NEW YORK (December 29, 2010) – Major League Soccer and adidas today announced the nine-player 2011 Generation adidas class, as well as four college senior signings. These players will enter the professional ranks through the 2011 MLS SuperDraft presented by adidas. The SuperDraft will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center on Thursday, Jan. 13 at 12 Noon ET. The list of Generation adidas and college senior signings is below.
Additional collegiate and non-collegiate Combine participants will be released on Jan. 4th.
Players who join MLS as part of the Generation adidas program receive the opportunity to develop their game and hone their skills at the professional level in Major League Soccer. In addition to training and playing with one of Major League Soccer’s 18 professional clubs, Generation adidas players receive educational grants to further their college education. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget.
Media interested in covering the 2011 adidas MLS Player Combine should contact Lauren.Brophy@MLSsoccer.com.
A complete roster of players participating in the Combine as well as the Combine coaching staff will be announced soon.
2011 Generation adidas class:
Will Bruin F 21 St. Louis, MO Indiana University U-20
• A 2010 M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Finalist.
• Finished his college career with 33 goals through 66 games played in three seasons at Indiana.
• Named the BigTen Freshman of the year in 2008 and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year tin 2010.
Corey Hertzog F 20 Reading, PA Penn State University
• A M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
• 2010 NCAA leading goal scorer with 20 goals
• Earned 2010 First Team All-Big Ten honors
Perry Kitchen D 18 Indianapolis, IN University of Akron U.S. U-17, U-20
• Member of U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, FL
• Helped lead Akron to the 2010 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship
• Named to the 24 man roster for the U.S. U-20 training camp in January
Zac MacMath GK 19 St. Petersburg, FL University of Maryland U.S. U-17, U-18, U-20, U-23
• 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American
• Joined the U.S. Soccer U-17 Residency Program in 2006 and started two games in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
• Led the U-20 team to a Milk Cup Championship in the summer of 2010 in Northern Ireland
• Earned lowest goals-against average in NCAA (.44 GAA) in 2008 as a freshman and set a program record for shutouts in a season with 15 in 2010
Darlington Nagbe M/F 20 Lakewood, OH University of Akron
• 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy Finalist
• Started all 23 games and helped Akron reach the College Cup for the second consecutive season
• A 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American and Mid-American Conference Player of the Year in 2010
Michael Nanchoff M 21 North Royalton, OH University of Akron
• First Team All-Mid-American Conference in 2010
• 2010 College Cup All-Tournament Team
• Scored a career high 10 goals and was third on team with nine assists
Omar Salgado F 17 El Paso Texas U.S. U-20
• Played for the U-20 National Team at the 2010 Milk Cup
• Scored in his debut for the U.S. U-20 team against China
Kofi Sarkodie D 19 Huber Heights, OH University of Akron U.S. U-15, U-17, U-18, U-20
• 2010 MAC Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
• 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American
• Played for the U.S. in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
Zarek Valentin D 19 Lancaster, PA University of Akron U.S. U-15, U-17, U-18, U-20
• 2009 Mid-America Conference Newcomer of the Year
• Played for the U.S. in the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the 2010 Milk Cup with the U-20 team
Collegiate Senior Signings:
Jalil Anibaba D 22 Davis, CA University of North Carolina U.S. U-18, U-20
• 2010 First Team All-ACC
• 2007 WCC Freshman of the Year
• Played for U.S. U-20 squad vs. Haiti on March 28, 2007 in a 2-1 victory
Michael Farfan M 22 San Diego, CA University of North Carolina U.S. U-17
• Member of 2007 U.S. U-17 FIFA World Cup Squad
• Two time NSCAA First Team All-American (2009, 2010)
• 2006 Big West Freshman of the Year
Stephen McCarthy M 22 Colleyville, TX University of North Carolina
• 2010 Second Team All-ACC
• Two-time All-WCC selection while with Santa Clara (2007-08) and an honorable mention selection (2006).
• Helped lead UNC to the 2010 NCAA Men’s College Cup Final Four
AJ Soares D 22 Solana Beach, CA University of California
• M.A.C. Hermann Trophy Semifinalist
• 2010 NSCAA First Team All-American
• 2010 Pac-10 Player of the Year
