection I invite them to reach out to me through BigSoccer (or other channels -- I'm easily findable online) so I can help them get started. (Same for any other player overseas.) To be clear, all I can do is give them useful contact information.
After a long road of having to start from the bottom after his international transfer was rejected by FIFA @noahleeds10 has made it to the top through hard work determination and talent. Some great offers are coming through for next year. Congrats! Well deserved #IfYouDontKnow— Jon Leeds (@Nycicyman) June 9, 2018 @noahleeds10 was invited to a closed two week trial with a very good club in Spain and was the only player sent home after two days with an offer. He was competing against players from VERY big clubs. He has never been rejected after a trial. #ProudPoppa— Jon Leeds (@Nycicyman) June 9, 2018
I realized from reading the kids twitter that it sounds like an account managed by his dad. That makes me like the kid a lot more, and I congratulate him for his new move and wish him the best in the future.
Noah recently posted his CV on Twitter. It notes something that maybe clears up some of the stuff about the beginning of the thread -- seems like he never actually made it to Sevilla, at least officially, on account of some issues with his transfer. 1006111120174673920 is not a valid tweet id
Looking forward to seeing what’s next for this young man. I moved to Spain only knowing English. I was known as the "American". I didn't understand the coaches explaining the drills. I'm a visual learner so I copied my teammates. Now I speak Spanish like a Sevillano and am known as a "futbolista". Speaking Spanish has opened doors. https://t.co/KbTb9FHYOR— Noah Leeds ⚽️🇺🇸 (@noahleeds10) June 11, 2018
Are you referring to his father, just a few posts above? That post references a single offer, not an agreed-upon move.
Why did his father say he was sent home after only two days with an offer. Odd way to say he's got an offer. And what team? People mention specific teams they are training or trialing with all the time. Also odd. Starting to sound alot like Vincenzo Bernardo.
To be completely honest there have always been some odd signs here. Rooting for the kid, but would love to see more tangible evidence of playing ability and less self-promotion and talk.
Just from reading the tweets, I'm convinced that his dad runs both his and his dad's accounts. Don't hold anything against the player for some over-the-top social media antics that may not even be his own.
Per his Twitter bio, it looks like he has joined Extremadura UD of the Segunda Division. He's almost certainly with the youth team as he retweeted some information regarding a couple of their Juvenil Division de Honor preseason games. The team was just promoted to the top youth division last season and begin their year against Rayo Vallecano on September 2nd. FWIW, the club also has a B team that plays in the Tercera (fourth) divison. Good luck to him as he continues his Spanish adventure.