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Freddy Adu

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Freddy Adu
Adu playing for the United States men's national soccer team at the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup
Personal information
Full name Fredua Koranteng Adu
Date of birth (1989-06-02) June 2, 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth Tema, Ghana
Height 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Position(s) Winger
Attacking midfielder
Forward
Team information
Current team
 Philadelphia Union
Number 11
Youth career
2002–2003 IMG Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2006 D.C. United 87 (11)
2007 Real Salt Lake 11 (1)
2007–2011 Benfica 11 (2)
2008–2009 → AS Monaco (loan) 9 (0)
2009 → Belenenses (loan) 3 (0)
2010 → Aris (loan) 9 (1)
2011 → Çaykur Rizespor (loan) 11 (4)
2011– Philadelphia Union 29 (5)
International career‡
2002–2003 United States U17 15 (16)
2003–2009 United States U20 33 (16)
2008–2012 United States U23 11 (5)
2006– United States 17 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of August 25, 2012
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of March 27, 2012

Fredua Koranteng "Freddy" Adu (born June 2, 1989) is a Ghanaian-born American soccer player who used to play for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer. He played primarily as an attacking midfielder, but he was also used as a winger or forward.[1]

At the age of 14, he became one of the youngest athletes to sign a professional contract in the United States, after he was selected by D.C. United in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. On April 3, 2004, he became the youngest player to appear in a Major League Soccer (MLS) game when he came on as a substitute in a game against the San Jose Earthquakes. Two weeks later, on April 17, he became the youngest scorer in MLS history, scoring a goal in a 3–2 loss to the MetroStars.

Freddy Adu was considered an up and comer for United States soccer, granting a large amount of hype towards him [2] and even being called the "next Pele". [3] Despite his great career on the US youth team, he has failed to live up to the hype surrounding him. His career has never reached the heights of the English Premier League, where many in the United States had tipped him to star. [4] Adu wasn't called by US Soccer for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. [5]

Childhood

Adu, a Ghanaian American, grew up in the port city of Tema, Ghana, where he played soccer against men three times his age.[6] When he was eight, his mother won the Green Card Lottery, and his family moved to Rockville, Maryland, in the United States, where he attended Sequoyah Elementary School. In 2003, he became a U.S. citizen. Soon after arriving in the United States, he was discovered by a local soccer coach and began playing with boys several years older. Adu attended The Heights School, a private school in Potomac, Maryland, for several years.[6] At the age of twelve, Adu helped the Heights School's varsity soccer team win the Maryland state championship in the fall of 2001 in a sudden death penalty shootout that saw him injured in the last two minutes of play. Adu had skipped two grades, jumping from seventh to ninth, and therefore qualifying for varsity at such a young age.[citation needed]

While playing with the U.S. Olympic Development Program in an under-14 tournament against the youth squads of such traditionally strong Italian teams as Lazio and Juventus, Adu's team won the competition, he led the tournament in scoring, and he was named MVP.[6][7] Adu was noticed by Italian soccer clubs, including Inter Milan, who discussed a six-figure offer for him that was turned down by his mother on the advice of his agents. He was only ten years old at that time.[citation needed]

At the age of twelve in January 2002, Adu joined the IMG Academy, U.S. Soccer's full-time residency program in Bradenton, Florida. He made his professional debut in Major League Soccer in early 2004, at fourteen years of age.

Professional career

Signing with MLS

At the age of fourteen, Adu became the youngest American athlete in over 100 years to sign a major league professional contract in any team sport when he was chosen by D.C. United as the number one overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. He won the MLS Cup title with them later that same year. In order to allow Adu to play close to home, MLS assigned him to D.C. United on November 18, 2003, working a deal with the Dallas Burn, who owned the top pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft. Dallas was compensated with a player allocation. Having already signed with D.C. United, Adu effectively became the first player selected in that draft, two months before it officially took place. D.C. United had previously signed American youngsters Bobby Convey in 2000, and Santino Quaranta in 2001—both aged 16 and the youngest player in MLS at the times of being drafted.

