CARSON, Calif. - Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan has been called up by United States men's national team coach Bruce Arena for a six-week camp to take place at The Home Depot Center from January 4, 2006, making Guzan the first Chivas USA player to be called up to the U.S. senior national team. The call-up is the first for the 21-year-old Guzan, who previously represented the U.S. at the U-18 level, after posting impressive numbers during his rookie season with Chivas USA.
"We congratulate Brad on becoming the first player in Chivas USA history to be called up to the U.S. national team. He is a tremendous young man with a tremendously bright future ahead of him. We know this is just the first of many important steps for Brad in a promising international career," said Chivas USA Senior Vice President and General Manager Whit Haskel.
"It's an honor to be part of National Team this early into my career. I feel very fortunate knowing that am going to be working with high profile players, I feel very happy," Chivas USA Goalkeeper Brad Guzan.
Guzan joins thirty something netminders Matt Reis (New England Revolution), Jonny Walker (Columbus Crew) and Kevin Hartman (Los Angeles Galaxy) as the youngest of four goalkeepers in Arena's camp, which will culminate with a series of international friendly matches in late January and early February. Guzan is also one of a select group of first-timers in a national team camp, alongside such players as 25-year-old Houston defender Todd Dunivant, 22-year-old Los Angeles Galaxy defender Ugo Ihemelu and 16-year-old D.C. United forward Freddy Adu.
The 30 players Arena's six-week camp - all but one of them from MLS rosters - will look to impress in hopes of making the United States' 23-man final roster for next summer's 2006 World Cup in Germany. At the end of the camp, Arena's team will play several international friendlies in the United States, three of which have been confirmed: January 22 versus Canada in San Diego; January 29 versus Norway at The Home Depot Center; and February 10 versus Japan in San Francisco. The U.S. opens World Cup play next summer against Group E opponents the Czech Republic, Italy and Ghana.
A University of South Carolina product and native of the Chicago suburb of Homer Glen, Illinois, Guzan was selected second overall by Chivas USA in the 2005 MLS SuperDraft, making him the highest goalkeeper selected in MLS Draft history. In his first pro season, Guzan played in 24 regular-season games (starting 23), registering an impressive 104 saves in 2,079 minutes of action.
Guzan's call-up is the first for a Chivas USA player to the full U.S. men's national team. Other Chivas USA players who received international call-ups during the Red-and-White's inaugural season were midfielder Juan Pablo García (Mexico) and forward Rodrigo López (U.S. U-18 national team), as well as former Chivas USA defender Douglas Sequeira (Costa Rica).
For more information on Chivas USA, please call 1-877-CHIVAS-1 or visit www.CDCHIVASUSA.com, the club's official website.
