By David Gold
October 21 – American soccer coach Caleb Porter (pictured) will be in charge of the American football team aiming to qualify for next summer’s London Olympic Games.
The US will host the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) qualification tournament for the Olympics, with two of the eight teams competing making it to London.
So far, Canada, Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras have qualified to compete with the US for the Games places.
“I am honoured and feel extremely privileged to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity,” Porter said on his appointment.
“I’m eager to start the process of putting the pieces together in preparation for Olympic qualifying in March.”
Porter is the current coach of University of Akron, and he will remain in this role whilst helping to coach the US Olympic team.
The 36-year-old, whose short professional career in Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League was ended by persistent knee injuries, has been pivotal in the development of a number of American talents, such as Teal Bunbury (pictured), Steve Zakuani and Perry Kitchen.
Twelve players coached by Porter have made it into Major League Soccer in the last five years, and last year five of the top eight drafts in the league were from Akron.
“We are excited to have Caleb join our youth national team staff,” United States Soccer Federation President Sunil Gulati said in a statement.
“Still early in his career, Caleb has been extremely successful and has demonstrated the ability to mentor and develop young players.
“A proven winner, we believe he will do a great job of leading our under-23 men’s national team as they look to qualify for the Olympic Games next summer.”
The US lost in the group stage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, and failed to qualify for Athens in 2004, though they reached the semi finals in Sydney 2000.
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