ASN: One of many high youngsters in MLS, Atencio seeking to increase Seattle’s stretch run

Josh Atencio has been given numerous obligations in 2021 as a central midfielder for one of many greatest golf equipment in MLS. Now the Seattle native might be seeking to be a key contributor within the stretch run and the playoffs. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with the Bellevue, native about his development as a participant in addition to his brief and long-term ambitions. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 27, 2021
12:00 PM

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THE SEATTLE SOUNDERS HAVE handled a load of challenges this yr and this has been far totally different than years previous. Jordan Morris has missed the complete season on account of a torn ACL. Accidents have restricted Nicholas Lodeiro to below 400 minutes thus far, and Stefan Frei has additionally been sidelined for an extended stretch. For the league’s finest workforce over the previous decade, the components for fulfillment has been examined.

Getting into into this weekend, Seattle nonetheless sits among the many finest groups within the league regardless of a latest four-game winless stretch and Brian Schmetzer’s workforce stays within the combine for the perfect general file within the Western Convention.

A part of the way in which the workforce has been in a position to proceed to win has been the optimistic contributions from younger gamers from inside its personal academy. Along with the veteran leaders, younger gamers have been given minutes and turn into dependable performers.

Josh Atencio, 19, has been the most important addition from inside the workforce’s personal academy this season. The Bellevue, Washington has made 17 begins and 23 appearances for the Sounders’ first workforce and he has appeared greater than able to deal with the obligations in central midfield for one of many league’s greatest groups.

“It’s a combination of guys that are willing to step up when they’re given the opportunity and just the winning mentality that the club has had for so long now,” Atencio instructed ASN. “When you’re going through the academy, they teach the kids that you have you have to win every game that you step into, every time you have an opportunity and a game and practice, anything – you’re trying to win as much as possible. That mentality starts in us when we’re young and it definitely translates up through every factor in the club. Every guy in that locker room wants to win every single game. It shows in the results.”

Atencio enjoys enjoying in his hometown, in entrance of big crowds – usually with household and associates current. Nevertheless it was a difficult path to get up to now. After becoming a member of the Sounders academy in 2016, he moved onto the membership’s USL workforce, the Tacoma Defiance, in 2018. Then in 2019, he lastly inked a first-team homegrown contract with the Sounders.

In 2020, Atencio made his Sounders debut, however his six appearances have been all cameos which totaled simply 11 minutes. It hasn’t been till this season when he has been in a position to contribute in a significant approach, beginning frequently within the No. 6 or No. 8 positions. Whereas he has performed effectively on a person foundation, that has been most vital is that he has helped the workforce proceed its profitable custom – which he believes is rooted deeply within the workforce’s tradition.

“I think the pathway is dialed in and honestly, the transition from the academy to the Defiance to the first team to being a contributor on the first team is about as good as possible and prepares the players about as best as they could possibly be prepared to help the team win games,” Atencio mentioned.

Very good from Josh Atencio right here. pic.twitter.com/aslrrzMpve

— Matthew Doyle (@MattDoyle76) October 10, 2021

“Back to the winning mentality and everything, everything from the top down in the club is super similar,” he added. “We’re taught similar things that we’re taught in first team training. We’re taught those things from when we’re 14 years old. We have a lot of time and opportunities to use what we’ve learned at different levels.”

Head coach Brian Schmetzer agrees that being surrounded within the Sounders tradition has helped Atencio in his improvement.

“He’s only 19, so I wouldn’t call him a veteran yet. But certainly, he is showcasing his abilities in a good way,” Schmetzer mentioned of Atencio. “I go back to the growth of 2020 and COVID being such a messed-up year. It actually was a great year for Josh because he was with us in our little bubble and I think he learned a lot. He was in that environment and he just kind of felt it and he kind of just took off.”

— Tacoma Defiance (@TACdefiance) August 20, 2018

Atencio comes from a soccer household the place most performed the sport at a excessive stage  – usually into school. Household pickup video games have been frequent, and everybody was surrounded by the game. It was there the place Atencio stood out and most realized he was totally different.

However his tight-knit household additionally has helped Atencio together with his maturity, not simply his soccer ability. The veterans of the Sounders are fast to level this out.

“What impresses me sometimes is when you have a young guy who kind of becomes the not young guy,” Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei mentioned not too long ago. “The way Josh plays right now and the confidence that he exudes is that of a senior player to me….It’s always really nice to see young guys prove you wrong, that they’re not so young. You almost absorb them as one of the veterans right away, and that makes it easier for the older guys, because you have one in your own ranks.”

The approaching years might be transformative for Atencio. The upcoming playoff run might be demanding and there are expectations for Seattle to reverse its skid and go far within the playoff race – and Atencio must contribute to that effort. Additionally, like many American gamers of his technology, he hopes to make the transfer overseas and has attended youth nationwide workforce camps beforehand with Gianluca Busio and Tanner Tessmann – each of whom not too long ago have been offered from MLS groups to Venezia in Serie A.

Whereas 2020 was a tough yr for most individuals, it was particularly onerous on Atencio and gamers of his start yr. Atencio was anticipated to be in competition for a spot on the U.S. U-20 workforce however the U-20 World Cup was cancelled on Christmas Eve and it left many with out the chance to play on a key worldwide platform.

After not making the U.S. U-17 workforce, the U-20 workforce was anticipated to be an enormous alternative in 2021. With that gone, Atencio is concentrated on Seattle however might be eligible for the subsequent U-23 workforce, however will probably be as much as the U.S. U-20 workforce to qualify for that event subsequent summer season. Atencio hopes to have that likelihood.

“The cancelation of the U-20 World Cup was the first time through covid that I actually like sat back and was like, wow, this sucks,” Atencio mentioned. “I haven’t been part of the youth national team scene for a couple of years now, but I was fortunate enough to be able to rep the badge more than a couple of times when I was younger. To be wearing the to be wearing red, white and blue when the national anthem is playing and, you’re representing the country and you’re getting experience playing against other nations who have like different nuances to the game. It’s amazing. It really is.”