D.C. United

Adu playing for D.C. United

On April 3, Adu came on in United's first game of the 2004 season against the San Jose Earthquakes as a second-half substitute, making him the youngest player to appear in United States professional sports since 1887. On April 17, at the age of fourteen, Adu scored his first professional goal in the 75th minute of a 3–2 away loss against the MetroStars. He became the youngest player in MLS history to score a goal.

In his first season as a pro, Adu finished the year with five goals and three assists, while playing in all 30 regular season games. Although briefly a starter, Adu was relegated to a substitute when D.C. United acquired central midfielder Christian Gómez mid-season, and it was in this role that he appeared in United's MLS Cup victory. He played in three of four playoff games by D.C. United, assisting in one goal during that time.

Adu was criticized from a number of different angles in his first season as a professional. Some commentators have suggested that Adu was too young to be playing professionally and that he needed more time to develop mentally and physically amongst players his own age. In his second season, he was suspended for one game[8] after he complained about his playing time in the media.[9] Before the 2006 season Adu was loaned to English club Manchester United for a fortnight, but he was not able to gain a work permit and so could not play in any competitive fixtures, and only trained with several players from the Manchester United academy during his two weeks.[10][11] Continued development, especially of his defensive skills, helped Adu become a starting midfielder during the 2006 season. In addition, Adu had been chosen to take spot kicks during D.C. United's two penalty shootouts—scoring on both attempts.[12][13] He was selected to the MLS All-Star team twice, once as a commissioner's choice and once as the coach's. He was selected to the MLS 2006 semifinals Best XI by Soccer America magazine. In 2005 he was nominated for FIFPRO Young player of the year.[14]

Real Salt Lake

On December 11, 2006, D.C. United traded Adu and goalkeeper Nick Rimando to Real Salt Lake in exchange for a major allocation, goalkeeper Jay Nolly, and future considerations.[15] Adu made his debut for Real Salt Lake on April 7, 2007, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–2 tie with FC Dallas.[16] He scored his first goal for the club on May 20, 2007, converting a penalty kick in the 68th minute of a 2–1 loss to FC Dallas.[17] Adu went on to score his second goal with Salt Lake from another penalty in a 1–1 tie in an exhibition against Boca Juniors.[18] Adu was also captain of the U-20 United States men's national team in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, where he made an impressive showing. After the conclusion of that tournament, Benfica of the Portuguese Liga secured Adu's rights from MLS for a transfer fee of $2 million.

Benfica

On July 28, 2007, Adu opted out of playing for Real in their regular-season match, and later that day, boarded a plane to Portugal to negotiate with Benfica.[19] On July 30, Benfica issued an official statement announcing that Adu had been transferred to their club.[20] The following day, the signing was completed and he trained with the team in Lisbon. Adu cost Benfica US$2 million.[20] On August 14, 2007, Adu made his debut with Benfica against Copenhagen in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match, coming into the game in the 37th minute as a substitute.

Loans away from Benfica

In July 2008, Adu joined French club AS Monaco on a season-long loan, with an option to join the Ligue 1 club permanently at the end of the deal, an option that was eventually declined by Monaco.[21] In July 2009, after participating in the Gold Cup game against Honduras, he returned to Benfica for training.[22]

Adu was loaned to Portuguese club Belenenses for the 2009–10 season.[23] On October 13, Adu made his first league start in Portugal, a 1–0 loss to Nacional. Adu was injured just before half time, and was substituted.[24] In December 2009 Adu's season long loan was cut short.[25]

Adu signed an 12-month loan deal with Greek side Aris in January 2010,[26] joining fellow USA international Eddie Johnson. Assigned squad number 11, Adu made his debut on January 31 and assisted a 90th minute goal by Johnson. He scored his first goal on February 14 against Ergotelis.[27]

