24 Under 24: 2010

Fidencio Enriquez

Tasty coffee and Shakira aren’t the only things Colombia has exported to the US. Coming in at No. 1 in MLSsoccer.com’s first annual “24 Under 24” list is Seattle Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero, who has graced Qwest Field with his great skills since arriving on loan in January 2009.

Road to Stardom: Before making a name for himself as one of MLS’ most promising talents, the young Colombian striker forged his skills in his native Colombia. Developed in Deportivo Cali’s youth system from the age of 13, Montero made his pro debut in Colombia’s top flight in 2005. In each of the two years that followed, he won the league’s Golden Boot, once while on loan with Atlético Huila, and then with Cali. In 2009, Seattle swooped on the striker and, since then, he’s been a key figure for the Sounders.

Breakout Moment: It didn’t take long for Montero to prove his reputation as a rising talent and deadly finisher was well-earned. In the 12th minute of Seattle’s very first MLS season game, Montero scored the opening goal (later voted Goal of the Week). He then assisted on the second and finished it off by scoring the third in a 3-0 win over New York. Montero celebrated his first MLS goal by “driving the bus,” but no one thought he would be in the driver’s seat over the course of the entire 2009 season. In total, he notched a second Goal of the Week award, was named Player of the Month for March, earned an MLS All-Star appearance, played a key role in Seattle’s US Open Cup championship win, and was named MLS Newcomer of the Year.

Player Breakdown: What separates good players from great ones is that the great players have an unwavering belief in their skills. Montero’s got that in spades. He is most effective as a second forward, where he can use his speed, skill, touch and vision to create opportunities for his teammates. But he will just as comfortably turn to face the goal and deliver a pin-point shot with either foot. He has also developed into a leader and, as such, wants the ball at his feet during the game’s critical moment. He’s the type of player a team can be built around and, according to Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer, tying him up for the long haul is a high priority for the club.

What the Technical Directors Say:“He’s on a totally different level than other players … Confident and always feels he can make a difference … People forget how young he is because they see his production … He cannot only create his own opportunities but he is a creator for others … He’s probably the best clinical finisher we have in the league right now … Sometimes he likes to shut down a little bit and you don’t see him being engaged over a 90-minute period … You’d like to see him work harder on defensive side of the ball.”

What’s Next: Unsurprisingly, Europe is beckoning. When Seattle signed Montero in 2009, Spain’s Real Betis had shown interest and, earlier this season, there was talk about a possible move to Russia’s CSKA Moscow. Perhaps impeding the leap is the fact that Montero sometimes disappears in matches. Also, as a second forward, his efforts to come back and help his team defend are a bit lacking. But as he develops into a more consistent contributor and ups his defensive efforts, offers will come pouring in.

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24 Under 24: 2010 - Get Microsoft Silverlight

What is the 24 Under 24? Simply, the best 24 players in MLS under the age of 24 (as of Nov. 1, 2010).

MLSsoccer.com whittled down the list to a group of 30 players and then an expert panel ranked the names based on five categories: (1) Skill; (2) Upside; (3) Q-Rating or Marketability; (4) Future Value; and (5) Intangibles.

The “24 Under 24” expert panel was made up of six members: Jeff Carlisle (ESPN.com), Steve Davis (SI.com), Brian Dunseth (Fox Soccer Channel), Allen Hopkins (ESPN), Alexi Lalas (ESPN) and the MLSsoccer.com editorial staff.

rank">1.24">Montero, FredyF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“He’s on a totally different level than other players … People forget how young he is because they see his production … He’s probably the best clinical finisher we have in the league … [but] you’d like to see him work harder on defensive side of the ball.”

rank">2.24">Gonzalez, OmarD

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“Omar’s got all the physical traits that you would look for from a big, big center back. Dominant in the air…You need to take a closer look at him against better competition but he has shown that he’s an elite defender as a youngster.”

rank">3.24">Najar, AndyM

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“Najar has a wonderful, elusive quality to him … [but] he still needs to figure out how to ride challenges better. That’s not to say the kid isn’t tough.”

rank">4.24">Zakuani, SteveF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“He’s got the pace, he can get around guys and use his right foot, also decent with his left … Look for more consistency when he gets to the end line and has to use his left foot to pick out guys and make passes … Needs to work on being a factor for the entire 90 minutes.”

rank">5.24">Mwanga, DannyF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“He has the potential to be one of the best strikers in the league … Off the ball running and finishing are much better than anticipated … He’s composed in front of goal, he can strike the ball well … He needs to work on his passing and getting others involved in the game.”

rank">6.24">Pappa, MarcoM

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“Really technical with great skill … Has good vision for the game and he can find a splitting pass and can change a game getting by a guy … He’s not going to run you up and down … Plays a lot older than his age … If he played more defense he’d be a more effective player and he’d be around the ball more often and in position more often to take advantage of quick breaks.”

