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Jozy Altidore interview:
-Received an invite to IMG Academy at 14 from Juan Carlos Muchia (sp?) after the Dallas Cup. Only 40 players went. Admits you had to “get lucky” to get noticed.
-You had 9 weeks to prove yourself at IMG or else you were sent home & replaced.
-Received an invite to IMG Academy at 14 from Juan Carlos Muchia (sp?) after the Dallas Cup. Only 40 players went. Admits you had to “get lucky” to get noticed.
-You had 9 weeks to prove yourself at IMG or else you were sent home & replaced.
-Thinks much more could’ve been done via their scouting for invites to IMG.
-Says he saw homesick players who were more talented than him get cut. Many regional centers would’ve gone a long way to eliminate that as opposed to one national center.
-Says he saw homesick players who were more talented than him get cut. Many regional centers would’ve gone a long way to eliminate that as opposed to one national center.
-Had no real say in his transfer to Europe. All he heard from MLS was “you’re going to the highest bidder”. Him & his agent “felt rushed” to agree w/ Villarreal at 18. Didn’t know he had the power to choose. Says they were not his 1st choice.
-Lived in a hotel in Spain. Adjusting to dialect/lifestyle was hard. Watched Dragonball Z every day after training until his parents called. Then watched more DBZ.
-His loan to Xerez was doomed before he went. They didn’t want him & he got injured on the 2nd day of training.
-His loan to Xerez was doomed before he went. They didn’t want him & he got injured on the 2nd day of training.
-Says starting in the PL as a teenager was tough. Chose a loan to Hull over Ajax b/c of familiarity of the PL from TV.
-Wasn’t used to the ball being in the air so much. Had 4 assists + 3 converted penalties earned (so 7 assists
).
-Wasn’t used to the ball being in the air so much. Had 4 assists + 3 converted penalties earned (so 7 assists
).
-Transfer to AZ was perfect timing. Loved the fluid movement of the tactics. Training twice a day (vs. once a day) kept him sharp.
-Loved his time at Sunderland. Loved the fans & is open to going back.
-Had setbacks in his personal life while at Sunderland. “Wasn’t able to deal” with personal issues & wishes he knew then what he knows now. Let it affect him negatively daily & that was a mistake.
-Had setbacks in his personal life while at Sunderland. “Wasn’t able to deal” with personal issues & wishes he knew then what he knows now. Let it affect him negatively daily & that was a mistake.
-MB was huge to his move to TFC. Vanney flew to London to meet him. Liked the vision. Wanted to win the CCL. Giovinco coming to TFC “sold” him.
-Really excited for the future of the USMNT. Has no issues if he’s played his last MNT match as he has given it everything. Treats every call up as an honor.
-Is a big fan of the next generation of US players in Europe and MLS.
-Is a big fan of the next generation of US players in Europe and MLS.
