Juan Agudelo
The youngest player ever to score for the U.S. national team wants to improve on that early success.
- Juan Agudelo
- Eric Alexander
- Jozy Altidore
- Kyle Beckerman
- Tony Beltran
- Austin Berry
- Matt Besler
- Nat Borchers
- Terrence Boyd
- Will Bruin
- Edson Buddle
- Teal Bunbury
- Geoff Cameron
- Edgar Castillo
- Ricardo Clark
- Steve Clark
- Bobby Convey
- Kenny Cooper
- Joe Corona
- Sam Cronin
- Cody Cropper
- Danny Cruz
- Daniel Cuevas
- Charlie Davies
- Brad Davis
- Nick DeLeon
- Jay DeMerit
- Maurice Edu
- Michael Farfan
- Andrew Farrell
- Benny Feilhaber
- Greg Garza
- Eddie Gaven
- Luis Gil
- Alan Gordon
- Andy Gruenebaum
- Bill Hamid
- Matt Hedges
- Clint Irwin
- George John
- Sean Johnson
- Jermaine Jones
- Benji Joya
- Dan Kennedy
- Perry Kitchen
- Jeff Larentowicz
- Steven Lenhart
- Chad Marshall
- Jack McBean
- Dax McCarty
- Jack McInerney
- Matt Miazga
- Justin Morrow
- Patrick Mullins
- Lee Nguyen
- Conor O'Brien
- Amobi Okugo
- Michael Parkhurst
- Heath Pearce
- Chris Pontius
- Dillon Powers
- Christian Ramirez
- Nick Rimando
- Chris Rolfe
- Kelyn Rowe
- Omar Salgado
- C.J. Sapong
- Brek Shea
- Harry Shipp
- Tommy Thompson
- Wil Trapp
- Andrew Wenger
- Danny Williams
- Sheanon Williams
- Chris Wondolowski
- Graham Zusi
November 05, 2016
11:30 AM
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Rick Yeatts/isiphotos.com
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF SOCCER?
Kicking a little ball around my garage. One of the soft balls that you get at Walmart, not one of the hard ones.
WHO WAS YOUR SOCCER HERO GROWING UP?
Robinho. I admired the way he played. He looked like he was having so much fun playing. He was so smooth.
DESCRIBE YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE SUITING UP FOR THE U.S.
Pretty unbelievable. I got into a game that I didn't think I was going to play in, and then I helped the team win. It was pretty...I don't know the word, but it was a good feeling.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST ADMIRE IN A SOCCER PLAYER?
Their technique on the ball and their first touch.
WHAT IS THE QUALITY YOU MOST DISLIKE IN AN OPPONENT?
Probably aggressive, angry fighting, and meanness.
WHAT IS THE KEY TO YOUR SOCCER SUCCESS?
Having the passion and love for the game. This doesn't feel like a job. I do it because it's what I was born to do.
WHAT IS ONE SOCCER SKILL YOU WANT TO IMPROVE?
Probably the tactical side. I want to think more like a veteran, you know?
WHO HAS HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON YOUR DEVELOPMENT?
As a coach, probably Coach [Richie] Williams [on the New York Red Bulls]. I had him when I was younger, and he actually got the best out of me. I used to be lazy when I was young. Player-wise, Juan Pablo Angel. He's been helping me a lot.
WHO IS YOUR CLOSEST FRIEND IN THE GAME?
Sebastian Lletget. He plays for West Ham, but we went through the youth system together.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER ACHIEVEMENT?
Being the youngest player ever to score for the men's national team.
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST SOCCER DISAPPOINTMENT?
Injuries. And the Olympics. Getting injured while trying to qualify.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU LEARNED FROM THE GAME?
That every day you have to be professional and that you can't take days off.
WHO ARE THE MOST TALENTED TEAMMATES YOU HAVE PLAYED ALONGSIDE?
Thierry Henry and Rafael Marquez. It was awesome to see how they presented themselves. They've been at a high level, and it was good to see the way that they play. They brought over some European swag.
WHO ARE THE TOUGHEST OPPONENTS YOU HAVE LINED UP AGAINST?
[Jamison] Olave. He reminds me of the Hulk. You can't move that guy. I get mad because either you're big and you're slow, or you're fast and you're small, but he's big and fast. It wasn't fair.
IF YOU WEREN'T A PROFESSIONAL SOCCER PLAYER, WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
Playing another sport, maybe tennis. I really like tennis. Maybe being a dentist. My mother would help me with that. She's a dentist.
WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE DEFINITION OF SUCCESS IN THE GAME?
Being the best that I can be. Looking back and saying I gave it my all. Hopefully the teams that I've played for and the trophies that I've won are good. They are big tournaments that I've won and big teams that I've played for.
Read His ASN Profile