1815_isi_rubinrubio_usmntkm111814127 Kieran McManus/isiphotos.com
On the Record

Here's What People Are Saying About Rubio Rubin

The 18-year-old won't be joining the U.S. U-20 national team in Jamaica for World Cup qualifying this month. Why not? Because he's just too darn valuable. Laura Greene has more on the Oregon native.
BY Laura Greene Posted
January 08, 2015
5:47 PM
IN THE SPACE of just six months, Rubio Rubin has inked his first professional contract with FC Utrecht, represented the United States men’s senior team, and started to impress in the Eredivisie.

There has been little watching from the sidelines at the Stadion Galgenwaard, where the 18-year-old has gone straight into manager Rob Alflen’s plans—chalking up 14 appearances in the Dutch top flight, scoring twice, and adding six assists so far.

The hype that surrounds the young forward suggests that he is going to be the Next Big Thing. Here, we examine why and discuss what people have been saying about Rubin.

The youngster from Beaverton, Oregon, who cites Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez as one of his footballing idols, came up through the Portland Timbers youth team before signing for Utrecht on his 18th birthday in March 2014. The contract, which was formally registered by Utrecht in July, currently runs until 2018.

Of Guatemalan and Mexican heritage, Rubin has represented the United States at U-17, U-18, U-20, and U-23 levels.

A former member of the U-17 residency program in Florida, Rubin spoke to USSoccer.com on October 31, 2012.

The program has developed me so much. There is competitiveness in every tackle and every inch and that makes a difference. You’re going against top players every single day and you can’t take a rest. If I had a bad week in the Academy, it wouldn’t be that bad. If I have a bad week here, there are people that are going to catch you. The games are intense and are always close. We’re playing at a high level. The competition with everything and our fitness work and technical work is making me better. The coaches do a good job of pushing me to get better every day.

All of the player’s hard work did not go unnoticed and, on November 19, 2012, Rubin was named Young Athlete of the Year, with U.S. Soccer reporting that, “His commitment, one-on-one skills, willingness to defend, and positive approach to the game help him stand out as a key player.”

Rubin won more plaudits when he was named Man of the Match just 10 days after receiving the U.S. Soccer award, when the U.S. U-17s drew 4-4 with Brazil in the Nike International Friendlies on November 28.

In April 2013, following the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Championship, head coach Richie Williams said, “Rubio has been great for us and he continues to get better.” Meanwhile, news started to emerge that Rubin was to go on trial with Utrecht.

Throughout 2013, Rubin continued to turn out for the United States at various youth levels, registering performances against France—where he wore the captain’s armband and scored in a 2-2 draw—the Czech Republic, Poland, Norway and Sweden in international friendlies. He was also named MVP at the U-18 Lisbon tournament in Portugal. Toward the end of the year, he was called up by head coach Tab Ramos for an U-20 camp in Italy.

In March 2014, when Rubin signed his first contract in Holland, the club’s head scout, Edwin de Kruijff, commented: “Rubio is one of the biggest talents from the United States.”

“FC Utrecht is a great club,” Rubin told the Dutch press. “The people and ambitions of FC Utrecht appeal to me. There was interest from numerous clubs from Europe, but my choice for FC Utrecht is a very deliberate. I hope as soon as possible to be in the Galgenwaard Stadium in front of the fanatical crowds, playing in the Eredivisie.”

In April 2014, Rubin impressed yet again for the U.S.—this time for the U-20s at the Dallas Cup. When asked whose stock had risen most at the tournament, Ramos told Brian Sciaretta:

“There were a couple. But I would have to start with Rubio Rubin because, don’t forget, Rubio is one year younger. I, of course, knew that Rubio was a great player but I didn’t know he would be able to adjust this way to the older age group because a lot of those guys normally can’t. One year is a big difference in terms of the physicality of the game. He has not only adapted, he has become certainly one of the best players and one that we definitely want to have on board.”

Elsewhere, Rubin spoke to Goal.com about his relationship with Ramos: “Tab’s a great coach. Every day he pushes us to push forward and to get in the attack and find goals and look for goals. We don’t settle for one goal, we don’t settle for two, we keep going, we keep pushing. I really like the attacking momentum. You know, it’s our first tournament. We’re looking forward to the future and working with Tab.”

Rubin’s fledgling Utrecht career hit a minor speed bump in late July, when he broke his nose and suffered concussion in a pre-season friendly against Dundee United. “He has to recover, so he won't play for a while," Utrecht press officer Martin Versteeg told MLSsoccer.com. "He will return to training next week, but without contact.”

With striker Ruud Boymans sidelined through injury, Rubin was soon to make his professional debut for the club. He marked the occasion with an assist for Jens Toornstra’s opener, a full 90 minutes, and a 2-1 win against Willem II on August 17, 2014.

