On the Record
Here's What They're Saying About DeAndre Yedlin
August 04, 2014
12:30 PM
Seattle Sounders sign DeAndre Yedlin as the team's first Homegrown Player. Exciting player, like a high first-round pick for the Sounders
— Ives Galarcep (@SoccerByIves) January 11, 2013
Due to a knee injury to first-choice right back Adam Johansson, Yedlin made his debut earlier than expected—on March 3, against the Montreal Impact. Despite losing 1-0, Yedlin turned in an impressive performance and was named to the MLS team of the week.
As goalkeeper Michael Gspurning told MLSsoccer.com after the game, “He was absolutely fantastic. He played very calm, won fights, played good passes, had a couple of situations where he went to the offense, and made the crosses. For a 19-year-old, a great game from him. If he stays focused and if he continues to do the work he is putting in every day, he will have a great career.”
Sounders coach Sigi Schmid added, “I thought he played well. For a young man making his debut at home there could have been a lot of pressure, he could have not handled that well, but I thought he handled it well. He played well and he had a good game.”
Gary Bolen, a fan commenting on MLSsoccer.com, wrote, “Yedlin looked good during his preseason matches too, so I wasn't surprised by how well he did last night. Good for him.”
Others, including Juan Montero, reserved judgment: “He had a decent game. Yes, he stood out way more then the rest of the defenders. (which had a terrible game) defense looked bad. I still wouldn't hype him up.”
Kenny Harrouche added this: “As a Montreal fan, very, very impressed with this guy.”
Ten days later, this happened.
DeAndre Yedlin, you had my curiousity. Now you have my attention. #Sounders
— Thomas Floyd (@thomasfloyd10) March 13, 2013
After making it to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals, the Sounders needed three goals to advance after losing the first leg 1-0 to Mexican side Tigres. What better way to start this fight back than by scoring a 30-yard strike? The Sounders won 3-2 on aggregate and were through to a semi-final showdown against Santos.
Always cool to see players redeem themselves in the same game. Yedlin got abused on Tigres' goal, but just scored a screamer. #CCL
— Alexander Abnos (@AnAbnos) March 13, 2013
Yedlin is a player. Out muscled for Tigres goal, but major contributor to Sounders win. 2nd game as a pro. Outstanding confidence & quality.
— Arlo White (@arlowhite) March 13, 2013
Yedlin nailed down his place in the Sounders starting XI and earned a callup to the United States Under-20 national team camp in March 2013.
“Huge potential,” wrote fan Joey Mack on MLSsoccer.com, in response to the call-up. “Wouldn't be surprised to see him at the World Cup in 2014.”
So who's the only Sounder so far to start every MLS game and play in every CCL game? DeAndre Yedlin. Who saw that coming?
— Joshua Mayers (@joshuamayers) April 3, 2013
Yedlin played every minute of every MLS game for Seattle until he received a red card for a scything tackle on Philadelphia Union’s Michael Farfan on May 4, which saw him miss out on his side’s next fixture, against Sporting Kansas City.
Yedlin will learn from his red card,still not sure ref got it right on Neagle's sending off. Experienced guys could well be back for midweek
— Ross Fletcher (@RossFletcher1) May 5, 2013
Back in the side on May 11, in a 4-0 win against San Jose Earthquakes, he was again a mainstay at the back, as Seattle recorded four wins in its next five games.
In June Yedlin made his international debut for the U.S. Under-20s against Portugal, ahead of the Under-20 World Cup.
“There are a number of things he brings to the table, with the No. 1 thing being his experience at this point," Under-20 coach Tab Ramos told MLSsoccer.com on June 19. “Having played a bunch of professional games over the past few months, and having trained in a professional environment where he has to earn his position every day, is certainly great for us."
Despite going winless in Group A at the Under-20 competition, Yedlin featured in all three games—against Spain, France, and Ghana.
“It was an amazing experience,” Yedlin told Soccerwire.com. “It was a good comparison where I’m at compared to other players around the world and kind of where the U.S. is at, even though we didn’t make it out of the group.”
After recovering from a shoulder injury picked up while on international duty, Yedlin was back in Schmid’s Seattle lineup on July 7. Less than two weeks later, against Colorado Rapids, he bagged his first league goal in a 1-1 draw—becoming the youngest Sounders player to score in MLS.
“I've been in a slump a little bit recently. This game definitely gives me confidence— the goal and the performance. But I wish we could have gotten the win,” Yedlin told MLSsoccer.com.
"I thought he struggled a little bit the last time out, but I thought today was better," Schmid said. "It looked more like the DeAndre that was playing for us at the beginning of the year—using his quickness and speed getting in there, making things happen.”
By the time the 2013 season had drawn to a close, Yedlin had racked up 31 domestic appearances with Seattle, plus four in the CONCACAF Champions League. Not bad for his maiden season.
Anyone else starting to wonder if DeAndre Yedlin might be a USMNT right back option sooner rather than later?
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) September 14, 2013
In January 2014, Yedlin followed up his All-Star rookie campaign with a first callup to the U.S. men’s senior national team, for a pre-World Cup training camp.
After making his senior bow—along with fellow debutant Luis Gil—in a friendly against South Korea, U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann told MLSsoccer.com, “I think both youngsters did well in this first introduction to the senior national team. That’s why we gave them also their first cap, their first couple of minutes on the field with the so-called older guys. They have a lot of talent, there’s no doubt about it.
“We need them now to push the envelope with their MLS teams. We need them to understand that there’s more responsibility on their shoulders as a senior national team player.
