A few weeks before its 47th edition, from 1st to 15th June, the Maurice Revello Tournament goes back in time. Since 1967, thousands of players have trodden the Festival’s pitches. Among them, nearly 2000 became international within the sixty-five different nations who have taken part in the competition. To travel through the Tournament’s fifty years of history, each one marked by some famous football players at their debuts, we have imagined twelve dream teams, country by country. Fifth best XI, USA.
Kasey Keller (1989, 1991) : The American keeper was part of the USA team that finished third at the Maurice Revello Tournament 1989, the best performance made by this nation so far. After making another appearance at the tournament in 1991, the goalkeeper made a name for himself by earning 102 international caps and winning two Gold Cups in 2002 and 2005.
Frankie Hejduk (1994) : After his participation at the Maurice Revello Tournament in the mid-90s, the right-back continued his career in Europe. Between 1998 and 2003, he played for Bayer Leverkusen and helped them to finished as the Bundesliga runners-up twice (1999 and 2000). He has representend his country 85 times and scored 7 goals;
Oguchi Onyewu (2001) : During the Maurice Revello Tournament 2001, the defender distinguished himself by scoring the winner against Italy (2-1). Then, he moved to Standard de Liege : he played around 200 games with the Belgian side and won two league titles. He has also played for Newcastle, AC Milan and Sporting Portugal where he earned the nickname « Captain America ». Onyewu has also represented USA 69 times and won two Gold Cups.
Oguchi Onyewu (on the left) at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2001
Alexi Lalas (1991, 1992) : Impossible to miss on the pitch thanks to his distinctive hairstyle, the defender helped USA to finish fifth at the Maurice Revello Tournaments 1991 and 1992. Then, he earned a reputation of solid defender notably thanks to his three seasons under the Los Angeles Galaxy shirt. With LA, he won the CONCACAF Champion's League 2000. During his career, he has also been named American Player of the Year in 1995 and got 96 interational caps with USA.
Alexi Lalas at the World Cup 1994 held in USA
Marcelo Balboa (1989) : The defender, who shone at the Maurice Revello Tournament 1989 by scoring two goals, is the sixth most capped player in USA history with 128 caps. He won the Gold Cup in 1991.
Jeff Agoos (1989) : Like Balboa, he was part of the USA team that finished third at the Maurice Revello Tournament 1989. Winner of the CONCACAF Champion's League 1998 with DC United, he has as well won the Defender of The Year award with San José Earthquakes. He is the fifth most capped player in USA history with 134 caps.
Claudio Reyna (1991, 1992) : After taking part in the Maurice Revello Tournaments 1991 and 1992, the midfielder moved to Europe. He played in Germany (Leverkusen, Wolfsburg), in Scotland (Rangers) as well as in England (Sunderland, Manchester City). Reyna, who earned 112 caps with USA, has also been named in the World Cup 2002 best XI.
Claudio Reyna was a key player for USA at the World Cup 2002
Jermaine Jones (2002) : Did you know ? The midfielder played the Maurice Revello Tournament 2002 with... Germany ! He has also represented Germany at the senior level three times before switching his international allegiance to United States in 2009. Jones, who earned 69 capes with Team USA, has notably played for Eintracht Frankfurt and Schalke 04 during his career.
Chris Henderson (1989) : Member of the USA squad that finished third at the Maurice Revello Tournament 1989, the midfielder moved then to Europe where he played for Frankfurt and Stabaek (Norway) before returning back to United States. The Colorado Rapids former player has 79 international caps to his name.
Cobi Jones (1992) : The most capped player in Team USA history (164 caps) took part in the Maurice Revello Tournament 1992. If he played for Coventry City and Vasco de Gama, the forward is first and foremost renowned for his spell at Los Angeles Galaxy. He played 306 games and scored 70 goals for the MLS side, winning also two league titles (2002 and 2005). With his country, he won the Gold Cup 2002 and played three World Cups (1994, 1998, 2002).
Cobi Jones with the USA senior tea
Joe-Max Moore (1990, 1991, 1992) : The striker is one of the rare players to have played the Maurice Revello Tournament three times. The former USA international (100 caps) has spent the biggest part of his career at New England Revolution, even if he played for Nuremberg and Everton.
The USA best XI in the Maurice Revello Tournament history :
Keller - Hejduk, Onyewu, Lalas, Balboa, Agoos - Reyna, J. Jones, Henderson - C. Jones, Moore
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Mathieu Lauricella