Had it not been for an ill-timed ankle sprain, Johann Smith might have become a household name this summer along with the other stars of the U.S. team that reached the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup in Canada. As Coach Thomas Rongen tells ESPN, Smith “would have played a very important role with us” had he not fallen injured.
“This injury has to be one of the worst if not the worst thing to happen to me so far in my football career,” the 20-year-old Smith said. Indeed, the U-20 World Cup could have been the coming out party for Smith, who just last week completed his first game this season with the Bolton reserves. According to ESPN’s Kristian Dyer, Smith could soon be in line for a recall to the first team (he made one league appearance against Manchester United in 2006).
Smith’s route to Bolton Wanderers is pretty remarkable, considering that he wasn’t a part of the U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Fla., nor was he a Generation Adidas member. In fact, Smith was cut from the Region 1 Olympic Development Program and never played with the national team until after he signed with Bolton, which he earned thanks to a tryout organized by a friend. Smith is blessed with what Rongen believes is unmatchable speed: “Fastest player I’ve seen at any level,” he said. Even DaMarcus Beasley or Marvell Wynne? “Yes,” said Rongen.