Why everyone's excited for United's American defender
Manchester United prospect Matt Olosunde achieved a personal milestone on Monday night, by making his senior USA debut as a substitute in a 3-0 win over Bolivia at the Talen Energy Stadium.
For fans who are not up to speed on the defender, here’s all you need to know…
THE KEY INFORMATION
Olosunde is a 20-year-old right-back who was born on 7 March 1998 and hails from Trenton, New Jersey in the USA. He completed a transfer to United from the New York Red Bulls in January 2016 and, since then, the 6ft 1inch defender has impressed when playing for the club’s Under-23s.
THE BIG MOVE TO MANCHESTER
“It was a bit of a culture shock coming here but I'd been over a couple of times before so it was not that much different, even if living here for a long period of time has of course been a big change,” Matt told us in June 2017. “I was playing international football for the United States when I was asked to come over on trial. It was just a case of 'wow'. I was taken aback and was speechless.”
“It was a bit of a culture shock coming here but I'd been over a couple of times before so it was not that much different, even if living here for a long period of time has of course been a big change,” Matt told us in June 2017. “I was playing international football for the United States when I was asked to come over on trial. It was just a case of 'wow'. I was taken aback and was speechless.”
HE HAS A CLEAR ROLE MODEL
“Antonio Valencia is a real inspiration,” Olosunde recently told us. “He is great at bombing forward, but also being great defensively. I really look up to him. When I watch him play, I appreciate he's a great player and a great marking point to reach for. He's a big guy and so strong. It's a very demanding game so Mark Hulse [United’s athletic development coach] works with us a lot and tries to build us up, strengthening us to be able to play at the highest level.”
“Antonio Valencia is a real inspiration,” Olosunde recently told us. “He is great at bombing forward, but also being great defensively. I really look up to him. When I watch him play, I appreciate he's a great player and a great marking point to reach for. He's a big guy and so strong. It's a very demanding game so Mark Hulse [United’s athletic development coach] works with us a lot and tries to build us up, strengthening us to be able to play at the highest level.”
MENTORED BY A CLUB LEGEND
“Nicky Butt has helped me a lot,” said the defender last year, while pointing to our Head of Academy as a positive role model. “He has taken me to one side, talked to me and told me the things I need to work on and the things I do wrong. He tries to help me on and off the pitch.”
“Nicky Butt has helped me a lot,” said the defender last year, while pointing to our Head of Academy as a positive role model. “He has taken me to one side, talked to me and told me the things I need to work on and the things I do wrong. He tries to help me on and off the pitch.”
HOW IS HE PROGRESSING AT UNITED?
Olosunde is yet to make a senior appearance for the Reds, but he has previously travelled to first-team matches and also trained with Jose Mourinho's squad at the Aon Training Complex, earning vital experience that will aid his development. Matthew hopes to become the fifth American to make a senior appearance at United, following in the footsteps of James Brown (1932-34), Edward McIlvenny (1950-53), Tim Howard (2003-07) and Jonathon Spector (2003-06).
Olosunde is yet to make a senior appearance for the Reds, but he has previously travelled to first-team matches and also trained with Jose Mourinho's squad at the Aon Training Complex, earning vital experience that will aid his development. Matthew hopes to become the fifth American to make a senior appearance at United, following in the footsteps of James Brown (1932-34), Edward McIlvenny (1950-53), Tim Howard (2003-07) and Jonathon Spector (2003-06).
REACTION FROM TWITTER
What a feeling! Thanking god for everything and a big thanks to my friends a family for the support getting my first cap. 🙏🏾 ⚽️🇺🇸@ussoccer_mnt
— brotha walé (@matt_olosunde) May 29, 2018
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