Renton's Jalen Markey named to U.S. Under-18 MNT training camp roster

CHICAGO (Sept. 5, 2012) – U.S. Under-18 Men’s National Team head coach Javier Perez has named Sounders FC Academy defender Jalen Markey to the 20-player roster for an 11-day, foreign-based training camp from Sept. 6-17 in Mill, Netherlands. The U-18 MNT is scheduled to play an international friendly against the Netherlands on Sept. 11 in Groesbeek, Netherlands.

A native of Renton, Wash., Markey, 17, is a 6-2 center back who played up an age last season with the Sounders FC U-18 academy team. A senior at Seattle’s O’Dea High School, Markey received his first call to play with the U-18 National Team in their training camp in Florida last January.

“Markey is a dominating presence on the field. He is strong in the challenge and just as powerful in the air on set pieces. The center back played up an age last season with the U18s and held his own in that setting,” says TopDrawerSoccer.com The site also ranks Markey #1 in a pool of Northwest talent.

Perez’s squad travels to the Netherlands on Sept. 7 and is also scheduled to play friendly matches against U-18 club teams representing Feyenoord Rotterdam, Borussia Dortmund and Club Brugge during the week.

The roster features 10 players from the team’s trip to Lisbon, Portugal from May 23-26 for the Lisbon International Tournament where the U-18 MNT earned draws against Poland and Slovakia before a hard-fought 1-0 loss to host Portugal.

Several players have earned their first call up to the U-18 MNT, including forward Julian Green and midfielders Jacori Hayes and Piakai Henkel.

Green, who was born in Tampa, Fla., plays for Bayern Munich’s academy in Germany and has made several appearances with German Youth National Teams. Henkel moved from Arcata, Calif., to play for the Paris Saint-Germain academy two years ago and recently signed a youth development contract with Amiens of the French third division.

Two other foreign-based players are making return appearances in camp for the U-18s. Romain Gall is making his second appearance in camp for the U-18s. Gall was first called up in January for a training camp in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Originally from Herndon, Va., Gall plays for the FC Lorient academy in France. Kristian Scott, who plays in the Stoke City academy in England, was most recently called into U-18 camp in March of 2012.

Three players on the roster have signed professional contracts with Major League Soccer. Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas), Marco Delgado (Chivas USA) and Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union) all represent the top professional league in the U.S.

Of the 20 players called into camp, 13 are currently part of teams set to compete in the upcoming 2012-13 U.S. Soccer Development Academy season which begins this weekend. Real Salt Lake Arizona and Chivas USA each had two players called into camp. In total, 16 players have experience playing in the Development Academy.

U.S. U-18 MNT Roster By Position:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Ethan Horvath (Unattached; Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Zackary Steffen (Maryland; Downington, Pa.).

DEFENDERS (5): Michael Amick (De Anza Force; Sunnyvale, Calif.), Suliaman Dainkeh (DC United Academy; Reston, Va.), Dylan Greenberg (Albertson SC; Dix Hills, N.Y.), Trevor Haberkorn (Solar Chelsea SC; Roanoke, Texas), Jalen Markey (Seattle Sounders FC Academy; Renton, Wash.).

MIDFIELDERS (6): Kellyn Acosta (FC Dallas; Plano, Texas), Marco Delgado (CD Chivas USA; Glendora, Calif.), Romain Gall (FC Lorient; Herndon, Va.), Jacori Hayes (Baltimore Bays; Bowie, Md.), Piakai Henkel (Amiens FC; Arcata, Calif.), Kristian Scott (Stoke City, Winterbourne, England)

FORWARDS (7): Jordan Allen (Real Salt Lake Arizona; Rochester, N.Y.), Paul Arriola (LA Galaxy; Chula Vista, Calif.), Julian Green (Bayern Munich; Tampa, Fla.), Benjamin Lopez (Real Salt Lake Arizona; San Diego, Calif.), Zach Pfeffer (Philadelphia Union; Dresher, Pa.), Ben Spencer Jr. (CD Chivas USA; Albuquerque, N.M.), Travis Wannemuehler (Indiana Fire Academy; Evansville, Ind.)

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