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name: Freddy Adu
position: M height: 5-8 weight:145 Birthdate: June 02, 1989 Hometown: Potomac, MD last club: D.C. United (MLS) |
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| Regular Season Stats | full bio l year-by-year stats |
| year | team | gp | gs | min | g | a | sht | sog | fc | fs | c | ej |
| 2007 | Real Salt Lake | 11 | 10 | 899 | 1 | 2 | 24 | 12 | 11 | 25 | 1 | 0 |
| Career | 98 | 69 | 6,347 | 12 | 19 | 149 | 69 | 99 | 183 | 9 | 0 | |
Acquired
RSL: Acquired in a trade with D.C. United along with GK Nick Rimando on 12/11/06 in exchange for GK Jay Nolly, a major allocation, and future considerationsDC: Selected in the first round (1st overall) of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft on 1/16/04
To say that Freddy Adu's first three seasons in Major League Soccer were played under a microscope might be the understatement of the century. Perhaps the most heavily watched - and scrutinized - player in the League's first 11 seasons, it seemed every move made by the youngest player to take the field in a major American sports league in over a century was on display and discussed by all. Adu seemed to handle the added pressure quite well for a teenager, as the young midfielder's glimpses of brilliance as a member of D.C. United were able to shine through more and more as he progressed from a 14-year-old rookie in 2004 to a legitimate MLS All-Star selection in 2006, when he tallied eight assists on a talent-rich United squad. During his first three seasons in the nation's capital, Adu was featured primarily on the left and right flanks under then-United coach Peter Nowak, and while his development from year-to-year was noticeable, two things became clear - Adu yearned to once again utilize his talent in a more free, playmaking role he had been accustomed to, and that change was not going to come as a member of D.C. United.
Since coming to the United States at the age of eight with his family from his native Ghana, Adu had truly been away from his family only once, when he joined the U.S. Under-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. from 2002-04 - a program then under the direction of John Ellinger. The two would be reunited once again on December 11, 2006, when Real Salt Lake pulled off the unthinkable, trading for Adu in a move that made headlines around the globe. The unparalleled attention and scrutiny will continue to follow Adu in 2007, as he'll prepare for his first season under Ellinger in Salt Lake City while also being looked upon to captain a U.S. Under-20 National Team squad hoping to make its mark on the global stage in this summer's FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. With 87 MLS appearances already under his belt at the ripe old age of 17, a confident and relaxed Adu appears ready for a fresh start to a professional career that still has limitless potential despite reports to the contrary. While over-expectations have been the norm for Adu since the start, as a main cog in an RSL attack brimming with talent the stage seems set for 2007 to be the breakout season everybody - but most importantly, Adu - has been waiting for.
MLS Experience
2006: Adu continued his rapid development with D.C. United, as he appeared in all 32 matches (29 starts) for the club Was a key member of MLS's most proficient offense, logging two goals and eight assists His eight assists placed third on the squad, placing behind only League MVP Christian Gomez (11) and MLS All-Time Best XI striker Jamie Moreno (10) in the category Book-ended the regular season with the third and fourth multi-assist games of his career, tallying a pair of helpers on 4/02 vs. NY (2-2 T) and 10/15 vs. CHI (2-3 L) His stunning free-kick goal against RSL on 9/09 earned him his third career Sierra Mist MLS Goal of the Week award For his stellar play during the first half of the season, Adu was named to the Sierra Mist MLS All-Star Team for a second time.2005: Scored four goals and dished out six helpers in 25 games (16 starts) while spending time at both midfielder and forward Missed considerable time in the middle of the season due to his appointment to the U.S. U-20 National Team for the FIFA Youth World Championships in the Netherlands Tied for the team lead (Christian Gomez) with three game-winning goals while also notching two game-winning assists Was twice named the Honda MLS Player of the Week - first, in Week 6, when he notched a goal and tallied two assists in D.C.'s 3-1 win over CLB (5/07), and second, in Week 28, when he had a goal and an assist in the team's 3-1 win at RSL (10/05) His Week 6 Player of the Week honor made him the youngest player to ever win the award and the first teenager to do so since 2001.
