Sporting D.C. Squad Overview:
Goalkeepers:
William Yarbrough –
Age: 25
Nation: Mexico/USA
Contract: Marquee
The dual Mexican-American citizen has been plying his trade in the Mexican league for his entire career, and now he makes a step into a new atmosphere in the American Premier League. On the fringes of the U.S. national team, it will be interesting to see how Yarbrough copes with being one Sporting D.C.’s most important players.
Brian Rowe –
Age: 26
Nation: USA
Contract: Developmental
The former L.A. Galaxy stopper will be a backup to Yarbrough this season, and should look for performances in the cup to help him attempt to secure a new contract, as he is only on a one year deal.
Chase Harrison –
Age: 30
Nation: USA
Contract: Developmental
The experienced custodian will be a major force in helping develop his younger counterparts and, if both of them receive injuries, should be more than capable to stay composed in big games.
Defenders:
Marko Biskupovic –
Age: 25
Nation: Chile
Contract: Developmental
A steal for Sporting D.C., Biskupovic brings in international experience with two caps from Chile on a developmental contract. The towering defender will hope to attempt to insert himself into the starting eleven and will use his experience in the Chilean top flight to do so.
Michael Orozco Fiscal –
Age: 28
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior Star
Arguably the top center back for Sporting D.C., the U.S. international should be a contender for captain of the club in its historic first season. He will likely feature frequently for the side, and his experience both in Mexico and internationally should greatly benefit the club’s back line.
Tyler Turner –
Age: 18
Nation: USA
Contract: Developmental
One of the future key players of Sporting, with a five year deal to signify their intent, the current U.S. U-20 international will provide ample support as a right back and has the potential to develop into a top player for the league.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah –
Age: 16
Nation: Holland
Contract: Developmental
Definitely one of the players with the most potential in this Sporting D.C. side, Fosu-Mensah will definitely have to fight for playing time for the first few years at the club, but once he develops, it is unlikely that there will be many who can match his level of talent in the center of defense.
Darrius Barnes –
Age: 27
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
A good backup player, Barnes brings years of MLS experience to the table and can cover for his teammates without D.C. ever getting too nervous.
Taylor Kemp –
Age: 24
Nation: USA
Contract: Developmental
A relatively young player, Kemp will be a good backup in the RB spot and may be loaned to gain more first team experience.
Sean Franklin –
Age: 29
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
A man familiar to D.C. having played with D.C. United, the former U.S. international should be arguably the number one choice right back for Sporting having been a consistent top MLS performer for years.
Brandon McDonald –
Age: 28
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
Having spent last season in Sweden, McDonald returns to America hoping to challenge for a first team spot in the center of defense, knowing that he must prove his worth to the Sporting D.C. staff.
Loris Benito –
Age: 22
Nation: Switzerland
Contract: Senior Star
Possibly one of the top left backs in the league, the fringe Swiss national still has a lot to improve and is already a solid left back. It is likely that Benito will contribute to many goals as a provider, and a plus is that he doesn’t forget his defensive responsibilities either.
Kellyn Acosta –
Age: 19
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
Another U.S. U-20 international, Acosta will be second to Franklin in the right back position, but his potential means that the Sporting staff will hopefully give him plenty of game time in order to develop as a player. If not, a January loan move might be in order.
Corey Ashe –
Age: 28
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
A great backup for Benito, Ashe is an experienced MLS player who knows what it takes to succeed in America. He, like Benito, roams up the pitch yet retains his defensive duties as well.
Robbie Rogers –
Age: 27
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
Another former US international, this player provides even more depth for Sporting D.C. as he can play along both flanks from the defensive positions to a winger. However, not a lot of trust has been placed in Rogers with only a one year deal going his way, so it is up to him to prove his salt in this lineup.
Midfielders:
Brad Evans –
Age: 29
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
With only a one year deal at the club, this experienced US international will have to prove himself in order to get a new contract. A bonus for this known MLS player is his ability to play both right back and center mid effectively.
Stuart Holden –
Age: 29
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior Star
Once thought of as America’s leading playmaker, Holden, still a U.S. international, returns to his native country as a good center mid hardened by years of football in England. A great playmaker, Holden will be competing for that starting eleven spot against some tough competition; the staff might give way to younger players, so it will be up to Stuart to prove himself to the club.
Eric Alexander –
Age: 26
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
A solid playmaker in the MLS, Alexander will be battling it out for a starting spot as he hopes to catch the eye of the national team staff in his performances with Sporting D.C. this year in the new league.
Joshua Gatt –
Age: 22
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
Having played in the Norwegian top division for a number of years now, this budding American prospect can definitely get more national team caps if performances go his way this year. However, he is very injury prone and definitely will need to be monitored by the D.C. physios.
