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:

D.C. United's teen sensation, Andy Najar, sold to Belgian club

Najar becomes MLS’ first homegrown player to permanently move to a European side

Andy Najar photo by Bo McMillan

Washington D.C. (January 30, 2013) – D.C. United today announced that defender/midfielder Andy Najar has been transferred to R.S.C. Anderlecht. Per team and League policy, the details of the deal were not disclosed. Najar became Major League Soccer’s first homegrown player to permanently move to a European side. Najar initially went on a training stint through the month of December before being loaned to the Belgian side for the month of January. The 19-year-old played 90 minutes in a January 11 friendly in a 4-2 victory against Dutch club SC Heracles Almelo and scored in a reserve match last week.

“It has been very rewarding to watch Andy grow and develop into becoming the special player that he is,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “This transfer is a testament to the hard work of our Academy staff, to Ben and his staff for their patience and vision, and to the MLS Homegrown Player initiative. We wish Andy all of the success in the world and we look forward to watching his career blossom. Looking ahead, we plan to focus on utilizing our resources and flexibility to continue to build our team.”

Former Edison High School Star, D.C. United defender Andy Najar on loan

Washington, D.C. (January 7, 2013) – D.C. United today announced that Andy Najar is now on loan with R.S.C. Anderlecht for the month of January, and will be available for selection during the timeframe. The Honduran international previously trained with the Belgian side during the month of December 2012.

“This is another very good opportunity for Andy to gain valuable experience with a top European club,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “We look forward to his return for the second half of our pre-season.” 

Najar, 19, had a fantastic third season with D.C. United, playing in 25 regular-season matches, starting 22, and notching four assists. The converted right fullback is a product of D.C. United’s Youth Academy, and became the second homegrown player to sign with the first team on March 22, 2010. That year, he went on to win the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year award, as well as being named the 2010 D.C. United Volkswagen MVP. In his young, yet illustrious D.C. United career, Andy Najar has tallied 10 goals and 11 assists in the 82 MLS matches (72 starts) in which he has featured.  

Najar has made three appearances with the senior Honduras National Team and seven for the U-23s, including a run in the 2012 London Olympics in which the squad advanced to the quarterfinals. He earned his first cap for the country on Sept. 3, 2011 against Colombia at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.

D.C. United player Andy Najar called up by onduras for National Team duty

Washington D.C. (November 12, 2012) - D.C. United announced today that midfielder Andy Najar has been called up by the Honduras National Team for a November 14 friendly against Peru at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, TX at 7:30 p.m. Najar will join the Honduran Federation today.
      
Najar, 19, has had a fantastic third season with D.C. United, playing in 25 regular-season matches, starting 22, and notching four assists. The converted right fullback is a product of D.C. United’s Youth Academy, and was the second homegrown player to sign with the first team on March 22, 2010. That year, he went on to win the 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year award, as well as being named the 2010 D.C. United Volkswagen MVP. In his young, yet illustrious D.C. United career, Andy Najar has tallied 10 goals and 11 assists in the 82 MLS matches (72 starts) in which he has appeared.  

Najar has made two appearances with the senior Honduras National Team and seven for the U-23’s, including a run in the 2012 London Olympics in which the squad advanced to the quarterfinals. He earned his first cap for the country on September 3, 2011 against Colombia at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ.

2010 MLS ROY Andy Najar called by Honduras National Team

Another one of D.C. United's home grown academy products has been selected to represent their national team. United announced Friday that midfielder Andy Najar has been called-up by the Honduras National Team for two friendly matches in September.  Honduras will face Colombia at Red Bull Arena on September 3 before hosting Paraguay at the Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano in San Pedro Sula on September 6. 

        “Words can’t describe how I feel at this moment”, said Najar.  “I am so excited to have this opportunity to play for my native country.  As a player, it is always your dream to represent your national team.  I want to thank the Honduras Federation for calling me in and giving me an opportunity to show my talent at the international level.  I also want to thank my family and all the fans for their support.  I will work as hard as I can and try to do my best to help the Honduras national team be successful on the pitch”.

Najar, 18, is scheduled to join the Honduran team in New Jersey on August 29, and his international duty will not interfere with D.C. United’s schedule.  So far this season, the young Honduran has played 19 matches (16 starts), registering three goals and four assists in 1,451 minutes of play with the Black-and-Red.
“We’re very excited and happy for Andy to have this opportunity to play for the Honduras national team and showcase his talent on the international level”, said General Manager Dave Kasper.  “We wish Andy and the Honduras national team all the best in these upcoming matches”.