2004: Scored five goals and three assists during a much-anticipated rookie campaign with D.C. United As a rookie, was one of two DC players to see time in every match during the 2004 campaign Became the youngest player ever to appear in Major League Soccer on 4/03 (14 years, 306 days) and became the youngest player ever to score a goal in League play on 4/17 (14 years, 320 days) Named a Commissioner's Pick to the 2004 Sierra Mist All-Star Game Scored his first career game-winning goal by providing the sole tally in a 1-0 victory on 10/02 at MET After signing a multi-year deal with MLS on 11/18/03, was selected by D.C United as the first overall pick of the 2004 MLS SuperDraft on 1/16.
International
2007: Expected to make his third appearance for the United States in a FIFA U-20 World Cup this summer in Canada Captained the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team for all three contests during Group A play of the CONCACAF Final Round Qualifying Tournament in Panama in January, playing all 270 minutes in helping the Stars-and-Stripes garner a 2-0-1 record and first-place finish Figured in three of the USA's goals in a 5-0 trouncing of host Panama on 1/21, scoring twice and adding an assist in the decisive contest in Group A play.2006: Became the youngest ever player for the U.S. Men's National Team on 1/22 with a substitute appearance against Canada Also joined the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team for its friendly against Haiti on 10/11.
2005: Made four appearances for the U.S. U-20s at the FIFA World Youth Championships in the Netherlands, helping the team out of pool play and into the Round of 16 In all, Adu made nine appearances (seven starts) and contributed three goals and an assist across all competitions in 2005.
2004: Scored three goals and added two assists across nine appearances (eight starts) for the U.S. U-20 National Team Scored a goal in back-to-back friendlies in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. on 11/19 vs. Honduras (2-0 W) and 11/21 vs. Mexico (2-1 W).
2003: Helped the U.S. Under-17s qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Youth Championships with a goal and an assist in a pair of 3-0 wins over Jamaica and Guatemala in CONCACAF Region Qualifying Opened the World Youth Championships in Finland with a breakout performance on 8/14, scoring a hat trick in the USA's 6-1 win over South Korea Scored the game-winning goal on 8/17 in the 89th minute of a 2-1 victory over Sierra Leone that vaulted the U.S. squad into the tournament's Quarterfinals Went the full 90 minutes on 8/24 vs. Brazil in a 3-0 Quarterfinal loss to the eventual tournament champions Was called up to the U.S. U-20 MNT as a 14-year-old and took part in the FIFA World Youth Championships in the United Arab Emirates across November and December Helped the USA to a fifth-place finish in the tournament, appearing in four games (three starts) Made tournament debut on 12/01 as a 73rd minute substitute in a 3-1 defeat vs. Germany Made first start in tournament on 12/04 vs. Korea and played 70 minutes in helping the U.S. to a 2-0 victory that clinched a first-place finish in Group F and a spot in the Round of 16 Started in the USA's 2-0 Round of 16 victory over the Ivory Coast on 12/08 Made third consecutive start on 12/12 vs. Argentina in a heart-breaking 2-1 Quarterfinal defeat that led to the USA's fifth-place finish.
2002: Joined the U.S. U-17 Residency Program at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. - under the direction of current RSL Head Coach John Ellinger - in January Finished second on the team in scoring in 2002 as a 13-year-old, netting 22 goals.
Personal
Hobbies: Golfing, Play Video Games Most Memorable Moment: Going pro at age 14 Favorite Music: Rap Favorite Movie: Gladiator Favorite TV Show: Family Guy Favorite athletes outside of soccer: Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan Greatest Accomplishments: Turning pro Causes/Charities: Hemophilia of America, America Scores
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