VANCOUVER, BC – Vancouver Whitecaps FC centre back Christian Dean has been called-up to the United States U-21 men’s national team training camp, which will take place from April 20 to 24 at the U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center in Carson, California.
The U-21 MNT camp is set up to bridge the gap between the U-20 national team and the senior national team, as well as form a core group of players that will make up the majority of the U-23 men’s national team that will attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The U-23 MNT will begin programming in 2015.
This is the second call-up by the United States Soccer Federation for the young defender, as Dean took part in a training camp with the U-20 team in early 2012.
Dean, 21, made his professional career debut as a second-half sub on March 16 in Vancouver’s 1-1 draw against Chivas USA at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. The left-footed Generation adidas defender was selected third overall by Whitecaps FC in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft.
Before arriving in Vancouver, the 6-foot-3, 200-pound resident of East Palo Alto, California made 55 appearances in three years with the University of California, Berkeley of the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Pacific-12 Conference. Dean received All Pac-12 and National Soccer Coaches Association of America Far West Region first-team honours in his final season.
The camp roster is composed entirely of North American-based players, 19 of whom play professionally. Major League Soccer leads the way among professional leagues represented with 13 players from nine different clubs receiving a call-up. Liga MX (four players form three clubs), Ascenso MX (one player) and USL PRO (one player) supply the remaining six professional players.
The camp will consist of three days of training before culminating with a friendly against Club Tijuana on Wednesday evening.
Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Jonathan Kempin (Oklahoma City Energy; Leawood, Kansas), Kendall McIntosh (Santa Clara; Santa Rosa, California)
DEFENDERS (5):Christian Dean (Vancouver Whitecaps FC; East Palo Alto, California), Juan Pablo Ocegueda (Tigres UANL; Riverside, California), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids; Boulder, Colorado), Dillon Serna (Colorado Rapids; Brighton, Colorado), Oscar Sorto (LA Galaxy; Los Angeles, California)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake; Garden Grove, California), Alejandro Guido (Club Tijuana; Chula Vista, California), Marlon Hairston (Colorado Rapids; Jackson, Mississippi), Benji Joya (Chicago Fire; San Jose, California), Collin Martin (D.C. United; Chevy Chase, Maryland), Esteban Rodriguez (Club Tijuana; Bell Gardens, California), Wil Trapp (Columbus Crew; Gahanna, Ohio)
FORWARDS (7): Daniel Cuevas (CF Lobos BUAP; Sacramento, California), Danny Garcia (FC Dallas; Dallas, Texas), Jack McBean (LA Galaxy; Newport Beach, California), Jordan Morris (Stanford; Mercer Island, Washington), Sean Okoli (Seattle Sounders FC; Federal Way, Washington), Victor Pineda (Chicago Fire; Bolingbrook, Illinois), Jose Villarreal (Cruz Azul; Inglewood, California)
National Team Staff
Technical Director: Juergen Klinsmann Newport Beach, California
Youth Technical Director: Tab Ramos Colts Neck, New Jersey
Assistant Coach: Andreas Herzog Vienna, Austria
Goalkeeper Coach: Kasey Keller Seattle, Washington
Fitness Coach: Brian O’Donnell Scottsdale, Arizona
Athletic Trainer: Rick Guter Los Angeles, California
Press Officer: Michael Kammarman Los Angeles, California
Videographer: Troy Bardy Los Angeles, California
Equipment Coordinator: Mike Zawlocki Sacramento, California
Team Coordinator: Zach Crusse Los Angeles, California