On 1 February 2011, Adu moved to Turkish Second Division side Çaykur Rizespor on what was his fourth loan deal away from Benfica.[28] Adu made his debut for his new club on February 20.[29] He set up teammates Mithat Yaşar and Gökhan Kaba with goals in a 3-0 win over Orduspor and was named Man of the Match.[30] Two weeks later, on 6 March, Adu scored his first goal for his new club in a 1-0 win over Gaziantep Büyükşehir Belediyespor.[31][32]

Philadelphia Union

In August 2011 Adu returned to Major League Soccer, signing with Philadelphia Union, reuniting him with former D.C. United and United States national U-23 coach Piotr Nowak.[33] Though terms were not disclosed, as per club policy, it was stated that he was not a designated player.[34] Adu debuted for the Philadelphia Union on August 13 in a match against FC Dallas and scored his first goal for the club on September 7, 2011 against New England Revolution.[35]

International career

Adu played for the United States in five international youth tournaments: the 2003 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Finland, the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates, the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands, the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, and the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Adu was called into the national team's training camp by coach Bruce Arena in January 2006 for a friendly match against Canada. Adu was capped in that game on January 22 (at 16 years and 234 days), becoming the youngest player to debut with the U.S. national team when he replaced an injured Eddie Johnson in the 81st minute at the University of San Diego's Torero Stadium in San Diego, California.

In January 2007 Adu captained the United States U-20 men's national team as it qualified for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. By playing in the 2007 tournament finals, held from June to July, Adu became only the second player in the world to play in three FIFA U-20 World Cups.[36] On July 3, 2007, Adu scored a hat-trick in U.S.'s 6–1 victory over Poland in the group stage of the tournament. This accomplishment made him the first player to ever score a hat trick in both the U-20 and U-17 World Cups.[37] In the following 2–1 victory over Brazil Adu assisted on both USA goals by Jozy Altidore.[38]

Adu made his first start for the senior international team in a friendly against South Africa on November 17, 2007.

Adu helped lead the U-23 men's national team in its campaign to qualify for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. He scored two goals from free kicks in the USA's 3–0 win over Canada in the semifinals of the tournament, which ultimately qualified them for the Olympics along with Honduras. He scored four goals in total in the three games in which he played, leading all players in scoring, and was selected to the tournament Best XI.[39]

Adu played in both legs of the 2nd round qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup against Barbados on June 8 and June 22, 2008, starting in the latter. He provided the assist on Eddie Lewis' goal, the lone goal in the 2nd leg of the United States 1–0 victory (9–0 aggregate) in Barbados.

On July 15, 2008, Adu was named to the 18-man squad that represented the United States in the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.[40] Adu played in the first two games of group play against Japan and Netherlands. He assisted on a Sacha Kljestan goal in the Netherlands match, but he, as well as teammate Michael Bradley, was then suspended for the final game of group play against Nigeria after each player earned his second yellow card of group play late in the Netherlands match.[41] The US team was eliminated from the Olympics after falling to Nigeria.[42]

Adu scored his first international goal (at 19 years and 170 days) as a member of the full U.S. national squad on a free kick in a November 19, 2008, World Cup qualifier against Guatemala.

Despite a two-year absence from the national team due to his increasingly unstable club situation, Adu was a shock inclusion in the USA roster for the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, making the team despite playing for a second division club.[43] After having failed to make an appearance in the team's friendly against Spain as well as the first four tournament matches, Adu was a surprise substitute in the semifinal against Panama, coming on in the second-half of a scoreless draw for Juan Agudelo. It was Adu whose pass from midfield sprung Landon Donovan free on a counterattack, where he was able to cross the ball to Clint Dempsey for the winner.[44] Adu was in the starting lineup in the following game, the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup final vs. Mexico. He had a hand in both of the USA goals as they lost 4-2.[45]

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 November 19, 2008 Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, United States  Guatemala 2–0 2–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 July 4, 2009 Qwest Field, Seattle, United States  Grenada 1–0 4–0 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup

