Change is good for FCD's Alvarez
Last season, Alvarez scored a career-high three goals and also had one assist while playing in 19 games. The Houston native dominated for the Hoops reserves, leading them with five goals and tying him for third-most in the entire league, but he didn't get a great deal of playing under then-head coach Colin Clarke.
But after Clarke was relieved of his duties at the end of last season, the club named one of his former assistants, Steve Morrow, as the new head coach. For Alvarez, it's a welcome change.
"It is definitely a good thing," he said. "Things didn't go my way last year. But this is a new beginning with a new coach. Steve (Morrow) was an assistant here last year but there is a big difference with him being head coach. Hopefully, he will include me in his plans. I'm ready for it and have been ready for it for a few years. I want to show what I've got."
Spending a week training in Mexico is one experience that Alvarez should benefit from heading into the 2007 MLS season.
"It was great," he said. "I talked to Steve and my agent. I told them that I wanted to go train down in Mexico with a team. My agent set it up with Pumas. I was down there for a whole week and it was a great experience.
"That showed me that I just need to give it 110 percent everyday in games and practices. It was good to see how things work down there. They're just really passionate about the game. That's something that we are going to do here in the U.S. as well."
On Saturday, Alvarez will begin a camp with the U.S. under-23 national team in L.A. that is set to run for a week. That camp will help determine who makes up the squad that travels to Japan one week later. Should Alvarez make that cut, he will be back in Dallas on Feb. 24.
"I'm really happy to be called to the U-23 team," he said. "The last time I was involved with the national team was when I played on the U-20s and things didn't work out. I didn't make the team for the U-20 World Championships in 2005. I made the final roster a few years before (in 2003), got hurt and didn't go. That's how things go sometimes."
Alvarez is clearly looking forward to playing with the U-23s, especially since he already knows a number of his teammates on the squad.
"It's going to be good," he said. "I know most of the guys that have been called up. I have talked to a few friends of mine who are going. There's nothing better than playing for your country. It fills you with confidence and self-esteem."
He admits that his time in Mexico coupled with his upcoming run with the U-23s will help make him even more fit than he has been before heading into the MLS season.
"I think that I was fit last year," he said. "I feel good like I did last year. But I have a lot more confidence this year and am looking forward to the season."
In his first four seasons in MLS, Alvarez has played in 69 games -- 43 of those with the Hoops. He concedes that if he is going to have a breakout year, this could be his best chance.
"I think this should be the year," he said. "I'm going to do everything on my part to make it happen. The rest comes down to the coaches. I'm hungry, am looking forward to it and am ready for the season. Hopefully, I will have a good year so better things can come for me in the future."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
