Jorge Flores of Anaheim, Calif., crowned winner of 'Sueño MLS: Chivas USA Wants You!'
Seventeen-year-old forward selected to join Chivas USA's Under-19 Team after an extensive televised search to find the best young player in the nation
"I'm honored to have earned this opportunity. I gave my very best during the past five weeks, and now I hope to take full advantage of this opportunity, show my best with the Chivas USA U-19's, and continue improving as a player," said Flores, who is scheduled to appear on the nationally-televised Univision morning show Despierta América tomorrow, Monday, March 26 (7-10 a.m. PT/ET), to discuss his path to the winner's circle. "In particular, I want to thank my family for their support, and to give a shout-out to all my friends in Anaheim."
Flores' quest began the weekend of February 16, 2007, when he took the field at the Bell Gardens Sports Center in Bell Gardens, California, along with 2,000 other hopefuls from around the U.S. and beyond. Flores then moved on to the Round of 60, where he discovered through an uncle that one of the other qualifiers, Abraham Garcia, was a second cousin he had never met. Both cousins moved on to the "Final 24," where Flores and his teammates got to play at The Home Depot Center's world-class soccer stadium against the Chivas Under-19 Team. While the "Final 24" lost to the U-19's, Flores scored the only goal for the dreamers, catching the eye of Chivas USA's scouts.
From the "Final 24," five players were invited to the coveted two-week trial with Chivas USA. Aldo Iñiguez, a 20-year old goalkeeper from Guadalajara, Mexico, trained with the team's full 28-man roster, while the other four players, including Flores and Garcia, trained with Chivas USA's highly successful Under-19 squad, which in just two years has already graduated three players to Chivas USA's full roster.
"All five players were very talented and showed a good level during their two-week trial, making our decision very difficult," said Chivas USA's Director of Soccer Dennis te Kloese, who has led the team's search for their next young star. "In the end, Jorge stood above the rest, and earned his spot. Now it is up to him to take advantage of the opportunity he has been given."
"On behalf of Chivas USA, I would like to welcome Jorge to our club," said Antonio Cué, President and Co-Owner of Chivas USA. "It is Chivas USA's mission to provide opportunities to talented young players like Jorge. We look forward to monitoring his progress in the months and years to come."
In addition to the title of Sueño MLS champion and a spot with Chivas USA's U-19 team, the winner was offered adidas equipment and a special family ticket package to Chivas USA's home games at The Home Depot Center. However, Flores respectfully declined all prizes, other than the spot on the Under-19 team, in order to maintain his college eligibility.
Jorge Flores Bio
Name: Jorge Flores
Born: September 16, 1989, Anaheim, California
Position: Forward
Hometown: Anaheim, California
Height: 5 ft 9 in
Weight: 140 lbs.
Soccer Notes:
Flores played three seasons for Anaheim High School, completing a stellar senior year with double digit goals and school MVP honors. He was also selected to the All-County Team and the district All-Star Game. Flores additionally played for the Santa Ana DSP Juventus Under-18 club team, which won the Coast Soccer League's Harvest Cup and California Cup in 2006.
Personal:
Currently a high school senior, this mercurial 17-year old left winger risked his job (he cleans a church near his home in Anaheim) to try out for Sueño MLS. Flores was the only Sueño MLS player to score in the games vs. the Chivas USA Under-19 team at The Home Depot Center. He also scored in the first day of his two-week trial with the team, in a scrimmage vs. the Chivas USA U-17's. He reached the two-week trial phase of the competition along with his second cousin, Abraham García, whom he met for the first time during Sueño MLS. Jorge's mother and step-father are both from the city of Pénjamo, Guanajuato, Mexico.
ABOUT SUEÑO MLS
"Sueño MLS: Chivas USA Wants You!" is a month-long quest to find the best undiscovered young soccer player in the nation. This nationally-televised competition was featured as a unique "reality show within a show" every Sunday during Univision's top-rated República Deportiva sports program. Sueño MLS was officially launched on January 28, 2007, with a nationally-televised announcement on República Deportiva. Within eight hours, all 2,000 spots for the open tryout were filled though online registration at www.SuenoMLS.com, with 4,000 more hopefuls joining a waiting list in the subsequent days. The 6,000 total registrants came from 45 states and 25 foreign countries.
The open tryouts took place the weekend of February 16-19 at the Bell Gardens Sports Center in Los Angeles County, California. The 2,000 aspiring players were greeted by a multitude of fans, while the event gained extensive media coverage, both locally and nationally. Only 60 players moved on to the semifinals a week later at Bell Gardens. On March 3, the "Final 24" competed in games against Chivas USA's Under-19 squad at the Home Depot Center's magnificent soccer stadium. From that group, five talented players were invited to a two-week trial with the team.
SUEÑO MLS KEY DATES:
February 16-19 Open Tryouts (2,000 players) February 24 Tryout for 60 semifinalists March 3 Tryout for "The Final 24" March 9-23 Two-week trial with Chivas USA (5 players) March 25 Jorge Flores crowned Sueño MLS winner April 7 MLS 2007 Season begins