The 2010 MLS Rookie of the Year announced on April 6, 2011 that he wished to represent Honduras at the national team level. Signing with United as a 17-year-old Academy product in March of 2010, Najar became the youngest player in MLS history to capture Rookie of the Year honors following his five-goal inaugural campaign.

D.C. United offseason re-cap IN/OUT?

It has been an extremely busy offseason so far for the 4-time MLS Cup champions. They have resigned amazing rookie sensation and 2010 MLS ROY, Andy Najar and named Ben Olsen as the full time head coach heading into 2011.

Here is a quick look at the players that are IN/OUT so far:

IN: Dax McCarty (trade with POR), Joseph Ngwenya (Re-Entry Stage 1), Ethan White (Univ. Maryland), Josh Wolff (Re-Entry Stage 2), Steve Cronin (trade with POR)

OUT: Rodney Wallace (trade with POR), Jordan Graye (expansion draft to POR), Danny Allsopp (released) Juan Manuel Pena (option declined), Barry Rice (option declined), Brandon Barklage (option declined), Carlos Varela (option declined), Jaime Moreno (option declined), Troy Perkins (trade with POR)

The red and black will be adding a few more players as they participate in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft January 13, 2011 in Baltimore, MD.

D.C. United Officially name Ben Olsen Head Coach

In an official press release, Ben Olsen Named D.C. United Head Coach, quite possibly the most popular player in United history had the interim tag removed from his title and will now be leading his former team as Head Coach.

The former University of Virginia player (34 goals, 41 assists in 3 years) will now attempt to lead the Black and Red back to the top of the MLS.

While playing for D.C. United Olsen won MLS Rookie of the Year in 1998. He will now have the latest MLS ROY in Andy Najar along with a promising group of home grown talent from the United system.

United fans, players, and management are hoping that as Head Coach Olsen will lead the team to another MLS Cup like he did twice as a player (99, 04).

MLSSOCCER.COM: Teen phenom Najar takes MLS Rookie of the Year

Simon Borg - MLSsoccer.com  November 3, 2010 (link to MLS story)

  

NEW YORK – While most pundits made the Rookie of the Year award a two-horse race between New York defender Tim Ream and Philadelphia forward Danny Mwanga, D.C. United's 17-year-old phenom earned the award on Wednesday, becoming the first attacking player to win the honor since Clint Dempsey in 2004.

Najar is also the youngest player to ever win the award and just the second player to win the award for a last-place team, after Maurice Edu won for Toronto FC in 2007.

In what is sure to become a trend in coming years, the Honduran winger is the first MLS Rookie of the Year to emerge from a club’s youth academy. In fact, Najar was playing with DC’s academy squad in February, but impressed enough in preseason to earn a contract just before the 2010 season kicked off.

Najar rewarded United for their faith with seven goals and two assists in all competitions, and showed himself to be a durable, smart and unpredictable player in 26 league appearances. Earlier this week, D.C. United named Najar their team MVP and also dubbed his goal against Real Salt Lake during a US Open Cup qualifier on June 2 as the team's goal of the year.

The last D.C. United player to win the Rookie of the Year award was Ben Olsen, who accomplished the feat in 1998. Olsen served as DC's interim coach this season and passed along his former jersey No. 14 to Najar for the season.

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Will DC United be able to keep their 2 home grown talented players, Andy Nadar and Bill Hamid?

Will DC United be able to keep their 2 home grown talented players, Andy Nadar and Bill Hamid?

By Chris Wimmer 

After watching DC United vs. LA Galaxy last night on Fox Soccer Channel and seeing the amazing play of 17 year old Andy Najar against arguably the best team currently in the MLS the LA Galaxy  and hearing Curt Onalfo say that Najar is probably the best player on DC United, I started to worry. By the way,did you see his effort in winning that header for a goal?, he is only 5'7" tall.

Thats right I was worried. My concern is regarding the ability of DC United to keep their very own young talent. United have two young talents in Andy Najar and Bill Hamid. Both from the DC/MD/VA area and both players come directly from within the DC United Acadamy program.

Most teams in any sport would be lucky to have two young talented players on their roster but for those of you who follow MLS you are well aware of how often young talent is taken away by European clubs with much bigger names and payrolls.

(Image property of DC United.com)

I just hope the management at DC United can figure out a way to sign both these homegrown talents to long term deals and build a team and a strong local following around them.

The first step might need to be bringing in a Top-Tier coach, i.e. Bob Bradley!