Honors

D.C. United

Individual

Career statistics

Club

As of August 25, 2012

Template:Football player statistics 1 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2004 || rowspan=3|D.C. United || rowspan=4|Major League Soccer || 30 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 34 || 5 |- | 2005 || 25 || 4 || 2 || 1 || 1 || 0 || 28 || 5 |- | 2006 || 32 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 37 || 2 |- | 2007 || Real Salt Lake || 11 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 1 |- Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2007–08 || Benfica || Primeira Liga || 11 || 2 || 6 || 0 || 3 || 3 || 20 || 5 |- Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2008–09 || AS Monaco (loan) || Ligue 1 || 9 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 11 || 0 |- Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2009–10 || Belenenses (loan) || Primeira Liga || 3 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 4 || 0 |- Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2009–10 || Aris (loan) || Super League Greece || 9 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 2 |- Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2010–11 || Çaykur Rizespor (loan) || TFF First League || 11 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 4 |- Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2011 || rowspan=2|Philadelphia Union || rowspan=2|Major League Soccer || 11 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 13 || 2 |- | 2012 || 18 || 3 || 4 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 22 || 6 |- Template:Football player statistics 3 127 || 17 || 9 || 4 || 9 || 0 || 145 || 21 Template:Football player statistics 4 14 || 2 || 6 || 0 || 4 || 3 || 24 || 5 Template:Football player statistics 4 9 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 0 || 11 || 0 Template:Football player statistics 4 9 || 1 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 2 Template:Football player statistics 4 11 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || 11 || 4 Template:Football player statistics 5 170 || 24 || 18 || 5 || 14 || 3 || 202 || 32 Template:Football player statistics end

International

As of 25 June 2011

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Personal life

Adu dated American singer JoJo from May 2005 until September 2006.[46] A Washington Post article in November 2006 reported that the couple split after one year. JoJo mentioned on American Top 40 with Ryan Seacrest that she and Adu were still good friends.[47]

Adu is sponsored by Nike Total 90.

Freddy's younger brother, Fro Adu, played soccer for George Mason University.[48]

Adu's favorite team as a child was Tottenham Hotspur, and he has expressed a desire to join the club in the future.[49]

