FCD Joins U.S. Development Academy

Gabriel Funes, 17, is one of four players invited to join the new youth initiative.
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We kind of let this news out last month, and today, the U.S. Soccer Federation made it official. FC Dallas is among the 12 new clubs that were selected to join the U.S. Development Academy program in 2008-09. In order to better identify the club's elite youth teams, we'll call this the FC Dallas Juniors program. FC Dallas will soon send out an official press release with complete details about the FC Dallas Juniors program. Keep reading...

Gabriel Funes (17, Arlington; above), Alexei Reyes (16, Dallas), Noel Luna (17, Fort Worth), and Rafael Martinez (16, Dallas) have been identified by FC Dallas as the first players invited to form the FC Dallas Juniors. These four players were selected from the Sueño MLS tryout event held at Pizza Hut Park earlier this year.

FC Dallas, the Los Angeles Galaxy and the New England Revolution were added to the Academy, bringing the number of MLS teams to nine overall. They join the Chicago Fire, Chivas USA, Colorado Rapids, Columbus Crew, D.C. United and New York Red Bulls as Development Academy participants. The Kansas City Wizards will join in 2009-10. The other nine new clubs in 2008 come from Texas and California.

Launched in the fall of 2007 after a detailed review of player development systems in the U.S. and across the world, the Development Academy has provided over 3,000 players, 400 coaches and 500 referees with a nationally-coordinated program designed to enhance their development environment. Focusing on all aspects of player development, the Academy has improved the training environment, provided relevant, high-level matches on a consistent basis, increased the level and efficiency of scouting for the national teams and provided players, coaches and referees with structured programming.