Coach
Bob Bradley
03.03.58
Coach since December 2006
Took over the national team from his mentor, Bruce Arena, after the USA’s first-round exit from World Cup 2006 has changed little – the USA is still a team of robust athletes with a sprinkling of impressive soccer skills a formula that works well in the Concacaf region but is only patchily successful against stronger European or South American opposition.
Goalkeepers
Brad Guzan
September 9 1984
Aston Villa, England
Caps:15
Very similar in build and style to Tim Howard – less experience means Guzan takes the #2 spot. Was named MLS goalkeeper of the year in 2007. The following year he joined Aston Villa, where his playing time, as back-up to American Brad Friedel, has been limited.
Marcus Hahnemann
June 15 1972
Wolverhampton Wanderers, England
Caps:7
After getting 3 caps in 1994, had to wait over eight years until his next call-up. Another in the line of typically big and athletic American ‘keepers. Has over 10 years’ experience in England, at both Championship and Premier League levels. Both his parents were born in Germany, he holds a German passport.
Tim Howard
March 6 1979
Everton, England
Caps:49
Defines the modern goalkeeper, tall (6’3”), strongly built, safe hands, immensely agile, brave, loudly vocal. Six years experience in England, including four as a starter for Everton. Has been the USA’s #1 choice since 2006. Was a reserve at the 2006 world cup. Works to help patients with Tourette’s Syndrome, a disorder from which he also suffers.
Defenders
Carlos Bocanegra
May 25 1979
Stade Rennais, France
Caps:77 Gosls:12
“Los” to his team mates, Bocanegra has been a fixture in the US defense since 2003. A physical player, hard tackler, strong in the air, plays either left- or center-back. After four seasons in England with Fulham, joined Stade Rennais in 2008. Has scored 11 goals for the team, mostly from headers at set pieces. Became the captain of the USA in 2008. Of Mexican descent on his father’s side.
Jonathan Bornstein
November 7, 1984
Chivas-USA
Caps:29 Goals:0
Slender, swift attacking left back, always eager to thrust forward – scored in his debut game against Denmark in 2007. Not the greatest tackler, but speed of recovery is impressive. Of mixed Jewish-Mexican descent. Much involved in charity work for children with cancer, and in adoption programs.
Steve Cherundolo
February 19, 1979
Hannover 96, Germany
Caps:57 Goals:2
At 5’6” the smallest of the USA’s defenders, but his 11-year career with Germany’s Hannover affirms that lack of height is not a drawback. A tenacious right back, excellent man-marker, and a neat distributor of the ball. Founded “Kinderhertz” in Germany to raise money for children with heart disorders.
Jay DeMerit
April 12, 1979
Watford, England
Caps:17 Goals:0
A former forward who switched to defender during his college days. Rugged, no-nonsense centre back, good at breaking up opponents’ attacks, not so good at distributing ball. Remarkable rise from a back-packer trying out for semi-pro teams in England to a starter for Watford. Was not involved with US national team program at any level until his first cap in 2007 at age 28.
Clarence Goodson
May 17, 1982
IK Start, Norway
Caps:11 Goals:1
Lanky (6’4”) centre back with excellent aerial ability and a sharp sense of positional play. Was a prolific goal-scoring forward in his high school days. Played as a defender for three years at University of Maryland, and was drafted by the Dallas Burn (later renamed FC Dallas) in 2004. After four seasons with Dallas, joined Norwegian club IK Star in 2008.
Oguchi Onyewu
May 13, 1982
Milan, Italy
Caps:51 Goals:5
Massive, agile central defender, commanding in the air, but prone to overly physical play. Joined France’s FC Metz in 2002, moved to Belgian club Standard Liege in 2004. After an unsuccessful loan move to Newcastle United in 2007, was signed by A.C.Milan in 2009; later that year was sidelined by a serious knee injury suffered while playing for the USA. Nicknamed Gooch. Both of his parents emigrated to the USA from Nigeria.
Heath Pearce
April 13, 1984
FC Dallas, USA
Caps:31 Goals:0 Competent left back, good tackler, good crosser. Has also played club football at center back and in midfield. Quit college in 2005 after his third year, spent two years with Denmark’s FC Nordsjaelland in 2005, followed by two years with Hansa Rostock in Germany. After a move to Turkey’s Bursaspor fell through, he returned to the USA to join FC Dallas of the MLS.
Jonathan Spector
March 1, 1986
West Ham United, England Caps:24 Goals:0
Versatile defender, can play any of the back four positions, though right back is his preferred role. Originally a forward, switched to defense in 2003 when he was scouted and signed as a teenager by Manchester United. After an on-loan season with Charlton Athletic, joined West Ham in 2006. First cap came in 2004, but injuries limited his call-ups until 2009, when he played 11 games, including all five at the Confederations Cup.
