Sporting Kansas City announced Friday that Manager Peter Vermes has been selected to lead the 2011 Generation adidas tour of the Netherlands. Vermes will be joined by technical staff members Zoran Savic, John Pascarella and Jon Parry on the tour of the Netherlands.
The team will train at the world-renowned Ajax Academy in Amsterdam and compete in friendly matches against reserve teams from Ajax, FC Volendam and Almere City FC. Vermes spent the 1990 season with FC Volendam in the Dutch Eredivisie, becoming the first American to play professionally in Holland's top division.
The selection of Vermes and his staff to lead the tour comes on the heels of Sporting Kansas City’s run to the Eastern Conference Championship match during the 2011 MLS Cup Playoffs. Vermes guided Sporting through a record-long road stretch before managing the side to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The efforts of Vermes were recognized around the League, as he finished third in the voting for MLS Coach of the Year.
Sporting Kansas City forward Teal Bunbury participated in the 2010 edition of the tour, scoring three goals and adding one assist in wins over reserve sides from Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Rayo Vallecano.
Midfielder Roger Espinoza and defender Chance Myers are also alumni of the Generation adidas tour. The 2008 draftees made the trip to South Africa with the group in 2009.
The tour is part of the ongoing commitment that adidas has made to help advance soccer in the United States and Canada through Major League Soccer. Players who join MLS through the Generation adidas program are provided unique opportunities to hone their skills, develop as professionals and receive educational grants. Generation adidas players do not count against an MLS team’s salary budget.
TOUR ITINERARY
Dec. 5 Generation adidas players depart for Amsterdam
Dec. 6 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 7 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Team to attend UEFA Champions League match – Ajax vs. Real Madrid
Dec. 8Game 1: Generation adidas vs. Ajax Reserve team (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 9 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 10 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Attendance Eredivisie Match - AZ Alkmaar vs. De Graafschap
Dec. 11 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Dec. 12 Training (Ajax Academy fields)
Team to attend match: Ajax U23 vs. PSV U23
Dec. 13 Game 2: Generation adidas vs. FC Volendam (in Volendam)
Dec. 14 Game 3: Generation adidas vs. Almere City FC (in Almere)
Dec. 15 Generation adidas players depart for U.S.
2011 Generation adidas Roster
<p>Goalkeeper</p> |
<p>David Bingham</p> |
<p>San Jose Earthquakes</p> |
<p>Goalkeeper</p> |
<p>Zac MacMath</p> |
<p>Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>Defender</p> |
<p>Kevin Alston</p> |
<p>New England Revolution</p> |
<p>Defender</p> |
<p>Conor Shanosky</p> |
<p>D.C. United</p> |
<p>Defender</p> |
<p>Kofi Sarkodie</p> |
<p>Houston Dynamo</p> |
<p>Defender</p> |
<p>Michael Tetteh</p> |
<p>Seattle Sounders FC</p> |
<p>Defender</p> |
<p>Zarek Valentin</p> |
<p>Montreal Impact</p> |
<p>Midfielder</p> |
<p>Dilly Duka</p> |
<p>Columbus Crew</p> |
<p>Midfielder</p> |
<p>Sacir Hot</p> |
<p>New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>Midfielder</p> |
<p>Amobi Okugo</p> |
<p>Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>Midfielder</p> |
<p>Luis Gil</p> |
<p>Real Salt Lake</p> |
<p>Midfielder</p> |
<p>Matt Kassel</p> |
<p>New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>Midfielder</p> |
<p>Jack McInerney</p> |
<p>Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>Midfielder</p> |
<p>Tony Tchani</p> |
<p>Columbus Crew</p> |
<p>Forward</p> |
<p>Will Bruin</p> |
<p>Houston Dynamo</p> |
<p>Forward</p> |
<p>Corey Hertzog</p> |
<p>New York Red Bulls</p> |
<p>Forward</p> |
<p>Danny Mwanga</p> |
<p>Philadelphia Union</p> |
<p>Forward</p> |
<p>Omar Salgado</p> |
<p>Vancouver Whitecaps FC</p> |
