U.S. U16 BNT roster for Aegean Cup

by J.R. Eskilson

January 7, 2015

The U.S. U16 Boys National Team is headed to Turkey next week for the Aegean Cup. The U.S. opens the competition on the 19th against Romania and also plays against Norway and Turkey in pool play.

FC Dallas academy coach Luchi Gonzalez is listed as the coach of the team on the Aegan Cup website. Multiple sources have told TopDrawerSoccer that De Anza Force coach and former UCLA great Shaun Tsakiris is also taking charge of this team on the trip. Both Gonzalez and Tsakiris have been successful in the Development Academy with playing attractive soccer and developing players for the youth national teams.

Eighteen players were named to the roster for the international tournament with the top talent from the 1999 age group earning the trip to Turkey. Recent LA Galaxy II signing Eric Lopez headlines the list of invitees. Leicester City defender Kyle Gruno is the lone Europe-based player on the roster.

U.S. U16 Boys National Team Roster (via Aegean Cup's website):

Goalkeepers (2): Eric Lopez (LA Galaxy), Carlos Avilez (FC Dallas)

Defenders (5): Roger Batse (CASL Railhawks Academy), Mckay Eves (Real Salt Lake – Arizona), Kyle Gruno (Leicester City), Daniel Jones (New England Revolution), Rayshaun McGann (Philadelphia Union)

Midfielders (6): Raul Aguilera Jr. (Orlando City), Jose Alfaro Jr. (Monarcas Morelia), Jose Carranza (DC United), Marty Raygoza (FC Golden State), Juan Torres (Georgia United), Adrian Villegas (Portland Timbers)

Forwards (5): Lucas Del Rosario (CASL Railhawks Academy), Jonathan Gonzalez (CF Monterrey), Leo Marquez (Leon), Justin Rennicks (New England Revolution), Adolfo Trujillo (De Anza Force)

Edit: Nicholas Taitague was recently injured and is being replaced on the roster. Matthew Real was also replaced on the roster.

Related Topics: Youth National Teams