14-Year-Old Adu Debuts on MLS Opening Day

WASHINGTON – Freddy Adu became the youngest athlete in a major American league in more than 100 years when he took the field for D.C. United in the 61st minute of Saturday’s MLS opener.

The 14-year-old Adu entered the game to thunderous cheers and chants of “Freddy, Freddy!” Flashbulbs popped around RFK Stadium as Adu replaced – and got a hug from – Alecko Eskandarian with United holding a 2-1 lead over the defending champion San Jose Earthquakes.

Adu’s debut created interest never before seen in the history of the nine-year old league. Reporters from Europe and Asia claimed some of the 250 media credentials issued for the match, the only regular season game scheduled to be broadcast by ABC this season. Adu has already appeared on “60 Minutes” and David Lettterman’s “Late Show,” and his salary is a league-high $500,000.

“We never expected that it would turn into Freddie-mania,” commissioner Don Garber said before the game, “that this guy would have the personality that he has, to be as comfortable as he is in front of the cameras, be such a crossover so soon. He seems to really thrive with the attention.”

United sold out the game at RFK Stadium’s MLS-downsized capacity of 24,603. The stadium holds 53,000, but United has closed the upper deck this season to create a greater demand for tickets and encourage advance sales.

“I’m definitely here to see Freddy,” said Washington resident Dickinson Gould. “I’m not a huge soccer fan, but I’ve heard and read so much about Freddy that I was really interested to see what he’s all about.”

Adu received the loudest ovation when United’s players were announced before the game, even though he was among the reserves. He responded with a wave and shared a laugh with teammate Santino Quaranta, whom Adu eclipsed as the youngest-ever MLS player. Quaranta was 16 when he debuted three years ago.

Adu sat on the bench throughout the first half, usually leaning back while his teammates sat forward watching the game. He began warming up by running along the sideline at the start of the second half, and fans chanted “Freddy, Freddy!” after United’s Bobby Convey missed an open net on a breakaway in the 50th minute – and the chant grew louder when Earnie Stewart missed high on a good scoring chance three minutes later.

Adu is the youngest person to play for a major American team since 14-year-old Fred Chapman debuted for Philadelphia of major league baseball’s American Association in 1887.

Adu grew up playing on rocky fields in Ghana and moved to Maryland at age 8 when his family won an immigration lottery. His talent was discovered by a local coach, and European clubs tried to sign him.

He opted instead to spend the last two years in Florida training with U.S. national youth teams. He became an American citizen last year and scored four goals for the U.S. team in the under-17 world championship. A deal was struck for him to be selected No. 1 overall by United in this year’s draft, an arrangement that allows him to live at home with his family in Potomac, Md.

Last month, Adu completed high school in an accelerated program at the Florida academy and will receive his diploma in May.