VIDEO: D.C. United Academy Profile

D.C. United has lead the way in Major League Soccer with regards to success of their youth academy. Four players have gone from the D.C. United Youth Academy to eventually signing first team deals with the club. Bill Hamid (GK, 2009), Andy Najar (2010), Conor Shanosky (2010), and Ethan White (2012) have all worked their way to the first team.

Hamid has spent time with the USMNT earning his first CAP in 2012 and Najar transferred to R.S.C. Anderlecht of the Belgiun league during this past off-season.

Check out the video below to learn more about the D.C. United Youth Academy:

Ethan White, Perry Kitchen named to U.S. U-23 Roster camp in Germany

Two members of D.C. United, Ethan White and Perry Kitchen, have been named to the roster for the U.S. Under-23 camp.

Men's National Team head coach Caleb Porter has named 31 players to the roster for the upcoming training camp in Duisburg, Germany, which also features several players who are age-eligible for the U.S. Under-20 Men's National Team. The camp will be held from Nov. 7-16 at the Sportschule Wedau, a German sporting school where the players will train and stay. More players may be added to the roster based on the results of the upcoming MLS playoff matches.

"The goal was to put together a comprehensive group of players to further evaluate the pool while building towards Olympic qualifying," said Porter. "By having a mix of domestic and overseas-based professionals, we can develop a clearer picture of who can help us in qualifying and hopefully the 2012 Olympic Games."

The U-23 camp is taking place at the same time the full Men's National Team will be gathered in France and Slovenia. U.S. MNT head coach Jurgen Klinsmann worked with Porter and the rest of the coaching staff in order to structure the program in a similar fashion to the full team, including the approach to style of play, training sessions, and fitness testing.

"It is very important that we are all on the same page in how we are working with the national teams and that we are all pulling in the same direction, since all roads lead to the senior team," said Klinsmann. "They will have full support from the National Team, and their camps will be run just like ours. In this initial camp they will gather as much information as possible. As this group gets together, it is important for all these players to understand that they have a very unique opportunity."

As part of the coordination between the national team programs, several players who are age-eligible for the 2012 Olympics will continue to participate with the full team for the friendlies against France and Slovenia. There are no schedule conflicts between the U-23 team and the full team for either the Olympic Qualifying Tournament or the 2012 Olympic Games.

U.S. Soccer Youth Technical Director Claudio Reyna will direct the U-23s during the camp while U.S. Under-20 head coach Tab Ramos will lead his age group of players. Due to previous scheduling commitments, Porter will remain with the University of Akron men's soccer team. Newly appointed Under-18 Men's National Team head coach Richie Williams is also among the staff that will travel to Germany.

Clubs from seven different countries are represented in this roster. Twenty of the players called into camp play in Europe, including 12 who are based in Germany. Josh Gatt, who recently won the Norwegian Championship with Molde, is joining the group but will not participate as he recovers from injury. The roster also features eight players who play for MLS teams: David Bingham, Dilly Duka, Sean Johnson, Jon Kempin, Perry Kitchen, Omar Salgado, Zarek Valentin and Ethan White.

The roster includes nine former U.S. Soccer Development Academy players: Gale Agbossoumonde, Joe Corona, Sean Cunningham, Conor Doyle, Gatt, Kempin, Caleb Stanko, Valentin and White. Jose Villarreal, the only current Development Academy player, scored both goals for Pateadores in the 2011 Development Academy U-17/18 Championship against FC Dallas. Shortly after, he was invited to the Milk Cup with the U-18 MNT.

Three players have also made appearances for the U.S. Men's National Team. Agbossoumonde has one cap, appearing in the 1-0 win against South Africa on Nov. 17, 2010, in Johannesburg. Mixx Diskerud has appeared twice, including a complete game against Chile on Jan. 22, 2011. Johnson earned his first cap as a second-half substitute in the same game.

The team is loaded with players with previous youth national team experience, a total of 22 players having played at either the U-20 or U-17 level. Six players appeared in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, while Kitchen and William Packwood played in the 2009 U-17 FIFA World Cup. Nine players competed in 2011 U-20 World Cup qualifying.

Porter plans to have additional domestic camps early next year as the U-23 Men prepare for 2012 Olympic qualifying beginning in March.

On Thursday, U.S. Soccer will release the roster for the U.S. Men's National Team's games against France and Slovenia. U.S. MNT captain Carlos Bocanegra will take over U.S. Soccer's twitter account - @ussoccer - at 1 p.m. ET to release the names of players on Jurgen Klinsmann's squad and answer questions from fans.