“We want them to stand out and be leaders. And this is what we’re going to watch now. We’re going to watch their games week in and week out.”
The fans were keeping watch too.
“Yedlin is years light to be a class RB,” typed commenter Hector Perez. “He lacks the defensive part of... and sometime doesn't read the game well. Do not rush this guy, needs room to develop properly.”
Mitch K added: “They will be fixtures in the team next cycle. At least Gil will, I don't know about Yedlin, Cameron is much better than him at this point and going nowhere. The future of the USMNT looks great!”
After consistent games with Seattle and further international minutes against Mexico, Klinsmann named Yedlin to his preliminary 30-man roster for the World Cup on May 12, 2014.
On the Bigsoccer.com forums, the reaction was mixed.
As Cthomer5000 wrote, “He's definitely a huge prospect, but I also think he is not at all ready for the World Cup. He might be the only player I have ever predicted would be/wanted to see in the national team after his first game. He has a very bright future, I just think this WC is too much too soon.”
Mario Kempes added, “He has a lot of potential, and could be the starting right back at the next World Cup. However, at 20, he's just not ready for the big time. He doesn't have enough experience, and hasn't seen much quality wing play in MLS. He will get used and abused by all 3 of our opponents.”
When Klinsmann’s final 23-man squad was announced on May 22, eyebrows were most certainly raised. Landon Donovan, Brad Evans and Michael Parkhurst were out; Julian Green, John Brooks, and DeAndre Yedlin were in.
No Landon Donovan in final USMNT 23 man roster isn't shocking. DeAndre Yedlin inclusion is. Klinsman contract through 2018 played big part
— Dalen Cuff (@DalenCuff) May 22, 2014
“If you really go through it, it’s a very experienced roster,” insisted Klinsmann on May 23. “It’s not a young roster. We have a great mixture of guys and some of them have a learning curve ahead of them, there’s no doubt about it—Green, Yedlin and Brooks—but they are ready for that learning curve, and they might surprise some people out there.”
Klinsmann was right.
When Yedlin made his World Cup debut on June 23 against Portugal, he was a game-changer. With the score level at 1-1, Yedlin came on in the 72nd minute at the Arena Amazonia and played a part in setting up Clint Dempsey’s 81st-minute goal.
As The Guardian’s Graham Parker wrote after the game, “Yedlin was one of the squad selections some commentators thought might be more about 2018 (and yes, the as-yet-unused Julian Green belongs in this category), but what was key about his introduction was that it was not as a young player brought in for fresh legs and a competent body to gain experience in an already determined game. He was thrown in at 1-1, in the belief he could influence the attack.
“The verve with which he did so was Yedlin's own of course, but even those who sneer at Klinsmann’s tactical nous acknowledge that the man knows how to motivate. The young players he has brought through, and even some of the older fringe players in whom he has demonstrated trust, are arriving on the field primed with self-belief.”
Seattle Times reader Random Football Fan had this to say: “He showed damn well. He's as raw as an uncooked steak, but has the kind of speed that makes managers world wide drool. I love the the kid, (best home-grown Sounder EVER! by five miles) but I'm thinking he showed well enough to earn a business-class ticket to greener pastures.”
“I probably could have done a little bit more,” Yedlin told the same newspaper. “But I got a good cross in that led to the second goal. I’m just looking to help out wherever I can with this team. I thought I did OK.”
On June 26, Yedlin got his second taste of World Cup soccer after being brought on as a substitute for Graham Zusi in the 84th minute against Germany.
DeAndre Yedlin is the truth.
— Jason Davis (@davisjsn) June 26, 2014
However, it was in the Round of 16 knockout tie against Belgium, that the World sat up and took notice of the then-20 year old. Even if some fans had initially feared the worst.
Yedlin ain't ready to face Hazard. This could be terrible for USA
— HNH (@Catf1sh) July 1, 2014
On as a sub, in place of the injured Fabian Johnson, Yedlin had an 88-minute (including extra time) chance to show what he could do.
That's not DeAndre Yedlin, that's Cafu in that USA kit
— Luke Aaron Moore (@lukeymoore) July 1, 2014
Yedlin is a little bullet, great to see a full back running forward & back with the same intensity
— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) July 1, 2014
DeAndre Yedlin is coming of age awfully fast.
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) July 1, 2014
So how many teams are putting @yedlinny down on their wish lists?! #Young #Bright #USA
— Taylor Twellman (@TaylorTwellman) July 1, 2014
Yedlin is the most underrated player of this World Cup. Holy shit I'm impressed.
— Grizz (@GrizzTFM) July 1, 2014
Following the U.S.’s gutsy performance, goalkeeper Tim Howard told the Daily Mail, “He’s fearless. He gets forward. He’s strong, he’s fast. (Eden) Hazard is no cakewalk and I thought he handled him really, really well. Obviously, as the team got tired, we opened up, but when you talk about one-on-one, he won those battles.”
As he demonstrated with his performances on Brazilian soil, Yedlin is one for the present and for the future of the U.S. national team.
Young USA star DeAndre Yedlin will sign a contract with Serie A club Roma in 2015. via @DiMarzio
— Matteo Bonetti (@TheCalcioGuy) July 6, 2014
If rumors prove true, he could be plying his trade in Serie A before long. But wherever Yedlin ends up, keep watching. There is a lot more to come from this player.
What did you think of Yedlin's showing in Brazil? Would you like to see him stay in Seattle or move abroad? Share your thoughts below.
Laura Greene is a frequent ASN contributor. Follow her on Twitter