RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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It's common for people to say that the best is yet to come after disappointment. It's been a trend around the United States men's national team to discuss how talented the coming generation is, but when two of the best teams at developing players in America prepare to meet, as the New York Red Bulls host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, it's a game that will highlight what's on the horizon. Cavan Sullivan and Julian Hall are both teenagers leading their teams this season despite only being 16 and 18 years old, respectively.
While they're expected to be among the future of the USMNT, during a September international break, which offers a chance for Mauricio Pochettino to take a look at players further down the roster, it makes sense for the duo to be called in now, considering their performances.
"I know there have been a couple of moves by young players from other clubs. Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake is going to Crystal Palace; he's an exceptional young talent as well," New York Red Bull academy director Sean McCafferty said. "I'd imagine there's going to be a lot of young ones called in [to the September national team camp], which I think, again, the future is very bright here. I think we have so many good young players coming through; they just need the opportunity [from the USMNT], so we'll see"
Sullivan has scored five goals and assisted two more in MLS play, breaking out after the World Cup break, and Hall has been a leader on the pitch for the Red Bulls, scoring nine goals in MLS play and assisting four more, leading the line for Michael Bradley's side.
It's a performance that has been rewarded with Hall becoming the youngest player in league history to ever sign a U-22 initiative contract, which was announced this week, keeping him under club control through the 2029-30 season. It's a reward for what he has done so far while also acknowledging his importance to the team ahead of a game that is going to be a benchmark for young USMNT talent to come. Hall and Sullivan are two of five teenagers expected to start for the Union and the Red Bulls, with Neil Pierre, Adri Mehmeti, and Matthew Dos Santos all logging serious minutes for their clubs.
From the beginning, he was always a Red Bull! pic.twitter.com/ylZUeEcrjZ
There has never been a brighter generation of young domestic talent, and the numbers back that up as this year is on track to finish with the most minutes given to teenagers, most goals, goal contributions, and the highest total number of teenagers. 81 have seen the pitch so far this season, which is the highest of any North American men's pro league, and it's the fourth-highest number in global soccer, with data from last season being used for the European leagues.
"This is just the beginning. It's going to become more of the norm, but it's really exciting because the players that are coming through not only are they deserving, like they deserve the opportunity, but man they're at such a higher level than I ever was at that age and it shows that we're making progress and that's what's really important is not to arrive early, it's to arrive on time," MLS Next Vice President/ General Manager of Sporting and former New York Red Bulls keeper Luis Robles said.
There's something in the water, and some of these changes are happening around the world, but it has been an effort on MLS's part as well, showcasing the investment that the clubs have made in their own facilities and staff. The Red Bulls just opened a new training facility that Brazil used during the World Cup, and with Michael Bradley at the helm after his success leading the MLS Next Pro side, there has never been a better alignment between the academy and the first team for academy director Sean McCafferty.
"The continuity, for some of these players, going from the second team to the first team, obviously helps. There's a comfort level there. But certainly, we look at it as not just that, but also Michael's involvement with our second team, with our academy. He can name every player from our Under-13s through the first team," McCafferty said. "That's how connected and how aligned it is. So we're really lucky to have him here and to believe in young players. As the Academy Director, it makes my job easier because he wants to play young players. He's so involved in how we're coaching, our methodology, who's doing well. In my seven years here now, it's never been as aligned as it is now."
On the Union side, interim manager Ryan Richter is making a similar impact after working his way up through the academy before serving as an assistant under Jim Curtin and leading the Union's Next Pro side. The Union are undefeated in MLS play since he took over, and they're gaining confidence by the day that they can hang with anyone in the league.
"The mindset was to win the ball, and even though it's Messi, I still back myself defending with the sideline," 18-year-old Pierre said after the Union drew against Inter Miami at home. "I think my confidence is slowly going up. I think it's from my teammates and them pushing me forward, and not so much the games. They believed in me the whole time, so they said, 'You should have confidence; you should be able to push yourself.'"
That mentality has spread to the rest of the team as they've played through Sullivan to great effect. The 16-year-old may be set to head to Manchester City once he turns 18, but it's clear that even now, the Union have quite a player on their hands and that fans will get to enjoy him until that point.
This confidence from teenagers didn't happen overnight. MLS is coming into its own. The first ball was kicked in April of 1996 when the San Jose Clash defeated D.C. United. At the time, there were only 10 teams, and most shared stadiums and facilities with other American sports teams. Now, there are 30 with potentially more to come, and the vast majority have soccer-specific stadiums, their own training facilities and world-class facilities. Alongs...
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