It is a dream come true for a young centre-back, particularly one who has wanted to play for a Premier League club. Competing at the highest level of football. Right now, New York Red Bulls defender Matt Miazga is on top. The young American is about to make his dreams come true by agreeing to sign for Chelsea.
But who is Matt Miazga? And how did you become a target for such a renowned club? As many fans of the US Men’s National Team and Major League Soccer know, the 20-year-old is a talented player from Clifton, New Jersey, born to Polish parents. Miazga even made an appearance for the Poland under-18 team in 2012.
At one point, Miazga was about to go play college football and had signed a letter of intent to join the University of Michigan. That’s when the Red Bulls called. They wanted him for his academy. Giving up that letter of intent, Miazga decided to stay home and join his hometown club, signing with the Red Bulls as a local player on May 30, 2013.
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Miazga established himself as a superstar within the New York academy, showing promise throughout 2013. At the end of that year’s MLS season, Miazga was able to make his professional debut, coming on as a substitute in a 4-game victory. -1 from New York over Houston in September. 8. He remained with the team’s reserve league side, however, playing nine times out of 12 games on the schedule.
Two months into the 2014 season, as the club suffered a brief slump under head coach Mike Petke, Miazga received his first real break, starting during the Red Bulls’ June 8 trip to New England. Playing the full 90 minutes, Miazga was involved in the team’s first win at Gillette Stadium in more than a decade. He would go on to start six of the next seven games, playing 500 minutes and assisting on Bradley Wright-Phillip’s goal against Toronto on June 27.
Then the leak happened. Although former Marseille defender Ronald Zubar had been brought in to partner Damien Perrinelle in central defence, a strained muscle in Zubar’s right leg prevented that partnership from taking hold. In place of the Guadeloupe international, Miazga grew up before our eyes. Stopping powerhouse attackers like New York City FC’s David Villa, the young international showed why many see him as a future mainstay for his senior national team.
Miazga finally scored his first professional goal at Yankee Stadium as the Red Bulls crossed the Hudson River to take on NYCFC. After going into the break for one goal, the Red Bulls scored three unanswered. For the final goal, within the final 10 minutes of regulation, Miazga headed a cross into the near post, past Josh Saunders and homered to celebrate on the hallowed ball field.
Miazga also played very well as a member of the US team that went to New Zealand for the U-20 World Cup. Sadly, that team lost in the quarterfinals in a lengthy penalty shootout to eventual champions Serbia. However, later in 2015, Miazga earned his first cap for the senior team, appearing in the United States’ 6–1 World Cup qualifying victory in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on 13 November.
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Miazga is a good boy who quickly improved his game in a year and a half, going from allowing easy goals and arguing with the referees to a solid central defender. He had a lot of confidence from head coach Jesse Marsch in 2015 and it showed why he is so talented for the United States.
After rumors that he wanted to move to Europe right away, it looks like he will make his next stop at Premier League side Chelsea. For those unsure why Chelsea would be interested, there are further rumors that Montreal striker Didier Drogba has contacted his former club and told them to get the young American center back as soon as possible.
I was at Red Bull Arena for a training session last season before the first game in the MLS rivalry in New York. As the city’s soccer media conducted their interviews, I saw a man in a white polo shirt who couldn’t stop smiling at Miazga. I went up to him and asked if he knew the young defender. He nodded and said, “Uncle.” I shook his hand, since he seemed to barely speak English.
I told him good for you, and he was able to say thank you. That’s how happy the Miazga family is for their son, who has risen up fast enough to make this big move across the Atlantic.
Personally, the only hope I have for Miazga is that he actually gets his minutes, so that Jurgen Klinsmann doesn’t lose another prospect to a team that needs a shot of youth.
