Five Talented Prospects To Represent Chicago Fire At "Final Event" Of Sueño MLS 2010
Published on April 26, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
CHICAGO (Monday, April 26, 2010) - Major League Soccer and the Chicago Fire announced today the names of the five talented prospects that will represent the team in Los Angeles at the "Final Event" of Sueño MLS 2010 - built by The Home Depot, the nationally-televised player search showcased on "República Deportiva," the popular Univision weekly Spanish-language sports show that chronicles the tryouts in a "reality show within a show" format.
The five Chicago-area standouts are:
Name Position Age Hometown
Oscar Barraza Right Midfielder 16 Elgin, IL
Juan Celleri Forward 15 Chicago, IL
Vicente Jaramillo Forward 16 Detroit, MI
Erick Jimenez Left Back 15 Chicago, IL
Miguel Moncada Forward 18 Jackson, TN
The five players, whose personal stories were featured on "República Deportiva" this past Sunday, fought their way past more than 400 competitors in an open tryout to become one of ten local finalists, and endured a week of training with the Chicago Fire's Youth Academy.
Entering its fourth year, Sueño MLS 2010 - built by The Home Depot, included three local tryouts in Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles (LA Galaxy) during the first three weeks of April 2010. Next weekend "República Deportiva" will unveil the final five finalists from the LA Galaxy tryouts.
Ultimately, five standouts from each city (15 players in total) will receive invitations to an exciting five-day "Final Event" in Los Angeles. The finals will include training sessions, scrimmages, guest celebrity scouts, and an opportunity to meet some of the League's biggest stars. The Sueño MLS champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 9, on "República Deportiva."
MLS sponsors participating in Sueño MLS 2010 - Built by The Home Depot, include The Home Depot, Volkswagen and Degree Men.
ABOUT THE CHICAGO FINALISTS:
Oscar Barraza, midfielder, 16 - Elgin, IL Oscar made it to the second day of Chicago tryouts at Sueño MLS last year before being cut. The 16-year old Mexican-American from Elgin, IL (40 minutes north of Chicago) came back stronger and faster in 2010, impressing the scouts both technically and physically. Coaches remarked how impressed they were with the progress he had made in just one year. A junior at Glenbard East High School where he plays varsity soccer, Oscar names Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Kaka as his favorite player.
Juan Celleri, forward, 15 - Chicago, IL Originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador, Juan is a talented forward who can contribute in the flanks with his crosses and very precise first touch. Despite being of small stature, he is a player who knows how to use his body in a smart way. Juan is a freshman at Lane Tech and lists Landon Donovan as his favorite MLS player.
Vicente Jaramillo, forward, 16 - Detroit, MI Vicente and his father left Detroit at 2 a.m. and drove four and a half hours through the night to participate in the Sueño MLS Chicago tryouts "to make my dreams come true". The effort paid off as he was identified by scouts as a top player within the first hour of action. Born in Laredo, Mexico, he is captain of the varsity soccer team at Western International High School despite only being a sophomore. As a forward he scored 10 goals last season. He lists Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo, and Seattle Sounder's Swedish forward Freddie Ljungberg as his favorite players.
Erick Jimenez, defender, 15 - Chicago, IL Erick was considered by the scouts as one of the most exciting defenders at the Sueño MLS Chicago tryouts. Erick anchored the defenses he played with during his trials, and regularly contributed in the attack. A sophomore at Nicholas Senn High School, this young Mexican-American player is the nephew of Luis Enrique Fernandez, who played for Puebla FC in the Mexican league in the 70's and 80's, and helped lead the team to its first professional title in 1982 by scoring the winning penalty kick in an overtime shootout. He lists Mexican defender Jonny Magallon and Chicago Fire Colombian defender Wilman Conde as his favorite players.
Miguel Moncada, forward, 18 - Jackson, TN It did not take long for the Chicago Fire youth scouts to know they had someone special on their hands. The Honduran-American scored five goals and three assists in less than an hour of playing time to secure his place in the finals. Goals have always come naturally to Miguel, who has scored more than 80 goals in only two and a half seasons playing for Jackson Central-Merry High School, where he is a junior. Miguel and his friend Julio drove eight hours to make the tryouts in Chicago, and camped out in their car between trial dates. His favorite player is Barcelona's Argentine forward Lionel Messi, and his favorite MLS player is Chivas USA forward Sacha Kljestan.
Major League Soccer Stories from April 26, 2010
- Earthquakes Weekly Update - San Jose Earthquakes
- Fire Chase Third Consecutive Victory Against Chivas USA - Chicago Fire FC
- Sounders FC News And Notes - Seattle Sounders FC
- Cameron will miss season with torn PCL - Houston Dynamo FC
- D.C. United Academy Excels In Mid-Week And Weekend Action - D.C. United
- Toronto FC Midfielder Dwayne De Rosario Named MLS Player Of The Week - MLS
- Kansas City Wizards Weekly - Sporting Kansas City
- Chicago Fire Juniors Launch CFJ-Florida - Chicago Fire FC
- De Rosario Named MLS Player Of The Week - Toronto FC
- New York Red Bulls Weekly Update - Red Bull New York
- Five Talented Prospects To Represent Chicago Fire At "Final Event" Of Sueño MLS 2010 - MLS
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