“I knew with the injuries that my opportunity was going to come," Rubin told MLSsoccer.com afterward. "The toughest part is the physicality of the players at the top level, that's for sure. It's something I have to get used to.”

When asked how he rated his performance by Utrecht’s official club website, Rubin said: “Of course there is room for improvement. I’m a striker, I’m supposed to score goals. I didn’t do that against Willem II. But the rush of playing in Stadium Galgenwaard was huge. It was right after the game that I took the time to actually enjoy the atmosphere. We were giving each other high fives in the center circle and in the meanwhile, I was looking around, absorbing everything.

All those fans… Wow… ‘This is it. This is pretty amazing’, is what I thought. Last season, when I was on trial at FC Utrecht, I watched their games from the stands. I said to myself that one day, I want to be on that pitch rather than in the stands. Now I was there!”

Just two weeks after making his bow in the Eredivisie, Rubin received his first call up for the U.S. men’s senior team.

“After collecting numerous caps on international youth level, receiving a call up for the U.S. national team is quite a milestone for Rubio," De Kruijff said. "Needless to say, we are very proud. He worked hard ever since he came here and is eager to keep improving.”

On the domestic front, Rubin was not in Alflen’s squad for Utrecht’s following game against Feyenoord but he was back in the starting XI on August 30 for an away trip to Heerenveen. Since then, the teen has played in 12 out of 13 matches, registering five assists and two goals along the way.

So integral was he becoming to his side that on September 15, 2014, it was announced that Utrecht would not release Rubin for a U-20 training camp in Argentina. Quoted via Yanks Abroad, Ramos said: “Rubio is one of the best young players we have in the entire program, just because there are very few things he can't do, he pretty much does everything right and sometimes the U-20 national team becomes a little bit secondary. The important thing for us, from a program standpoint, is that Rubio has a good pathway to our first team down the road.”

Rubin was back on international duty in October, representing the U.S. U-23 side in friendlies against Brazil.

Back in the Eredivisie, Utrecht’s manager paid tribute to the impact his new arrival was making. In an interview published on the club’s official website on October 18, he said: “Rubio is a typical American striker. And with that I mean that he moves around the field a lot, and covers big distances every single game. He’s way different then, for example, Dutchman Ruud Boymans, one of our other strikers.

“It is incredible what Rubio, being just 18 years old, already shows on the pitch and so is the progress he makes. Rubio is a man on a mission. He walks around like he is already 25 years old; very impressive.”

It wasn’t long before Rubin was involved with the U.S. senior team, getting the nod from Jurgen Klinsmann to play in a friendly against Colombia at Fulham’s Craven Cottage on November 14.

London eye today with the team #usmnt #goodtimes

A photo posted by Rubio Rubin (@rubiorubin) on

Partnered alongside Jozy Altidore, Rubin saw 67 minutes against a Los Cafeteros side featuring the likes of World Cup stars James Rodriguez and Juan Cuadrado. The newcomer helped to win the penalty that Altidore converted as the opening goal in a 2-1 defeat for the U.S.

Klinsmann discussed Rubin in his post-match press conference, “He just confirmed on the field what he already showed in training sessions. He seems to have a very instinctive understanding with Jozy.”

"I thought it was great for him, for an 18-year-old to make his first start against the No. 3 side in the world," Altidore said afterward. "I thought he did more than OK. It's a great step for him, now he knows what's expected of him at this level, what it takes.

"I'm always talking to Rubio, when I'm in England I send him messages because he has a talent, you can see that. I'm happy for him. He works really hard and he has that knack of being in the right place in the right time. And that helps me."

A photo posted by Rubio Rubin (@rubiorubin) on

Rubin followed up his U.S. debut with another run-out against Ireland on November 18, where he was subbed on for Mix Diskerud in the 77th minute.

On November 29, Rubin bagged his first professional goal, scored in a 5-1 win against NAC Breda.

Two weeks later, his next goal came against reigning Eredivisie champions and Dutch giants, Ajax. Rubin’s strike was his side’s only goal in a 3-1 defeat at the Amsterdam Arena.

“Rubio Rubin is a very talented young player coming through,” Klinsmann said in January. “We want to see younger players taking their game to another level. We want to see growth. We want to see those youngsters becoming confident and strong and giving us coaches alternatives to the already established players. I think there’s talent coming through, whether it’s on U.S. soil or coming through other systems. That’s going to be an exciting topic.”

Watching the rise of Rubin and other youth-team players rise is certainly going to be exciting but what are your thoughts on the 18-year-old’s future with the U.S? Is he really the next big thing or already the subject of too much hype? Let us know below.

Laura Greene is a frequent ASN contributor. Please follow her on Twitter.

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