Miranda: “I hope I can replicate [past Bolivian] success here."

United’s newly acquired forward Bruno Miranda, 19, hopes he can add his name the list of Bolivian legends to succeed at D.C. United. Two of United’s all-time greats, Jaime Moreno and Marco Etcheverry, also hail from Bolivia.

“They’re idols here and back home,” he said. “I hope I can replicate their success here as much as possible.”

While Miranda never got to see the pair play live, he always heard about them growing up. Miranda attended the same famed academy that produced Moreno and Etcheverry, Tahuichi, in his hometown of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

“I never watched them live, but I was in the same academy as them,” Miranda said. “So, there were always pictures around of them and everybody talked about them.”

It’s easy to see why. Moreno is United’s all-time leader in goals (131), games played (329) and assists (102). Etcheverry is second in assists for United with 101 and holds the club record for assists in a season, with 19 in both 1996 and 1998. Both contributed to United’s 1996, 1997 and 1999 MLS cup victories.

The forward says the adjustment to the United States has been an easy one so far, with the Bolivian community in D.C. and the club welcoming him with open arms.

“It feels really good to be here and to see people from my country making me feel so welcome and making it feel so much like home,” Miranda said. “That’s an important feeling being at a new club in a new city.”

Miranda has earned three caps with the national team and made his international debut against the U.S. on May 29, 2016, entering as a second-half substitute as an 18-year-old.

Now, Miranda will look to play as much as he can at the league level and hopefully progress in both MLS and with the national side: "Being at this club will still give me an opportunity to play with the national team and have success with them."