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Mix Diskerud
- DOB October 2, 1990
- Age 22
- Place of birth Oslo, Norway
- POSITION Midfielder
- HEIGHT 6'0"
- WEIGHT 150
- U.S. CAPS 2
- CLUB Rosenborg
- TWITTER @mixdiskerud (8.15K followers)
- ASN 100 Rank 38
- Previous ASN 100 Rank 32
- Youth Experience U-20, U-23
Mikkel “Mix” Diskerud has a soft demeanor, a sweet, constantly smiling face, and an on-field vision that makes him a threat whenever he has the ball. The midfielder, the son of an American mother and a Norwegian father, spent his youth in his dad's home country and credits another sport for developing his field sense: basketball. "Playing point guard gave me an advantage to read plays early on the soccer field as a center midfielder. It helped me a lot," he told ESPN.
Diskerud suited up for the U.S. U-20 team against Northern Ireland in 2008, but also played for Norway's youth sides that year. The Rosenborg BK player might never have returned to the Stars and Stripes were it not for a fortuitous encounter with the American team. "[Then U-20 coach Thomas Rongen and I] met at the Chivas Tournament in Mexico. The U.S. team wanted to play Stabæk’s juniors for a friendly after we exited the tourney. Rongen spotted me, came over, and asked for my nationality as I was about to take a corner kick for Stabæk against the USA. It was the weirdest corner preparation I have had. We didn't score on that corner. Maybe he did," he told Goal.com.
Diskerud quickly rose through the American system, earning a start in the 2009 U-20 World Cup and his first full national team cap in South Africa on November 17, 2010. (Also getting his first senior team appearance that day: Juan Agudelo.) Diskerud also started on the U-23 team that failed to qualify for the 2012 World Cup, showing off creativity and a growing understanding with the midfielders and forwards on that team.
The Yanks have good depth in the center of the field right now, so Diskerud—currently at Rosenborg BK—often finds himself on the outside looking in. But after scoring a last-gasp equalizer as a sub against Russia in November, perhaps his days on the edge of the national team picture are coming to a close, especially if the slight midfielder continues to improve in Europe.—NOAH DAVIS
Noteworthy Reads
Norwegian-American Chooses Sides (ESPN.com)Give & Go: US U-20 Mikkel "Mix" Diskerud (Goal.com)
Mikkel Diskerud Gets Shot at U.S. Natioanal Team (ESPN.com)
