Major League Soccer today announced the itinerary and roster of players that will travel to the Netherlands for this year’s Generation adidas tour. The 18 emerging stars, including Crew midfielders Dilly Duka and Tony Tchani, represent 12 different MLS clubs. They will train at the world-renowned Ajax Academy in Amsterdam and compete in friendly matches against the Ajax Reserves and Dutch second-division clubs FC Volendam and Almere City FC.
The tour itinerary and roster are below. Sporting Kansas City manager Peter Vermes and his staff will coach the Generation adidas team during the tour.
“This annual offseason tour is invaluable for young players, and we are excited to see this talented group come together in the Netherlands,” MLS Executive Vice President Todd Durbin said. “Our players’ development is enhanced by their exposure to legendary clubs like Ajax and the opportunity to compete against their peers in other countries.”
The tour is part of the ongoing commitment that adidas has made to help advance soccer in the United States and Canada through MLS. Players who join MLS through the Generation adidas program are provided unique opportunities to hone their skills, develop as professionals, and receive educational grants. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget.
“The Generation adidas tour gives some of the top young MLS players the chance to train at high-profile facilities, compete internationally and gain valuable professional experience both on and off the field,” said Antonio Zea, director of soccer for adidas. “This year’s trip to AFC Ajax is the perfect platform for our future MLS stars to further develop their game and showcase their talent on an international stage.”
Duka and Tchani are both coming off their second professional season, after which they were graduated from the Generation adidas program. Duka will be returning to northern Europe for the second time this offseason, having been called in to the U.S. Under-23 National Team camp in Germany last month.
While in Amsterdam, the team will also attend a UEFA Champions League match between two of the most successful professional soccer clubs ever – Ajax and Real Madrid – on Dec. 7 at the Amsterdam Arena. Three days later, the team will travel to Alkmaar and watch Generation adidas graduate Jozy Altidore’s club, AZ, host De Graafschap in a top-flight Dutch league (Eredivisie) match at AFAS Stadion.
Tour Itinerary
Dec. 5 Generation adidas players depart for Amsterdam
Dec. 6 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 7 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Team to attend UEFA Champions League match – Ajax vs. Real Madrid
Dec. 8 Game 1: Generation adidas vs. Ajax Reserve team (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 9 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 10 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Attendance Eredivisie Match - AZ Alkmaar vs. De Graafschap
Dec. 11 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 12 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Team to attend match: Ajax U23 vs. PSV U23
Dec. 13 Game 2: Generation adidas vs. FC Volendam (in Volendam)
Dec. 14 Game 3: Generation adidas vs. Almere City FC (in Almere)
Dec. 15 Generation adidas players depart for U.S.
2011 Generation adidas Roster
Goalkeeper
David Bingham
San Jose Earthquakes
Goalkeeper
Zac MacMath
Philadelphia Union
Defender
Kevin Alston
New England Revolution
Defender
Sacir Hot
New York Red Bulls
Defender
Conor Shanosky
D.C. United
Defender
Kofi Sarkodie
Houston Dynamo
Defender
Michael Tetteh
Seattle Sounders FC
Defender
Zarek Valentin
Montreal Impact
Midfielder
Dilly Duka
Columbus Crew
Midfielder
Amobi Okugo
Philadelphia Union
Midfielder
Luis Gil
Real Salt Lake
Midfielder
Matt Kassel
New York Red Bulls
Midfielder
Jack McInerney
Philadelphia Union
Midfielder
Tony Tchani
Columbus Crew
Forward
Will Bruin
Houston Dynamo
Forward
Corey Hertzog
New York Red Bulls
Forward
Danny Mwanga
Philadelphia Union
Forward
Omar Salgado
Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Manager
Peter Vermes
Sporting Kansas City
