D.C. United is paving the way for Homegrown products in Major League Soccer.
This year, D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid had a breakout season, setting career highs in shutouts, saves and wins. The Annendale, Va., native did more than set personal records, though; he created two new benchmarks for Homegrown goalkeepers in MLS.
In July, Hamid became the first Homegrown goalkeeper to make the MLS All-Star Team, and yesterday, he became the first Homegrown ‘keeper to be named MLS Goalkeeper of the Year.
“It is very rewarding to see a talented young man with a real passion and commitment about him develop into a star,” said D.C. United General Manager Dave Kasper. “He has remained humble and hungry, and this will put him in good stead for the future he has ahead of him.”
United Homegrown product Andy Najar also etched his name into the history books in 2010 and then again in 2013. In his first season on the First Team, Najar earned himself Rookie of the Year—the first time this honor was awarded to a Homegrown player. Last year, the Black-and-Red sold the forward-turned-defender to RS Anderlecht, becoming the first Homegrown to be sold overseas.
“We provided a platform for Andy to quickly ascend into the First Team and for an opportunity to learn the right things to become a good professional,” said Kasper.
With both a Rookie of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year to its name, D.C. United is the only team whose Homegrown players have won end of the season awards.
“Since the Homegrown player initiative became a reality in MLS, we adopted the philosophy that we were going to give young players a real opportunity to play in the First Team— that this was the wave of the future in our league, a way to connect to our community and a way to provide players to our First Team,” said Kasper.
Starting in the D.C. United Academy, players are developed and skills are honed. Players with potential or proven talent get noticed and those deserving get a shot at becoming a professional. But, there’s one more part to the equation of making a great Homegrown player that United definitely has in Ben Olsen.
“You can make young players better, but you need a coach with the guts to allow a young player to take his lumps on the big stage. This has been a big key to making it all work here.”
Two major benchmarks in four-short years prove the system works. As MLS works to become a destination around the world and the United States Men’s National Team aims to become more competitive on the global stage, developing young talent becomes the focus and path to achieving these goals.
“We are always looking to improve everything that we do - from recruiting to player development to facilities,” Kasper said. “The work that we have done in the youth space is just getting started.”
