It’s hard to say who was more shocked when Juan Agudelo got called into the U.S. National team this past week; the 17-year-old Red Bull rookie, or New York’s veteran coach Hans Backe. Either way, both realize the golden opportunity that is being laid before the young striker.
“Being called up to the U.S. Men’s National Team is a dream come true from me,” Agudelo said. “I’m a bit surprised that this has come so soon, but I’m looking forward to work hard and show the coaches what I can provide on the field.”
Agudelo _ along with fellow Red Bull rookie Tim Ream _ was among the 18 players who were called into U.S. coach Bob Bradley’s squad for Wednesday’s tilt vs. South Africa (2 p.m. ESPN2, Galavision). He joins Gale Agbossoumonde _ who turns 19 on gameday _ as the first academy products to get call-ups.
Ream’s call-up wasn’t considered a huge shock, considering he was a season-long mainstay in the back for a Red Bull club that set team records for defense. But Agudelo was more surprising considering he doesn’t turn 18 until Nov. 23, and he made just two MLS starts, both in the Eastern Conference semifinal series loss.
“He’s a little bit surprised he is getting called in after only starting two MLS games. So was I,” Backe admitted to the Post, then brought up a point I admit I hadn’t fully considered. “I just hope…I think the reaction will be massive. Every big club in Europe will have a scout will see, or agent. We have to protect him, because with the reaction he’ll have the whole of Europe chasing him after a time.
“We have to protect him and tell him what will happen and how it will look with everyone chasing him. It can be good, and it can be bad. But he looks like a solid guy, but everybody in the media will start looking at him, and they will start asking questions, starting rumors. His phone will be very hot.”
The same could be said of Agudelo’s lightning-quick ascension up the U.S. soccer ranks. The Barnegat (NJ) product _ who was born in Colombia _ signed from the Red Bull academy on March 26, and appeared in two regular-season matches and three U.S. Open Cup tilts. But it was on the U.S. youth national teams that he first started to emerge.
Agudelo played for the U.S. Under-17 team, and then took a quantum leap with the U.S. Under-20 squad. He scored against Brazil, and scored in the Milk Cup Championship in Northern Ireland over the summer, helping the U.S. win the title and being named MVP of the final.
He became the fourth youngest player in MLS history to start a playoff match in the Red Bulls’ 1-0 win in San Jose Oct. 30, and assisted on fellow Colombian mentor Juan Pablo Angel’s goal in the 3-1 loss at home a week later.
Those performances made an impression on Backe, who’d assumed Agudelo would need to be brought along slowly as a wide midfielder before being thrust in as a featured striker.
“After these two games, it changed a lot with Juan,” Backe admitted. “I know I said he needs to play wide, but his work ethic as a striker, it gives him probabilities to play up front. At the moment now, I’m looking at (next year’s) roster positions with him as striker.”
Backe said he plans to use four strikers in the squad next year. Agudelo _ now viewed as more of a forward than a winger _ should surely be one of the quartet, along with French star Thierry Henry, hopefully transfer target Luke Rodgers, and either second-year pro Conor Chinn or Salou Ibrahim (whose contract status for next year Backe was unsure of).
