CARSON, Calif. – Gyasi Zardes took Major League Soccer by storm in 2014, scoring 16 goals in just his second professional season and now the LA Galaxy striker is targeting a place on the U.S. national team.
Fresh off his stellar campaign with the Galaxy, which included the opening goal during the 2014 MLS Cup, Zardes earned his first-ever U.S. national team call-up from Jurgen Klinsmann. Zardes and the rest of the 28-player group will prepare for a month ahead of a pair of matches against Chile (Jan. 28 in Rancagua, Chile) and Panama (Feb. 8 at StubHub Center).
Although the two matches—and the prospect of his first-ever appearance for the U.S.— will serve as Zardes’ primary motivation throughout the month-long camp, the 23-year-old striker is determined to have a larger impact on the USMNT’s player pool in the year ahead.
“It’s breathtaking. All the hard work that I put forth throughout the season got me here and I’m thankful for this moment, but I’m going to keep working hard to keep progressing as a player,” said Zardes, who is donning the U.S. crest for the first time in his career. “I want to learn as much as possible, work extremely hard, and give it my all because if I do then the results will come.”
During the 2014 season, Zardes saw his strike rate improve astronomically as he set a new goal scoring record for MLS Homegrown Players in a single season while bagging 16 goals after scoring just four times in his rookie campaign.
Throughout LA’s title run, Zardes’ development was attributed to finally having an opportunity to play up top alongside and learn from reigning MLS MVP Robbie Keane, a feeling that Klinsmann certainly subscribes to.
“Gyasi is one of these younger players who we are very happy to see on a regular basis with us. We’re hoping that he takes it in the right way and is open to learn every day,” said Klinsmann. “Playing next to a guy like Robbie Keane or Landon [Donovan] before him is huge because they guide you and they help you, they make you understand how to move around and create your own chances and be part of the bigger picture. We’re very happy to have him now with us and help him every day.”
Zardes agrees, noting that he’s just as excited to learn from another world-famous striker in Klinsmann.
“Robbie Keane is a phenomenal player and I’m a student of the game and I just try to learn as much as I can from the veterans like these guys who are on the national team,” said Zardes. “Jurgen holds a lot of wisdom as well and I’m just trying to learn as much as I can by keeping my ears open to help prepare me for the future.”
The ever humble Zardes may be eager to put his nose to the grindstone and learn from Klinsmann and the rest of the U.S. setup, but the 23-year-old is not preventing himself from taking a little moment to soak in the joy of a new challenge with the USMNT.
“When I was in Hawthorne this [call-up] was a dream. It’s what you dream about,” said Zardes. “I thought one day that I’d have this opportunity and sure enough that day is here. It’s a dream come true.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
