Mike Magee wanted his shot with the US national team, and he’s about to get it.
The reigning Volkswagen MLS MVP was one of 26 players named to the January camp roster for the US national team on Friday, giving the longtime league veteran his first opportunity at a cap with the USMNT in nine years.
Which player are you most excited to see on the latest US roster?
Magee – who scored a career-high 21 goals in 2013 for the LA Galaxy and Chicago Fire – is one of nine players in search of their first appearance with the US team. The roster – which includes 25 players from MLS – boasts USMNT veterans Landon Donovan, Kyle Beckerman, Eddie Johnson, Omar Gonzalez and Graham Zusi, but also includes promising MLS youngsters Chris Klute (Colorado Rapids), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders) and Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids).
Sporting Kansas City had five players called in after winning the MLS Cup last month, headlined by Zusi, defender Matt Besler and midfielder Benny Feilhaber. Defenders Seth Sinovic and Chance Myers were also called and are seeking their first US cap, along with Houston Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall and Portland Timbers defender Michael Harrington.
The camp, which runs from Jan. 6-Feb. 1, will take place across two continents. After six days in Carson, Calif., a 23-player group will travel to the USMNT"s World Cup base in São Paulo, Brazil, from Jan. 13-25, to give the players and staff a dry run of this summer's tournament.
The team will then return to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in California.
The camp culminates with a friendly against Korea Republic on Feb. 1 at the StubHub Center.
"We are all very excited for this camp because, as a team, it will give us our first taste of Brazil," US head coach Jurgen Klinsmann said in a statement. "This is a very important camp in our preparations for the World Cup. It's important for the players to continue developing their bond and sense of urgency for the tournament. It's important for us to see how they do in Brazil, how the new players fit with the group and to make sure everyone is focused on reaching the highest level for next summer."
Magee, 29, said after the conclusion of the regular season that he was surprised he wasn’t called into the team’s final camp of 2013, when the US traveled to Europe for international friendlies against Scotland and Austria. After winning the MVP trophy in December, he once again mentioned his desire to suit up for Klinsmannn, and he’ll get his shot for the first time since he withdrew from the 2005 January camp with Bruce Arena due to injury.
Rosenborg midfielder Mix Diskerud is the only non-MLS player called into camp.
US ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (10): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Harrington (Portland Timbers), Chris Klute (Colorado Rapids), Chance Myers (Sporting Kansas City), Shane O'Neill (Colorado Rapids), Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Eric Alexander (New York Red Bulls), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg/Norway), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
