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Tracy rides fast track to national team camp

Marcus Tracy (AAB)

By ADAM SERRANO

Marcus Tracy has endured his share of ups and downs in his first year of professional soccer, but the former Wake Forest standout has come through it in impressive fashion and did enough to earn a look from U.S. national team head coach Bob Bradley.

It was almost exactly a year ago when Tracy passed on a contract offer from Major League Soccer to sign for Danish club Aalborg BK. Initially in and out of the lineup, Tracy has begun to find his feet in Europe, starting in the club’s last four matches and even scoring a goal. That success was enough to make him one of the young players called in for January's U.S. national team camp, a call-up that was a pleasant surprise for the 23-year old.

“I always thought that if I worked hard that I would have an opportunity. I didn’t know when it would come, but I believe in my ability and the path that I took to be successful,” said Tracy. “It did come as a surprise to be called into this camp, but I did think that if I kept going on my own path that I would get noticed.”

The forward’s first national team camp offers him the opportunity to be evaluated by Bradley, who has not been shy about giving young players opportunities during his tenure as national team head coach.

“I think what this camp is about is getting to know him better,” Bradley said of Tracy. “This is a very exciting thing for a young player to be a part of and hopefully he’ll show well in this camp.”

A rookie on the national team scene, Tracy is playing alongside plenty of new faces, including some veterans who should help provide some guidance. One of those veterans Tracy will be looking to follow the lead of is Benny Feilhaber, who played with his brother Ryan at the youth level for Beachside Soccer Club in Connecticut.

“He has done a great job dealing with the rough times in his career,” said Tracy of Feilhaber. “He’s a really talented player and I enjoy watching him play.”

The January 23rd friendly vs. Honduras will offer Tracy and the rest of the forwards in camp a chance of strengthening their position for further matches. With the forward pool a bit on the thin side heading toward the World Cup, Tracy's name is likely to be thrown into the mix of potential candidates to make the World Cup.

Tracy has dialed down the expectations on his ability to be a member of Bob Bradley’s team in South Africa, and sees his first national team camp as more a chance to make a good first impression rather than a first step toward a World Cup.

“We have to be realistic, I’m just out here to work hard and learn," Tracy said. "If an opportunity comes up then great, but this is my first camp and the World Cup is in six months and so how likely is it that I get called up?” Tracy said. “You never know what could happen, but I’m trying to keep my expectations realistic so that I can work and improve.”

Comments

  1. I interviewed him last year… he was very humble, and one of the most intelligent high-level soccer players I’ve ever talked to. An absolute class act. Really pulling for him to do well for both club and country.

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  2. nguyen has been training with fc dallas for an extended amount of time. last I heard they were keen on signing him. I think that’d be a great move for them.

    not sure what the official deal is with arsenal either, i know they were somewhat impressed with him, but I can’t see them offering a contract to a 23 year old who clearly lacks the ability to contribute to the first team.

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  3. Yeah, I’m familiar with all that, there is word that Lee’s agent is waiting on Arsenals decision on this kid. What decision? Is there something I’m missing here? That is what I’m interested in finding out. It’s all over Arsenal blogs and sites. But there is no conclusion coming from anyone. MLS? That is just a rumor in my opinion, there is nobody to confirm that.

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  4. As far as I know he is/was training with an unnamed MLS team (FC Dallas is my guess). The Arsenal trial was set up with his old Vietnamese club team. The trial went “positively” (whatever the hell that means), but there was no real chance that Arsenal were interested in signing him. His club team just had some kind of connection with Arsenal.

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  5. I use to play this kid in High School when he was tearing it up with his team, Newtown…I knew he would become a great player because really he was better than everyone on the field…Then I saw him in the College Cup with Wake Forest and he was still at the top of his game and now his finally getting a chance with the NT…So proud of the guy and hope he can become the next great American forward

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  6. I believe he is refering to Mwanga. We already know Tracy is a citizen. FWIW, Mwanga has only been in the states for four years, so he’s currently not a citizen.

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  7. FYI.

    “Marcus Tracy (born October 2, 1986 in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania) is an American soccer player who currently plays as a striker for Aalborg in the Danish Superliga.”

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  8. If he continues to start for his club and can consistently score goals he could be the next ” chalie davies”; a real talent that not many knew about.

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  9. Well what’s his immigration status now? Whatever it is, he’s only eligible to become a US Citizen on the fifth year anniversary of becoming a US Resident.

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  10. It would have been nice for him had he been called up for the Denmark friendly, but it’s good to see the kid getting his chance. His attitude seems like what we’ve come to expect and hope for from an American footballer, and it makes it all that much easier to pull for him.

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  11. You can’t get much from such a small amount of comments but I get the feeling Marcus is very humble and quiet. The few times I saw him in college he was by far the most athletic and naturally gifted players on the pitch. I can’t wait to see him in an international next Saturday.

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  12. I know everyone loves this guy, but I’ll be excited once he starts scoring a bit more. Bottom line is that he’s only got two goals on the year.

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  13. Is there any chance that this Danny Mwanga kid eventually becomes a US citizen and plays internationally for the US instead of Congo?

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  14. I’m glad to see he’s keeping his feet on the ground, but hey– if he’s got good form in camp, performs well in friendlies, and gets consistent playing time with Aalborg why not? These leagues have shown they’re a good incubator for talent, and he seems to be a talented player. I would love to see him pulling on the US kit come June.

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