The 29-year-old attacker shocked Main League Soccer with a 22-goal efficiency in 2013 that earned him MVP honors. Magee now hopes to get his likelihood with the U.S. nationwide workforce.
BY
Brian Sciaretta
Posted
December 31, 2013
1:20 PM
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YEARS FROM NOW, when American soccer followers look again on 2013, most will keep in mind it fondly.America nationwide workforce lastly purchased into Jurgen Klinsmann’s system and performed with swagger en path to successful each the Hexagonal World Cup qualifying match and the Gold Cup.
Main League Soccer added Clint Dempsey to its roster of American stars and retained fellow U.S. internationals Landon Donovan, Omar Gonzalez, and Graham Zusi to new long-term offers. The New York Pink Bulls lastly constructed a workforce that might contend and Sporting Kansas Metropolis was a worthy MLS Cup Champion.
Regardless of all of that, probably the most stunning and galvanizing American tales got here from Mike Magee, a journeyman who went from being part of the supporting solid on a star-studded Los Angeles Galaxy workforce to MLS MVP. Traded to his hometown Chicago Hearth on Could 25 for Robbie Rogers, Magee scored 22 targets in 2013 and practically lifted a moribund Hearth workforce into the MLS playoffs.
“When I got the call it was extremely humbling,” Magee advised American Soccer Now, recalling the second he realized he was MVP. “It was positively a shock. I believe at that second I seemed up previous winners. As soon as it sunk in, I seemed on the all the opposite gamers individuals may have voted for. The finalists had been me, Robbie Keane, and Marco De Vaio—that alone is unimaginable to be in a brief record with these two names. That was ok for me.”
The 29-year-old has been within the league since he was a young person and by no means put up offensive numbers like this earlier than. Magee, nevertheless, insists that his scoring flurry got here as the results of a easy positional change.
“What’s funny is that in my rookie year I was 18 years old and I scored eight goals,” he said, adding that he played forward at the time. “It seems like two decades ago.”
“Ever since then I got moved to left midfield. I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, but all along I’ve always considered myself a forward— even if I was playing forward maybe only once a year. I did well with my chances in L.A. when I played up top, but with Robbie and Landon, I was well aware with where I stood and played within the team. So when I played [with the Fire], it was kind of like 10 years coming. I definitely needed to score some goals because I didn’t want to get moved back to the midfield.”
And rating targets he did, together with 15 after his arrival in Chicago, three of which had been game-winners, to associate with 4 assists. Followers throughout the league lastly began listening to Magee; gamers had observed his expertise way back.
Landon Donovan has steadily praised Magee, as have others. No participant, nevertheless, has gone on document as enthusiastically as former Tottenham nice and present Galaxy ahead Robbie Keane.
Through the present MLS low season, Keane went again to Eire and gave an interview with The Herald the place he lamented the Galaxy’s determination to commerce Magee to Chicago and was confounded that Magee has by no means been referred to as to the U.S. nationwide workforce. He additionally steered that Irish nationwide workforce supervisor Martin O’Neil and his assistant, Roy Keane, ought to foyer Magee about taking part in for Eire.
“I keep reminding the manager it was stupid to get rid of him because he’s after banging in 20 goals or something so that wasn’t clever,” Keane laughingly advised The Herald. “He’s probably waiting for that American call-up. How he hasn’t got it I don’t know. He was a left-winger for us, a very clever footballer. Technically he’s very good. He didn’t start playing until he was 16. He never played as a kid. If [Martin O’Neill] asked me about him, I certainly would but I’m sure Roy and people would be fully aware of all the players available to them.”
When requested about Keane’s suggestion that he play for Eire, Magee is flattered however politely downplays the notion. Magee is eligible for Irish citizenship via is grandparents however has by no means gone via the method of buying a passport. He insists he has his sights set on representing the US and for him to even think about Eire he “would actually want for the U.S. to inform me I might by no means play” for them first.
This week may present Magee with an opportunity to show himself. Within the first few days of 2014 Jurgen Klinsmann is predicted to call his roster for the annual January camp. Since most European gamers will be unable to attend on account of membership commitments, the door may lastly be open to Magee.
Many gamers who’re on the surface of the U.S. nationwide workforce steadily admit that they attempt to not take into consideration making the workforce and as an alternative merely rejoice it if the chance comes. Magee, nevertheless, is totally different. As a veteran of the united statesU-17 and U-20 nationwide groups, he dreamed of taking part in for his nation on the senior degree and is assured that he might help the workforce.
There may be historic precedent too for late inclusions into the U.S. workforce throughout World Cup years. In 2002, neither DaMarcus Beasley nor Pablo Mastroeni had been essential components of World Cup qualifying however each emerged late within the cycle to make the World Cup workforce. In 2010, Herculez Gomez, Edson Buddle, and Robbie Findley had been additionally late inclusions.
Magee is at the moment coaching for the camp and is each keen and hopeful to report for obligation subsequent week.
“I’ll never put it aside. I’m training as if I’m in that camp,” Magee mentioned. “My glass is at all times sort of half full and I’d be mendacity if I mentioned it hadn’t been on the again of my thoughts the final three years. It’s sort of been the one factor that has at all times sort of eluded me. I need it dangerous. I do know I might help the workforce. There are plenty of good gamers. I do know the standard I carry. I’m assured if I get my likelihood, I’ll do effectively with it.
“I don’t watch all the [U.S.] games but I watch most,” he added. “I have some really good friends on the team. It’s still painful to watch when it’s a team you want to be playing for. At the same time, I grew up a fan of this team. When they get to the World Cup, hopefully I’ll be there, but if not I’ll be rooting for them.”
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Brian Sciaretta is an American Soccer Now columnist and an ASN 100 panelist. Comply with him on Twitter.
