by Christopher Wayne
If you are a fan of soccer, and particularly a follower of international leagues like the English Premier League, you are probably already well aware of the fact that many soccer stars from the United States end up playing overseas and finding great success playing in the international arena. But you may not have realized that a lot of players who are found throughout Europe, England, and other parts of the world actually hail from California, where they got their start in the exciting world of soccer.
Many of these players probably started off in children’s soccer leagues and their high school teams, which makes it even more important to get your children off on the right track towards athletic success by giving them the opportunity to explore being a part of a team in any sport, not just in soccer. To learn more about just a few of these soccer stars from California who have found success in the world of English soccer, in particular, continue reading.
Villyan Bijev
Villyan Bijev is a forward who was born in Fresno, California in 1993. He has enjoyed the spotlight by playing on the United States National Team from 2010-2012, as well as the Bulgarian National Team as of 2013.
Liverpool invited him out to England to try out with the Under 18 category of players, and Bijev was able to get an incredible five goals in just two games. It is no surprise that he left quite the good impression on the English players, coaches, and managers who saw him at work. Liverpool signed him and he played for the team from 2011-2014.
William Cline
William Cline is a midfielder from Irvine, California. When he was only 6 years old, he received the award for “Most Promising Player” while at Robert Fleck’s Football Camp, located in Norwich, England. He continued to play soccer throughout his high school career, continuing his streak of being recognized as one of the most valuable rising stars in the world of soccer.
During the summer of 2011, while still in high school, William trained as part of the Bristol City F.C. squad in England. By June 2012, he became a member of the team’s Under 18 squad. Fans are excited to see where this shining star will end up, especially since he graduated high school in 2014 and is still very young, with plenty of potential to play around the world for years to come.
Maurice Edu
Maurice Edu is a 28-year-old midfielder who comes from Fontana, California. He debuted internationally in 2007 while playing for the United States during a match against Switzerland. And he has also been making a name for himself by playing for Major League Soccer in the United States, the Scottish Premier League, and the English Premier League as a part of the Stoke City camp since 2012.
With so many incredible soccer players all over the world, it is always great to learn about those athletes who come from your home state and have been able to rise to fame after working hard from a young age. With such a vibrant soccer community throughout California, it is no wonder that many all-star soccer players were born and raised here and were able to achieve great things in the world of soccer, especially in England.
United States Soccer Players Love the UK
Soccer players from the United States who have made a name for themselves here at home are finding it very comfortable living and playing on teams throughout the United Kingdom soccer blogs and in the media.
Next time you are watching the transfer news, take a look at the players hailing from the United States. You may just be surprised by how many there are.
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