Zakuani hails Generation adidas
MLS education program swayed top pick to spurn overseas offer
The money was better in England, but MLS offered an intangible that became too valuable to pass up, which is why Zakuani, who led the nation in scoring at the University of Akron, signed a Generation adidas contract.
"I came here not just to play soccer, but for education, too, and as part of the Generation adidas contract they guarantee me an education so that was probably the biggest weighing factor," he said.
Indeed, a benefit to the players is the grants they receive to continue their college education.
"A significant part of the Generation adidas program is the educational component," said Todd Durbin, Major League Soccer's executive vice president of player relations and competition. "We work with players, while they're professionals, to help them continue their education and get their degree. It's important to us, important to them and something we're really proud of."
A huge benefit for the Major League Soccer teams are that Generation adidas players do not count against a club's salary cap.
"The salary benefit is a big factor, but in terms of selecting and identifying the top picks in this country there's a pretty decent process," said Red Bulls technical director Jeff Agoos, who selected Jeremy Hall of Maryland and Generation adidas with the 11th overall pick. "It can always be improved, of course, but it's a credit to those guys coming through Generation adidas and all the college and MLS coaches going through the pretty stringent process of selecting. I think its working."
Of the nine players in this year's class, four were among the top six players selected in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft and seven were picked in the first round.
"Their value is definitely enhanced a bit because they are non-roster counting players," Seattle Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. "Generation adidas players always have a bit of a premium."
Last year's class of nine players made up six of the top eight picks in the 2008 SuperDraft, including the top three selections -- Chance Myers (Kansas City Wizards, No. 1 overall), Brek Shea (FC Dallas, No. 2), and Anthony Beltran (Real Salt Lake, No. 3). The No. 1 overall selection in each SuperDraft since 2003 has been a member of the program.
"I think the league has done a great job all around in bringing them all to the Combine. The Generation adidas kids, they always go. Most of them go (very early)," said Toronto FC technical director Mo Johnston, who selected Generation adidas goalkeeper Stefan Frei with the 13th overall pick. "If you look at (Jozy) Altidore, Maurice Edu, Marvell Wynne, Sacha Kjlestan, they're all quality in their own way."
D.C. United selected a Generation adidas player with Maryland midfielder Rodney Wallace at No. 6 overall, but then went with University of California-Santa Barbara forward Chris Pontius with the next selection.
"Obviously it always weighs in, because they're cap-protected, but we also want to address needs," D.C. United head coach Tom Soehn said. "So we felt like we did a good job of taking one Generation adidas [Wallace] and then a senior [Pontius] who I think is ready to step in and help us immediately."
While the MLS SuperDraft is the big stage that Generation adidas players get to shine on, the process of identifying those players is a yearlong process.
"We spend a lot of times working with our coaches, with college coaches and the youth U.S. national team coaches to identify the best young domestic talent that we have in this country," Durbin said. "It's a long process and we feel really good about the players we signed this year."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
