<a href="http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=28640&itype=466&icategoryid=365" target="_blank">signs on a four year deal with Manchester United</a>.
6'1" 17 year old CB Jonathan Spector
- Thread starter Vinay
- Start date
Never heard of him personally, any of our American Reds know much about him?
What I've heard about him: he's a solid young player, with professional attitude. He started as a midfielder with a good scoring record, before moving to centre back. Technically hes' maybe the best player on the U17 US team after 'the prodigy' Adu. He trains in the U17 camp in Florida year round, they have an excellent facility. He holds an EU passport so no work permit issues.
How do all these Yanks get EU passports?
By having European parents or grandparents I guess... 
here's a look at the guy. i'm telling you, the youth talent in america is scary. just wait a few years.
Is he sporting a mullet?
Yes, he has a mullet
He was on sky sports news the other week. Didn't show him playing but he seemed to be hyped up, probably because United were buying him.
He was on sky sports news the other week. Didn't show him playing but he seemed to be hyped up, probably because United were buying him.
Originally posted by MishkiN:
<strong>Yes, he has a mullet
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Thats horrible.
Originally posted by MishkiN:
<strong>Yes, he has a mullet
</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yes the mullet is at epidemic proportions in certain regions of the US.
Apparently there is now a treatment available to remove the mullet, with no adverse side effects.
A good article about Spector, turns out he played as a forward(and previiously played as a midfieder for his youth club scoring 20 goals in 16 games), so maybe we will see a few goals from him:
U17 Star Spector Parlays Position Switch Into Chance With Manchester United
By Robert Ziegler, 01.26.2003.
John Ellinger never could have guessed what he was getting Jonathan Spector into when he changed his position last May.
Spector, a Chicago-area native who plays for Ellinger on the U.S. U17 national team, has agreed to sign a contract with legendary English club Manchester United. It took the player all of one game in his new role to attract United's interest.
Ellinger explained the U17 side was at a tournament in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, when he was dissatisfied with his back line’s performance and decided to move Spector, who had been playing forward (and who was a midfielder with Chicago Sockers with his youth club) into central defense. He had played there once previously against Jacksonville University, but only in an emergency role.
To say Spector adapted well to his new role would be an understatement.
After using him on the back line against Wales, Ellinger started to get the word from various sources that scouts were enthusiastic about the American central defender. Clubs like United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Glasgow Celtic were very eager to see more of this player.
"The way John has taken to the position, and his maturity level about training and doing the extra work to really learn it, just speaks volumes about the kind of person he is," Ellinger said.
Players are unable to ink professional contracts in England before they turn 17. Spector turns 17 March 1 but he won’t be able to sign on the dotted line until the FIFA international transfer window opens again in early July. He will begin this fall with United on its U19 and reserve teams.
Typically if a player does well there he will get a few more looks with the reserve team (usually a blend of U21 players and those not getting a regular game with the first team) and then hopefully graduate to full reserve team status.
"I feel he'll do fine over there," Ellinger said. "I feel very good about his chances of playing in the first team, and I don't mean too far in the future either."
Spector chose United over MLS, which courted him aggressively, and three collegiate teams, Virginia, Clemson and Saint Louis.
"I didn't want the decision to go on and on," Spector said. "United made a better offer than MLS was able to. Once I went over there and looked around, I just loved it and knew exactly what I wanted to do. I've always wanted to go to Europe at some point. I think any player who is serious has that goal."
Ellinger described Spector as having an ideal combination of attributes for a central defender. "He has speed, he's technically sound, he's good in the air and he has a little bite to him," he said. "It was just a matter of learning the position and obviously from this contract offer, he's done that pretty well."
Spector, who will live with a family of diehard United supporters while in England, describes his style of play as simply "aggressive."
"I love the air game, fighting for the ball," he said. "Once I get the ball I try to keep it, to play smart and simple. I'm always looking to go forward if I have the chance."
For now, Spector is concentrating on helping move the U17 team forward at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament scheduled for early March in Guatemala.
"I've gotten all of this out of the way and we're all focused on qualifying," he said. "All of us think we can do well if we play like we're able to."
One stipulation in his contract states that Spector will not join United full time until after the United States’ participation in the U17 World Championship in Finland is complete. Assuming the U.S. qualifies, Spector may not travel to England until after the World Championship final, scheduled for August 31.
U17 Star Spector Parlays Position Switch Into Chance With Manchester United
By Robert Ziegler, 01.26.2003.
John Ellinger never could have guessed what he was getting Jonathan Spector into when he changed his position last May.
Spector, a Chicago-area native who plays for Ellinger on the U.S. U17 national team, has agreed to sign a contract with legendary English club Manchester United. It took the player all of one game in his new role to attract United's interest.
Ellinger explained the U17 side was at a tournament in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, when he was dissatisfied with his back line’s performance and decided to move Spector, who had been playing forward (and who was a midfielder with Chicago Sockers with his youth club) into central defense. He had played there once previously against Jacksonville University, but only in an emergency role.
To say Spector adapted well to his new role would be an understatement.
After using him on the back line against Wales, Ellinger started to get the word from various sources that scouts were enthusiastic about the American central defender. Clubs like United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Glasgow Celtic were very eager to see more of this player.
"The way John has taken to the position, and his maturity level about training and doing the extra work to really learn it, just speaks volumes about the kind of person he is," Ellinger said.
Players are unable to ink professional contracts in England before they turn 17. Spector turns 17 March 1 but he won’t be able to sign on the dotted line until the FIFA international transfer window opens again in early July. He will begin this fall with United on its U19 and reserve teams.
Typically if a player does well there he will get a few more looks with the reserve team (usually a blend of U21 players and those not getting a regular game with the first team) and then hopefully graduate to full reserve team status.
"I feel he'll do fine over there," Ellinger said. "I feel very good about his chances of playing in the first team, and I don't mean too far in the future either."
Spector chose United over MLS, which courted him aggressively, and three collegiate teams, Virginia, Clemson and Saint Louis.
"I didn't want the decision to go on and on," Spector said. "United made a better offer than MLS was able to. Once I went over there and looked around, I just loved it and knew exactly what I wanted to do. I've always wanted to go to Europe at some point. I think any player who is serious has that goal."
Ellinger described Spector as having an ideal combination of attributes for a central defender. "He has speed, he's technically sound, he's good in the air and he has a little bite to him," he said. "It was just a matter of learning the position and obviously from this contract offer, he's done that pretty well."
Spector, who will live with a family of diehard United supporters while in England, describes his style of play as simply "aggressive."
"I love the air game, fighting for the ball," he said. "Once I get the ball I try to keep it, to play smart and simple. I'm always looking to go forward if I have the chance."
For now, Spector is concentrating on helping move the U17 team forward at the CONCACAF qualifying tournament scheduled for early March in Guatemala.
"I've gotten all of this out of the way and we're all focused on qualifying," he said. "All of us think we can do well if we play like we're able to."
One stipulation in his contract states that Spector will not join United full time until after the United States’ participation in the U17 World Championship in Finland is complete. Assuming the U.S. qualifies, Spector may not travel to England until after the World Championship final, scheduled for August 31.
hence the footballing skills then