Midfielders
DaMarcus Beasley
May 24, 1982
Rangers, Scotland
Caps:90 Goals:17
On-days and off-days pepper Beasley’s career, as do injuries. Despite everything he remains one of the USA’s most dangerous attacking players, whether as a forward, or from midfield, though his weird and wonderful dribbling technique has sometimes proved as baffling to team mates as to opponents. Played in the 2002 and 2006 world cups
Michael Bradley
July 31, 1987
Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany
Caps:41 Goals:7
The coach’s son, plays a key role as the hub of midfield, where his tactical astuteness and boundless energy enable him to combine defensive duties with attacking forays and goal-scoring. Not the fastest of players, prone to costly fouling and damaging suspensions – which caused him to miss the Gold Cup final in 2008 and the Confederations Cup final in 2009.
Ricardo Clark
February 10, 1983
Eintracht Frankfurt, Germany. Caps:27 Goals:2
First capped in 2005, has played his way into a regular starting position as a speedy midfielder with energy to burn. His enthusiasm is inspirational, as is his tigerish tackling – though greater self-control would help his game, as his physical style makes him prone to excessive fouling. His father Lancelot was born in Trinidad.
Clint Dempsey
March 9, 1983
Fulham, England
Caps:60 Goals:17
Born in the small Texas town of Nacogdoches, grew up playing football among Mexican immigrants, an experience that ensured a rather unusual American football development and helped to form the ball skills that make “Deuce” one of the USA’s most creative players. A clever playmaker who can also score goals, as he showed with goals in consecutive games against Egypt, Spain and Brazil in last year’s Confederations Cup.
Landon Donovan
March 4, 1982
Los Angeles Galaxy, USA Caps:120 Goals:42
The USA’s most important player. Like his midfield partner Dempsey, grew up playing on Latino teams. Smooth ball control combine with superb balance, explosive acceleration and a wily soccer brain to make him a threat to any defense. The USA’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 42 goals – but his 42 assists reveal him as a true team player.
Maurice Edu
April 18, 1986
Rangers, Scotland
Caps:12 Goals:0
Another of the USA’s lightning-quick, muscular midfielders. Showed his adaptability by playing well as a make-shift center-back during the 2008 Olympic Games. Was voted Rookie of the Year in his first pro season with Toronto FC in 2007. Moved to Glasgow Rangers in 2008. A serious knee injury kept him sidelined between May and December 2009, but he marked his return to form in spectacular fashion with the winning goal against bitter rivals Glasgow Celtic in February of this year.
Benny Feilhaber
January 9, 1985
AGF Aarhus, Denmark
Caps:31 Goals:2
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, moved to the USA at age six. First capped in 2007. Successive knee injuries sidelined him for most of 2008, but he returned as a regular member of the team in 2009. Stocky, powerful midfielder with neat ball skills that surely owe something to his early days playing kids’ football in Rio. Played all three games during the USA’s campaign in the 2008 Olympic Games. Unhappy European experiences at Hamburger SV and Derby County between 2005 and 2008 led on to his signing for the Danish club AGF Aarhus in 2009.
Stuart Holden
August 1, 1985
Bolton Wanderers, England Caps:11 Goals:2
A recent addition to the team, A central midfielder with playmaking and finishing skills. Born in Aberdeen, Scotland, moved to Houston at age ten. Signed with Sunderland England in 2005 but never played for them after he was mugged in Newcastle and suffered an eye-socket injury. Returned to play four years in MLS with Houston Dynamo. Joined Bolton Wanderers in 2010, but after only one game, suffered a broken leg playing for the USA against the Netherlands in March.
José Francisco Torres
October 29, 1987
Pachuca
Caps:10 Goals:0
Torres has both Mexican and American citizenship, having a Mexican father and an American mother. Offers superb control of the ball to a midfield that sometimes it difficult to maintain possession
Forwards
Jozy Altidore
November 6, 1989
Hull City, England
Caps:24 Goals:8
Powerful, quick-moving centre forward equally skilled in the air or with the ball at his feet. Signed for Spanish club Villareal in 2008 for reported $10 million; moved on loan to Hull in 2009. Scored his first goal for the USA at age 19. His goals are often spectacular – e.g. his Confederations Cup goal against Spain, when he smashed the ball home after turning Joan Capdevila – but perhaps not frequent enough. Parents, Joseph and Gisele, are from Haiti
Robbie Findley
August 4, 1985
Real Salt Lake, USA
Caps:4 Goals:0
Winger who would add speedy flank play to the attack. Findley has dual citizenship with the United States and Trinidad and Tobago. He qualifies for Trinidad and Tobago through his parents, who emigrated to the United States from the Caribbean nation.
Hercules Gomez
April 6, 1982
Pachuca
Caps:3 Goals:1
Gomez signed with Mexican club Puebla F.C. in January 2010. He scored 10 goals in the 2010 Mexican Clausura to tie for the lead for most goals, this feat marked the first time any American player led a foreign league in goals.
Edson Buddle
May 21, 1981
Los Angeles Galaxy
Caps:2 Goals:0
Surprise choice by Bradley. Buddle is named after Edison Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé. His father, Winston Buddle, a former professional player born in Jamaica, chose the name.
