Meet The Players

Jozy Altidore

Josmer "Jozy" Volmy Altidore^[1] (born November 6, 1989 in Livingston, New Jersey) is an American soccer striker of Haitian descent, who currently plays for Villarreal CF in Spain's La Liga. He previously played for Red Bull New York of Major League Soccer. His hometown is Boca Raton, Florida.

Playing career

MLS

Altidore was taken 17th overall in the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, with the MetroStars (now known as Red Bull New York) trading up to receive the selection. Altidore spent the majority of the 2006 season away from the team while working towards his high school diploma in Florida. Altidore made his professional debut 23 August, 2006 as a substitute in a 3-1 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup loss to D.C. United. He scored his first professional goal at the age of 16, blasting an 83rd minute, 28-yard shot to beat Columbus 1-0 September 16, 2006. Exactly one week later, on September 23, 2006 in a 4-3 loss to rivals D.C. United, Altidore scored again.

Scoring three times in seven appearances, including a crucial goal against the Chicago Fire on September 30 2006, Altidore became a fan favorite. He scored the Red Bulls' only goal of their 2-1 aggregate loss to D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Semifinals Series when he headed in a cross in the second leg. With that goal, he became the youngest player to score in the MLS playoffs at 16 years, 337 days (breaking DaMarcus Beasley's record by almost three years). Altidore was also youngest to start in an MLS playoff match on October 21 against D.C. United (16 years, 349 days). He also scored 2 goals in a 5-4 win over LA Galaxy on August 18, 2007. As of May 30th 2008, Altidore has made seven appearances for Red Bull New York in the 2008 season, scoring three times and registering one assist.

On November 25, 2007, Altidore became the subject of speculation to a January transfer to English Premier League sides Newcastle United^[2], Reading as well as La Liga side Real Madrid.^[3] It was reported in March 2008, that Altidore will be the subject of a bidding war between English giants Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea in the summer. transfer.^[4]

La Liga

On June 4, 2008, The Red Bulls, Major League Soccer, and Villarreal of Spain's La Liga agreed to terms for Jozy to transfer to Villareal, pending a physical and Jozy's agreement to personal contract terms with the club. It is also speculated that upon his move to Villarreal, he will immediately be loaned out to Recreativo de Huelva, also of La Liga. If the move takes place as planned, Jozy will transfer for nearly $10 million, which would nearly double the existing record for both an American and MLS players' price tag.[1]

International

He has played for the Under-17 United States national team, and was part of the U.S. squad at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship. He appeared as a substitute in the United States' 3-1 win over Italy and 2-0 loss to the Netherlands. He has also played for the U-20 team in their successful qualification to the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. During the group stage of the U-20 World Cup, Altidore tallied three goals, including two in the 2-1 win over Brazil, helping the Americans to advance at the top of group D. In the quarterfinals, Altidore scored a goal in the first half against Austria. With four goals, he was the leading goal scorer for the U.S.

On November 9, 2007, Altidore received his first call up to the USA national team for a friendly game against South Africa just three days after his 18th birthday. He came in as a sub in the 65th minute. In his second match, against Sweden, Altidore was again a second-half substitute, winning a penalty that Landon Donovan converted. On February 6, 2008, in a friendly match versus Mexico, Altidore made his first start for the national team where he also scored his first goal.