Where are they now...The 1999 US Soccer U-17 Residency class...Part 2...

Bobby Convey – In 2000 Convey was the youngest player to ever sign with MLS at the tender age of 16. Upon signing, he was allocated to DC United and if I recall correctly immediately moved in with the coach since his parents weren’t in DC (side note, I guess Freddy wasn’t ready for that step at 14 and he had to stay in DC.) Bobby immediately contributed to DC, starting 18 games that season. It is hard to find many other 16 year olds contributing at that level (but Josmer Altidore keeps trying to prove me wrong.) Unfortunately for him, Convey’s tenure in DC was never highlighted with a MLS Championship. Somehow, his stint with the club was its championship dry spell, they won the year before and the year after he left (1999 & 2004).

In 2002 while Bradenton classmates Donovan and Beasley were at the World Cup, Convey was captaining the US U-20 team towards a birth in the World Youth Championships.

In 2004 Convey completed a move to England to play with Reading, then in the Championship. His play at Reading helped earn a spot with the full National Team and he featured heavily at World Cup 2006 in Germany. After the Cup, Bobby returned to England to start his Premier League Experience since his club had earned promotion the season earlier. As of 9-27-06, Reading are enjoying a successful first season in the top division, sitting tied for 7th with Liverpool and above traditional power Arsenal. Convey is featuring heavily in their successful starting lineup and will no doubt be a top choice for the next US manager for years to come. This season is probably the one that will set Convey apart from the rest of his class as being a real success on International soil in the one of the biggest leagues in the world. Beasley is right behind...

D.J. Countess – In 2000 decided to enroll at UCLA after completing his stint at Bradenton. As a freshman he played in 19 college matches, ousting senior keeper, Zach Wells, from the starting spot. After one season at UCLA, joined MLS in 2001. He signed with Project-40 and New York won the lottery for his services. However, Tim Howard was firmly entrenched and the rookie couldn’t pull the same magic he had at UCLA. After one season in The Big Apple, Countess was traded to the Dallas Burn. In 2002 he managed to get playing time in one match, as Matt Jordan was holding down the starting role.

2003 was D.J’s breakout season because Jordan decided to test the European waters, signing a contract in Denmark. Countess struggled in 2003 giving up 48 goals, averaging almost 2 per game. In 2004 Dallas had to make some changes to the porous defense so they shipped D.J. to Chicago where he resumed backup duties. D.J. was selected by former U-17 coach Ellinger and Real Salt Lake in the 2005 expansion draft. Life was again difficult in Salt Lake where in 27 games he again averages 2 goals per game and he only won 4 games. After one terrible season, Real Salt Lake had to make changes and he was let go.

The first 6 months of 2006 didn’t see any jobs pop up for Countess, but in late 2006 he signed with Osters IF in the top division of Sweden as a back-up keeper. He’s currently playing in Sweden trying to regain a starting job. Countess' career in MLS is a good example of why keepers should stay in college for four years of good experience.

Steve Cronin – In 2001 Cronin started college, enrolling at Santa Clara University. As a freshman he split time between the goal and the field, however in his sophomore season he played strictly in goal. After a strong 2003 season where he compiled a 0.60 goals against average (GAA) and a played well for the US U-20’s in the World Youth Championships, Cronin signed a P-40 contract with MLS and was drafted in 2004, 10th overall by San Jose.

Steve’s MLS debut didn’t come until 2005 and it was for the LA Galaxy as opposed to his first team, San Jose. In 2006 he continues to back up starting keeper, Kevin Hartman but he looks like Hartman’s heir to the starting job if things don’t change. While his play has been limited, it has been decent with a 1.40 career GAA.

Kenny Cutler – Joined fellow residency player Oguchi Onyewu as a freshman at Clemson University in 2000. In his freshman season Kenny started 17 matches however his sophomore season saw him starting the match on the bench more often. Kenny joined the U-20 team for the FIFA World Youth Tournament held in Argentina. 2002 brought Cutler’s junior season and a return to form as he started 20 matches, scoring 5 goals and making 5 assists. Cutler had a similar senior season before graduating in 2004. Kenny was not selected in the 2004 or 2005 MLS drafts.

In March of 2005 Kenny was reunited with former U-17 coach John Ellinger during MLS pre-season. Cutler earned a developmental contract with Real Salt Lake starting 19 games in his rookie year. Kenny’s playing time has decreased in his second season but he continues to play a role in Salt Lake’s midfield.

Justin Detter - Left residency in 2000 to attend the University of Notre Dame. Was a four year starter playing both in midfield and at forward. In his senior year the switch to forward paid off and his offensive production improved. Justin was selected in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft by Kansas City in round 5. He played in Kansas City in 2004 and part of 2005 before retiring due poor league pay as he was making the league minimum.

Landon Donovan – Has lived the most public life of this class and is one of the best known American soccer players around the world. Donovan shined at the 1999 FIFA U-17 World Championships en route to winning the Golden Ball as the tournaments best player. That year he also played for the U-23 team helping them to a bronze metal at the 1999 Pan American Games. With his success at a young age came a high profile move from residency to German super-club, Bayer Leverkusen where he played with their reserves in 2000. At this point many American soccer fans had never seen Donovan play and simply knew of him threw legend.

After two years Landon was loaned to MLS and joined the San Jose Earthquakes in 2001. Donovan made an immediate impact and led the Quakes to their first MLS Cup victory. In 2002 he continued to impress in MLS before joining the senior US National Team in Asia at World Cup 2002 where he led the young American side to their most impressive Cup run to the Quarterfinals where they lost in controversial style to Germany. Donovan returned to MLS for two more years where he continued to dominate, earning MVP honors in 2003. While an Earthquake, Donovan won two MLS Cup titles.

In 2005 Landon’s loan ended and he returned to Germany to play for Leverkusen. However, he quickly decided he didn’t like life outside of California and MLS was happy to welcome him back, this time in Los Angeles. In his first year back in MLS (he actually didn’t miss one playing in 2004 for San Jose and 2005 for LA) he guided his new California club to the MLS Cup title, his third.

Donovan continues to lead the National Team as well, however his return to Germany in the summer of 2006 for the World Cup was a total disappointment. He never looked as confident or dangerous as he did in 2002. At the tender age of 24, Donovan has already been capped by the senior National team an astounding 84 times. He’s well on his way to becoming one of the most capped Americans of all time.

To Be Continued With...

Adolfo Gregorio –

Bryan Jackson –

Kellen Kalso –

Greg Martin –

Oguchi Onyewu –

Raul Rivera –

Matt Roberts –

Abe Thompson –

Seth Trembly –

Peter Withers –

Alexander Yi –

Coach John Ellinger –