References

  1. ^ "Union sign attacking midfielder Freddy Adu". philadelphiaunion.com. Major League Soccer. 10 August 2008. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  2. ^ Daily Mail. London http://worldfootball.dailymail.co.uk/2011/09/for-more-news-and-views-on-world-football-follow-us-on-twitter-at-the-mere-age-of-14-freddy-adu-had-the-world-licking-their.html. {{cite news}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ^ http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/news/_/id/7101417/freddy-adu-right-track-mls-soccer
  4. ^ http://live4liverpool.com/ten-players-who-failed-to-live-up-to-the-hype/attachment/freddy-adu-2
  5. ^ "World Cup 2010: Bob Bradley springs few surprises in USA 30-man squad". The Daily Telegraph. London. May 11, 2010.
  6. ^ a b c Wahl, Grant (3 March 2003). "Who's Next? Freddy Adu At 13, America's soccer prodigy has the world at his feet". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 11 May 2008.
  7. ^ La Canfora, Jason (24 August 2001). "A 12-Year-Old's Amazing Feat". The Washington Post. pp. A01.
  8. ^ "Fire, Adu-less United go scoreless in playoffs opener". usatoday.com. 2005-10-21. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  9. ^ White, Joseph (2005-10-18). "Upset over playing time, Adu hints at leaving United". usatoday.com. Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  10. ^ "Ferguson confirms interest in Adu". BBC Sport. 10 November 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  11. ^ "Adu starts two-week Man Utd trial". BBC Sport. 20 November 2006. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  12. ^ "Looking back: Unforgettable in every way". mlsnet.com. 2005-05-11. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
  13. ^ "FC Dallas use shootout to boot out D.C." mlsnet.com. 2005-08-24. Retrieved 2006-09-27. [dead link]
  14. ^ "FIFPro Young Player Award nominations announced". fifpro.org. 2005-08-18. Retrieved 2007-05-16.
  15. ^ "Ready for Freddy! Real Salt Lake acquires teen phenom Freddy Adu from D.C. United". mlsnet.com. 2006-12-11. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
  16. ^ "Match Tracker: FC Dallas v. Real Salt Lake". mlsnet.com. 2007-04-07. Archived from the original on 2007-04-09. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
  17. ^ "Match Tracker: Real Salt Lake v. FC Dallas". mlsnet.com. 2007-05-20. Retrieved 2007-05-20. [dead link]
  18. ^ "Freddy Adu still in Benfica's sights". CBC.ca. Associated Press. 25 July 2007. Retrieved 17 December 2008.
  19. ^ Major League Soccer: News: Article
  20. ^ a b "Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol SAD announces agreement of principle for the purchase of football player Freddy Adu" (PDF). SL Benfica (in Portuguese). Published by CMVM. 30 July 2007. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
  21. ^ Adu to return to Portugal's Benfica SI.com, 8 May 2009
  22. ^ Adu Returns to Portugal Soccer365, 9 July 2009
  23. ^ Adu Sent To Belenenses On Loan - Goal.com
  24. ^ "Adu's first Belenenses start lasts 45 minutes". Sports Illustrated. 13 October 2009. Retrieved 13 October 2009. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  25. ^ "Adu's loan to Belenenses reportedly killed". CNN. December 29, 2009. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
  26. ^ Π.Α.Ε. Άρης
  27. ^ :: Yanks Abroad - International Soccer, Made in America ::
  28. ^ "Freddy Adu headed to Rizespor in Turkey". The Washington Post.
  29. ^ http://www.caykurrizespor.org.tr/fikstur.asp
  30. ^ Adu named Man of the Match in 1st game with Rizespor | IMG Academies Blog
  31. ^ Çaykur Rizespor vs Gaziantep Büyükşehir Belediyespor LIVE Commentary - Goal.com
  32. ^ Rizespor - Gaziantep 1-0 Freddy Adu - YouTube
  33. ^ Goff, Steven (August 11, 2011). "Stats, scores and schedules". The Washington Post.
  34. ^ Freddy Adu returns to MLS, joins Philadelphia Union | MLSsoccer.com
  35. ^ "Union mount big comeback to tie Revolution 4-4". philadelphiaunion.com. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  36. ^ FIFA.com – Pato and Adu on top
  37. ^ FIFA.com – Goal feast in the east
  38. ^ The Official Site of U.S. Soccer
  39. ^ Concacaf
  40. ^ 2008 U.S. Olympic Men's Soccer Team Template:WebCite
  41. ^ "U.S. Ties Netherlands 2–2 Forcing Pivotal Match Wednesday Against Nigeria". U.S. Soccer. 2008-08-10. Retrieved 2008-09-04. [dead link]
  42. ^ "Down to 10 Men After Three Minutes, Valiant U.S. Effort Falls Short as 2–1 Loss to Nigeria Knocks Them Out of 2008 Olympics". USSoccer.com. 2008-08-13. Retrieved 2008-09-04. [dead link]
  43. ^ Freddy Adu gets another shot with U.S. national team - Total Soccer | Fútbol Total - MiamiHerald.com
  44. ^ "2011 Gold Cup: U.S. Advances to Final". The New York Times. June 22, 2011.
  45. ^ U.S., Bradley exposed by Mexico in loss - World Soccer - Yahoo! Sports
  46. ^ Argetsinger A, Roberts R (2006-06-02). "Freddy Adu Celebrates a Sweet 17". Washington Post. p. C03. Retrieved 2006-11-06.
  47. ^ Argetsinger A, Roberts R (2006-11-22). "Kramer's Tirade, Adding Insult to Inaccuracy. Love,etc". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 23. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  48. ^ Player Bio: Fro Adu - George Mason Official Athletic Site
  49. ^ Bailey, Richard (2008-12-04). "Adu reveals Spurs wish". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2008-12-04. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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