Wizards Midfielder Jack Jewsbury Called to U.S. National Team Training Camp
Published on December 30, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Sporting Kansas City News Release
(December 30, 2008) - Kansas City Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury was named Tuesday by United States National Team Head Coach Bob Bradley to his first-ever full national team camp. Jewsbury is one of 25 players, based mostly in MLS, that will train ahead of a friendly against Sweden on Jan. 24, 2009 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. The match will be shown live on Fox Soccer Channel and Galavision at 3:30 p.m. CT. Players report Jan. 4, and Jewsbury will re-join the Wizards for preseason training after camp concludes Jan. 25.
"It's quite an honor to be called in by your national team," Jewsbury said. "As a player, you always strive to reach that level. I'm excited to show the U.S. coaches what I can do and represent the Kansas City Wizards well."
Jewsbury, 27, experienced a breakout year in 2008, setting new career highs in games played (29), games started (29), minutes played (2,548) and assists (7). He was a vital part of the Wizards plans from the opening day, missing his only match of the year due to a yellow-card accumulation suspension late in the season. Jewsbury started the season on the right wing before playing for a period of time at right back. Once he moved into a central holding midfield role, Kansas City went on a 5-1-1 tear to close the regular season and qualify for the playoffs. Jewsbury then started both playoff matches in the center of the park as the eventual MLS Cup Champion Columbus Crew eliminated the Wizards from the postseason. Kansas City signed Jewsbury to a contract extension late in the 2008 season. Per League and club policy, financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Kansas City drafted Jewsbury in the 5th round (43rd overall) of the 2003 MLS SuperDraft out of St. Louis University. He has played in 138 games (97 starts) for the Wizards since 2003, scoring 12 goals and adding 15 assists. He currently ranks 9th on Kansas City's all-time games played list. He is one of nine players on the U.S. roster without a Career Appearance (CAP). Jewsbury will look to impress Bradley and the rest of the coaching staff ahead of a busy international schedule in 2009.
After the Sweden match, the U.S. will begin the final round of qualifying for the 2010 FIFA World Cup when they host regional rivals Mexico on Feb. 11 at Columbus Crew Stadium. In addition to the ten matches in the final round hexagonal, the U.S. will compete in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in June, having been drawn into Group B along with five-time World Cup winners Brazil, current World Champion Italy, and Egypt. Just days after the tournament, the U.S. will begin its defense of the CONCACAF Gold Cup title.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): John Busch (Chicago Fire), Will Hesmer (Columbus Crew), Troy Perkins (Valerenga IF), Matt Pickens (out of contract)
DEFENDERS (8): Jonathan Bornstein (Chivas USA), Danny Califf (FC Midtjylland), Sean Franklin (Los Angeles Galaxy), Cory Gibbs (Colorado Rapids), Clarence Goodson (IK Start), Chad Marshall (Columbus Crew), Chris Wingert (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), Brian Carroll (Columbus Crew), Ricardo Clark (Houston Dynamo), Eddie Gaven (Columbus Crew), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Jack Jewsbury (Kansas City Wizards), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), John Thorrington (Chicago Fire)
FORWARDS (4): Brian Ching (Houston Dynamo), Kenny Cooper (FC Dallas), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Chris Rolfe (Chicago Fire)
Major League Soccer Stories from December 30, 2008
- Kansas City Wizards Weekly Update - Sporting Kansas City
- Three Fire Players Called Into U.S. National Men's Team - Chicago Fire FC
- Wizards Midfielder Jack Jewsbury Called to U.S. National Team Training Camp - Sporting Kansas City
- Kenny Cooper Called in to U.S. National Team Camp - FC Dallas
- Rapids Defender Cory Gibbs Called Into U.S. National Team Training Camp - Colorado Rapids
- Real Salt Lake DF Chris Wingert Called into U.S. Men's National Team Camp - Real Salt Lake
- Revolution's Castro called up to Honduras National Team - New England Revolution
- Wynne Off To U.S. Camp in California - Toronto FC
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