The One-Sentence Guide to Every Player in USMNT January Camp
Jurgen Klinsmann has announced the 28 players called up to U.S. Men’s National Team January camp, which runs from Jan. 12 to Feb. 8 and includes games against Chile (Jan. 28) and Panama (Feb. 8).
“The prize in 2015 for the senior National Team is the Gold Cup, and this camp will give a lot of our players a chance to kick start their preparations for an important year,” Klinsmann says in the U.S. Soccer release. “We also get an opportunity to introduce the next wave of young players into the program, and in particular work with many of our Olympic-age guys as they build toward qualifying for the 2016 Olympics in Rio.”
Some of the 28 names will be unfamiliar even to die-hard USMNT fans, so we’ve taken the liberty of describing each of the 28 players in one sentence.
Goalkeepers
Alex Bono (unattached) 20 years old
Soon-to-be MLS keeper with exceptional college stats; 2014 Hermann trophy finalist.
Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire) 25
Big keeper with exceptional reach and reflexes; second most senior keeper on roster.
Jon Kempin (Sporting Kansas City) 20
Not KC’s starting keeper, but won MLS Save of the Week for stopping a penalty kick on his debut and was 2014 Homegrown Game MVP.
Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake) 35
Veteran keeper who is short but sweet and good with his feet.
Defenders
Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City) 27
Reads the game like a book, but left his reading glasses in Brazil.
Steve Birnbaum (D.C. United) 23
Rookie center-back who plays like a veteran
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