U.S. UNDER-23 ROSTER BY POSITION - Detailed Roster GOALKEEPERS (4) : David Bingham (San Jose Earthquakes; Pleasanton, Calif.), Cody Cropper (Ipswich Town; Athens, Ga.), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire, Lilburn, Ga.), Jon Kempin (Sporting KC; Leawood, Kan.) DEFENDERS (9) : Gale Agbossoumonde (Eintracht Frankfurt; Syracuse, N.Y.), Anthony Brooks (Hertha Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Sean Cunningham (Molde; Troy, Mich.), Royal-Dominique Fennell (Stuttgarter Kickers; Göppingen, Germany), Greg Garza (Out of Contract; Grapevine, Texas), Perry Kitchen (D.C. United; Indianapolis, Ind.), Will Packwood (Birmingham City; Concord, Mass.), Zarek Valentin (Chivas USA; Lancaster, Pa.), Ethan White (D.C. United; Kensington, Md.) MIDFIELDERS (9) : Joe Corona (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, Calif.), Mixx Diskerud (Stabæk; Oslo, Norway), Dilly Duka (Columbus Crew; Montville, N.J.), Jared Jeffrey (Mainz; Richardson, Texas), Sebastian Lletget (West Ham United; San Francisco, Calif.), Tyrone McCargo (Nürnberg; Nürnberg, Germany), Charles Renken (Hoffenheim; Edwardsville, Ill.), Caleb Stanko (Freiburg: Holly, Mich.), Jose Villarreal (LA Galaxy; Inglewood, Calif.) FORWARDS (9) : Terrence Boyd (Hertha Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Conor Doyle (Derby County; McKinney, Texas), Josh Gatt (Molde; Plymouth, Mich.), Joe Gyau (Hoffenheim; Silver Springs, Md.), Jerome Kiesewetter (Hertha Berlin; Berlin, Germany), Omar Salgado (Vancouver Whitecaps; El Paso, Texas), Tony Taylor (Atlético Clube de Portugal; Jacksonville, Fla.), Bobby Wood (1860 Munich; Irvine, Calif.), Andrew Wooten (Kaiserslautern; Worms, Germany)

D.C. United Player Appearances Announced

Fans of D.C. United here is a your chance to meet some of you favorite United players as they will be making appearances during the week around the Metropolitan area.

As part of D.C. United’s continued efforts to make appearances in the community and through its partnership with Volkswagen, United players will be making various appearances throughout the Metropolitan Area this week.

On Tuesday, August 9 Brandon Barklage, Brandon McDonald, Steve Cronin, Austin da Luz, Blake Brettschneider and Joseph Ngwenya will attend D.C. United’s Community Soccer Series at The Burke School in Burke, Va. The same day, defender Ethan White will be present at a D.C. United Summer Camp at Chancellor’s Run Park. Then on Wednesday, defender Daniel Woolard will participate in a separate D.C. United Summer Camp at Potomac Lake Sportsplex. Finally, a player to be determined will attend a Greater Washington Chamber of Commerce event being held at RFK Stadium on Saturday, August 13.

Player(s): Brandon Barklage, Brandon McDonald, Steve Cronin, Austin da Luz, Blake Brettschneider and Joseph Ngwenya What: Community Soccer Series
When: Tuesday, August 9; 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Burke School
9645 Burke Lake Road - Burke, Va. 22015

Player(s): Ethan White What: D.C. United Camp
When: Tuesday, August 9; 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Chancellor’s Run Park
21905 Chancellor's Run Road - Great Mills, Md. 20634

Player(s): Daniel Woolard
What: D.C. United Camp
When: Wednesday, August 10; 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Where: Potomac Lake Sportsplex
 20280 Cascades Parkway - Sterling, Va. 20165

Player(s): TBD
What: Greater Washington Chamber of Commerce
When: Saturday, August 13; 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Where: RFK Stadium
2400 East Capitol Street, SE - Washington, D.C. 20003

ADIDAS INVITES FANS TO MEET D.C. UNITED PLAYERS AT TYSONS CORNER STORE

WHAT:

D.C. United players Dax McCarty, Chris Pontius, Ethan White and Conor Shanosky will be on hand at the adidas store inside Tysons Corner to meet fans, sign autographs and take photos with United supporters on Wednesday, June 8.

The players are supporting the launch of the all-new adiPower Predator cleat, the latest version in the legendary cleat line. The first 30 fans to purchase adiPower Predator cleats will receive a pair of D.C. United tickets for an upcoming match.
The adiPower Predator is the lightest and most accurate Predator to date. The cleat improves spin and power when striking the ball and increases contact time with the ball to ensure perfect control in all weather conditions. The adiPower Predator will be on sale at the Tysons Corner store for $200

HIGHLIGHTS

Photo and interview opportunities with D.C. United playersD.C. United ticket giveaway


WHEN

Wednesday, June 8, 2011
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

WHERE

adidas
Tysons Corner Store
8070 Tysons Corner Center
Mclean, Virginia 22012