Chapter Twenty-Six: Freddy Adu (with Thomas Rongen)

The Freddy Adu story is well known in the world of American soccer. It is one of promise and then unmet opportunity. But, in the end, one of the most important elements of the Freddy Adu story is how he brought so many people to the game of soccer in the United States. His youthful exuberance, his talent and his charisma were all the stuff of marketing fuel. And, as Adu's rose to prominence through the US Youth National Teams and then MLS, the marketing machine thrust him into the spotlight. Thomas Rongen, known for his stint coaching American Samoa that became the move "Next Goal Wins," coached Adu on the U20 National Team and saw his talent immediately. He also grew to care for Adu personally, and saw the challenges the young prodigy faced as he transitioned into the professional ranks. However, Rongen still witnessed first hand how big Adu's impact was on growing soccer in the US. He joined Founding Futbol to talk about it. Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the criti...