Sueño MLS explained

The Sueño MLS program was a Major League Soccer (MLS) scouting program and Reality TV show that gave young players the opportunity to impress MLS clubs & join their Youth Systems.

Format and synopsis

Sueño MLS was a nationally televised player search for Major League Soccer that focused on the young Latino population in the United States. The name "Sueño MLS" is the Spanish translation of "MLS Dream". Coaches from many MLS teams selected the players. Five outfield players and one goalkeeper were usually selected in each participating city to compete for the Sueño MLS title. Eighteen finalists trained together for a few days and then played a final match against an MLS Academy Team affiliated with an MLS franchise.

History

Sueño MLS held their first competition in 2007, and Jorge Flores Villafaña became the first ever winner.[1]

In 2011, 400 tryout spots were made available on the first day, and then the list of players was narrowed down to 30 for the second day of tryouts.[2] Five outfield players and one goalkeeper were selected from each of Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia. The 2011 competition also became the first competition the top goalkeeper of the competition was awarded, with a trophy titled the "Good Hands" Award.

The 2011 final was held in Dallas, Texas, where Birnis Adames was became the winner of the competition, and Anthony Hall was awarded top goalkeeper.[3]

The program ended after its 2016 iteration.

Winners

Competition winners

2007Jorge FloresChivas USA
2008Rogelio Funes MoriFC Dallas
Briant ReyesChivas USA
2009Alberto LopezChicago Fire
2010Nelson CastroHouston Dynamo
2011Birnis AdamesPhiladelphia Union
2012Armando FloresChivas USA
2013Alexander SotoD.C. United
2014Johnny EcheveriaLA Galaxy
2015Baltazar DuranChicago Fire
2016Alan GaytánPortland Timbers

"Good Hands" top goalkeeper

YearPlayerClub
2011Anthony HallFC Dallas
2012Jimmy CamachoChivas USA
2013Luis AranzazuD.C. United
2014Manuel Steven Ortiz RuizNew York Red Bulls
2015Eduardo MuñozChicago Fire
2016Charlton AlonsoNew York Red Bulls

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Pinnell . Kyle . 25 May 2020 . Living the Dream: a Look Back at Sueño MLS – Rose City Review . 16 February 2024 . Rose City Review . en-US.
  2. Web site: About Sueño . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925072005/https://www.mlssoccer.com/sueno/about . 25 September 2015 . MLSsoccer.com.
  3. Web site: Forward Birnis Adames wins Sueño MLS 2011 – presented by Allstate . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140916042606/http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2011/05/08/forward-birnis-adames-wins-sue%C3%B1o-mls-2011-%E2%80%93-presented-allstate . 16 September 2014 . MLSsoccer.com.