rank">7.24">Shea, BrekM

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“Great size, good engine and brave with the ball … Very good technical ability especially for his height … He’s matured in a comfortable environment, you’re seeing the talent blossom … Having more of an impact on games … Big and fast and left-footed and attacking. You’d kill for that package in anybody, anywhere at any age.”

rank">8.24">Johnson, SeanGK

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“His athleticism in terms of being a shot-stopper is very good. Where he’s going to need to show improvement is the tactical end with his positioning and when to come out of the goal … With more experience will learn to read the game, direct his back line and know positionally where to be when the ball is in different parts of the field.”

rank">9.24">Ream, TimD

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“Composed and good in the air … Comfortable on the ball, a very good passer of the ball and a playmaker out of the back … The mistakes he’s made they don’t live with him. … Needs to improve on ability to turn and make quicker decisions … Has to smell danger and learn to whack balls up the field when he needs to and not make passes that aren’t there.”

rank">10.24">Braun, JustinF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“He’s got a great body for the position as a target forward … Very active and very good in the air and once you get him going forward … Needs to improve on erratic finishing, playing with his back to goal and getting his teammates involved with the passing … He’s a young kid and has a lot of upside.”

rank">11.24">Opara, IkeD

MLS Technical Directors Say:
"He is still raw but an excellent athlete ... Tremendous upside ... can dominate in the air, good timing in the air ... He's able to outrun mistakes ... From a man-marking situation few can physically beat him ... Needs to work on ability to play out of tight spaces, make passes and make quick decisions."

rank">12.24">Smith, RyanM

MLS Technical Directors Say:
"Talented player, technically gifted with both feet, has pace, the ability to serve balls on the run … Needs to find some kind of consistency to be regarded as an elite player in this league … Has 50 different moves on the dribble … Needs to find when the best time to dribble and when the best time to find a teammate."

rank">13.24">Bowen, TristanF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
"He’s got a lot of good tools … Very good athlete and technically better than people give him credit. He can take people off the dribble. He’s a good finisher with both feet … Needs to get better with his head and holding the ball up… He’s going to be a very solid MLS player."

rank">14.24">Hamid, BillGK

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“He’s clearly got the tools and he seems to have got some poise … He can be a really successful goalkeeper in this league for a long time if he can get healthy and stay healthy. Young guys have persistent injury problems.”

rank">15.24">Rogers, RobbieM

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“He’s left-footed, he has pace and he’s American. These are players to be celebrated … Needs to be tougher and defend more … He’s one of those players that will stretch a defense. He has a good engine … He needs to demand the ball a little bit more and get more involved in 90 minutes.”

rank">16.24">Tchani, TonyM

MLS Technical Directors Say:
"Tchani is still very raw ... One of the best players in college last year. An amazing athlete. Huge, massive upside. Almost unlimited potential but he is not very polished which is normal for a kid at that age."

rank">17.24">Bunbury, TealF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
"He’s got the size, the physicality. He’s better than some in terms of technical abilities and he’s got some more size. And he’s probably got some more pace than most guys ... It needs to be consistency with him around the goal area. He’s got the tools physically and technically. He’s above average."

rank">18.24">Pontius, ChrisF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
"In our league he’s got to be a forward ... You want him in and around the goal to profit from that athleticism and ability in the air. For a young player, he’s a decent finisher which is relatively rare. He’s a prototypical college player in that he’s a tremendous overall athlete and he works really hard."

rank">19.24">"Juninho"M

The Brazilian is a vital cog for the Galaxy, pulling the strings in central midfield and jumpstarting their deadly counter. He reads the game well and has a knack of being in the right place at the right time. He’s not the strongest and most imposing of central players but his presence is felt as LA can attest during his recent absence.

rank">20.24">Johnson, WillM

MLS Technical Directors Say:
"A fantastic player, he’s got a great engine. Technically very good. He’s a fantastic two-way player, one of the best in the league even though he’s a young player from an age standpoint ... He needs to be a little bit more productive on the attacking side of the ball: assists and goals ... You’re looking for an 8-and-8 guy. His production needs to be better."

rank">21.24">Alston, KevinD

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“Has very good concentration, he’s brave and he has elite athleticism … He can get forward with that athleticism but he needs to refine his game in the attacking third in his one-v-one play and his combination play … he needs a little more consistency on his final pass.”

rank">22.24">McInerney, JackF

MLS Technical Directors Say:
“Like his mentality. He’s always busy, always in motion … His size is a factor but he makes up for it with this work rate and his ability in the air … His finishing is very good … He needs to manage his own expectations and he’ll find his way in MLS.”

rank">23.24">Torres, RogerM

The young Colombian wowed fans with his ball skills early on, but he has since lost his place in the Union starting lineup and has become an occasional sub. He possesses superior vision and technique but there are doubts whether his speed and physique can meet the demands of MLS.

rank">24.24">McCarty, DaxM

A full 2010 season may have bumped up McCarty’s place in the rankings. After a promising start in central midfield alongside Daniel Hernandez, he fell to a quad injury and now has an uphill battle just to regain his spot in the FCD starting lineup.

24 Under 24