Dener –
Age: 22
Nation: Brazil
Contract: Senior
A bit of an unknown to fans in America, Dener joins Sporting D.C. from lower league Brazilian side Mirassol. With quite a bit of potential, it is unknown if Dener will feature much in the first team due to other options, but the center attacking mid is sure to be feared by defenders in the league.
Conor O’Brien –
Age: 25
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
Moving back to the U.S. from Austrian side Wiener Neustadt, O’Brien hopes to bring himself closer to the U.S. national team manager’s eyes as the box to box midfielder looks to make an entrance into the new APL.
Filip Johnsen Westgaard –
Age: 19
Nation: Norway
Contract: Developmental
One of the most exciting prospects in the Sporting D.C. lineup, Westgaard, who can play as both a center mid and center forward, will attempt to get as much first team football as he can in order to prove himself to his managers. Coming from second division side Frederikstad in Norway, Westgaard will be looking to make a point in his first season in the league.
Joseph-Claude Gyau –
Age: 21
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior Star
With a five year deal to his name, Gyau, the pacy left winger who comes from Borussia Dortmund, will definitely hope to be a guiding influence to the team in its inaugural season. An exciting prospect, Gyau still has a long way to go and is already looking like a solid first team player.
Austin Da Luz –
Age: 26
Nation: USA
Contract: Developmental
A backup player, Da Luz will hope to make a big impact coming on off the bench onto the wing and attempt to earn a new contract as well as help D.C. get some big points.
Humam Tariq –
Age: 19
Nation: Iraq
Contract: Developmental
Securing Tariq to a five year deal is a huge coup by Sporting D.C., for Humam is possibly one of the most sought after talents on the global stage. This central attacking mid will hopefully be given as much time as possible, because he can develop into the league’s best player if trained correctly.
Youness Mokhtar –
Age: 22
Nation: Holland/Morocco
Contract: Senior
An exciting winger from the Eredivisie, Mokhtar is sure to wow fans with his pace and footwork; however, with teammate Gyau competing for the same spot on the pitch, the left winger will have to produce top performances if he hopes to become a consistent starter at the club.
Miralem Sulejmani –
Age: 25
Nation: Serbia
Contract: Marquee
Able to play across the attacking third, the former Serbian international will hope to reinstitute himself into the side with performances this year, and as the highest paid player on Sporting D.C., will no doubt be seen as key to any success they have this year.
Forwards:
Joaquin Alonso Hernandez –
Age: 20
Nation: USA/Mexico
Contract: Senior
The Monterrey product and US U-20 international will hope to make a name for himself in this new league, with a possible loan move to a Championship side on the cards for him as he sets off to attempt to reach his potential as a top league player.
C.J. Sapong –
Age: 25
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
With one US cap to his name, Sapong, who can play out right or up top, will be more than sufficient cover for his teammates across the attacking third and might even compete for a starting spot in the lineup.
Juan Jose Narvaez –
Age: 19
Nation: Colombia
Contract: Senior
The Real Madrid trainee with bags of potential will be looking for any playing time opportunity that he can get in order to develop as a player. A clinical finisher, Narvaez, a Colombian U-20 international, will hope to turn into another great striker from his nation.
Kelechi Iheanacho –
Age: 17
Nation: Nigeria
Contract: Marquee
A huge punt on the part of Stiliyan Petrov, Iheanacho, who commands the second highest wages at the club, is only a youth prospect without any real chance at playing in his first season unless he goes out on loan. This young striker has the potential to be a world-beater, but at only 17, his age could tamper with his development process and leave him underperforming to the standards the club sees that he can achieve.
Terrence Boyd –
Age: 23
Nation: USA
Contract: Marquee
Likely to be the starting striker for Sporting D.C., Boyd, a current US international, will look to be one of the top goalscorers in the league and cement his spot as one of the leading strikers on the national team as well.
Jack McInerney –
Age: 21
Nation: USA
Contract: Senior
A useful backup to Boyd, and at only age 21, McInerney has a big future in the league and could potentially be a top forward as well. Defenders need to keep an eye out for this towering forward.
Sporting D.C. Staff Overview:
Manager: Mauricio Pochettino
The former Tottenham and Southampton manager has moved stateside and brings superb talent and player analyzing skills to the league as one of its top managers.
Assistant Manager: Javier Torrente
Coach 1: Hugo Ibarra
Coach 2: C.J. Brown
Coach 3: Mitko Dzhorov
Coach 4: Tristan Celador
GK Coach: Bernd Dreher
Fitness Coach: Jose Mascaros
Head Physio: Florian Renucci
Physio: Nicolas Corbetta
Chief Scout: Andrey Zhelyazkov
Scout: Jose Malleo
Summary:
With the guidance of top manager Pochettino and a reliance on youth and strength in depth, it is easy to see that Sporting D.C. are contenders in any way that you look at it. However, with a squad size of 33, there could be a few loans going out in order to secure the development of the club’s players.