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Divergent paths U-17s Quaranta, Johnson prepare to qualify
Updated: Wednesday April 18, 2001 2:15 PM
By Scott French, Soccer America U-17 standouts Eddie Johnson and Santino Quaranta are best friends with little in common except the brand of soccer they play. They're part of a wave of young American attacking talent that promises much for the future. As we are introduced to the waves of young talent America keeps producing, this Project 2010 business is looking less far-fetched. Certainly the athletes U.S. Soccer is counting on to win the World Cup in the next decade -- at the least issue a reasonable challenge -- believe that is so. Three World Cups from now, Landon Donovan will be 28. So will DaMarcus Beasley. Bobby Convey will be 27. Two more to look for: Eddie Johnson, who'll be 26, and Santino Quaranta, 25. They're the most accomplished of a sensational group of attacking players John Ellinger has assembled for his next run at the Under-17 World Cup, and the future, they know, is not so far away.
"I think the young players in this country mean everything," says Quaranta, a savvy winger who wasn't long out of diapers before showing promise. "[The United States has] never won a World Cup before, but the young wave coming up definitely has the ability to change that. The older players have really set an example, but the younger players eventually have to take this sport over." The next stage in the youngsters' rise could come in September at the U-17 World Championship in Trinidad & Tobago. The Americans must first qualify: They'll battle Canada, El Salvador and Jamaica for a berth starting April 18 in St. Louis. ATTACK-MINDED. Quaranta, from Baltimore, and Johnson, a tall striker from Palm Coast, Fla., have been a mesmerizing force for U.S. U-17 coach Ellinger, combining for 77 goals and 50 assists in 15 months of residency. They'll see time in MLS this season, Quaranta with D.C. United and Johnson with Dallas. And there's more: forwards Mike Magee and Erwin Diaz, 15-year-old playmaker Craig Capano, left winger Justin Mapp. The next Donovan? Take your pick. "One time, someone said Santino was Landon-like," Ellinger says, "but he's a different player. We can play Santino as a second forward or as a midfielder, but as a wide player, he's in a different league. He can run at you, he can run inside you, he can run around you. He's a special player." Johnson's a pure front man, a finisher who can do much more. "Eddie emerged out of the U-16 group as a beast -- that's the only way I can describe him," Ellinger says. "He's basically improved his game immensely since then. He's a pretty well-rounded target player." Quaranta and Johnson, best friends since meeting as U-16s, kept each other's counsel while weighing MLS offers last fall. "Both of us were thinking about doing it," Quaranta says. "Once one did it, the other wanted to." "Whatever he'd do, I'd do," Johnson says, "and whatever I'd do, he'd do." DIFFERENT PATHS. Their paths couldn't have been more dissimilar. Quaranta's grandfather and uncle were professionals, his father a JC All-American, and he was pegged as a star with his first steps. "People might not believe it," says Tom Quaranta, Santino's father, "but when Santino was 3, 4 years old, he was already playing with kids 7 and 8. At age 5, he was playing in a league with 10-year-olds. Not to the extent that something like this would happen, but we knew he was pretty special." Quaranta grew up in the soccer-mad Italian enclave Highlin Town. Uncle Steve played for Ellinger's first Maryland state team. Dad played against Ellinger in Baltimore leagues. "I've seen Santino play since he was a knee-bobber," Ellinger says. "As I watched him grow, I knew he was an exceptional talent. I felt very confident that in this environment he would develop, and I wasn't disappointed." Johnson didn't discover soccer until he was 9, and only then by happenstance. "We were living in the projects, and this guy from the recreation department was recruiting boys to play soccer," says Lewanna Johnson, Eddie's mom. "It was something to have him do to keep him out of trouble." Johnson grew up in single-parent home in a rough part of Bunnell, Fla. "He always had a good head on his shoulders," his mom says, but Eddie acknowledges temptation. "I was hanging out with the wrong people and stuff," he says. "I had friends who would get in trouble in school, and they'd try to get you to do what they'd do." Soccer offered another road. He showed immediate promise and was recruited to club ball by Flagler Waves players with whom he attended summer camp. "He was a great athlete -- that was obvious," says Bob Sawyer, Johnson's coach and chief father figure since he was 10. "It was a matter of developing the soccer skills, and he worked very hard at it. ... He was so dominating as a young player -- it was an unlevel playing field for him." JUST CHILLIN'. Johnson's got all the tools, Ellinger testifies. "Eddie's a physical specimen," Ellinger says. "He's got breakaway speed, is a very good finisher, creates lots of chances for us when he's putting opponents under pressure. He's very good in the air, is technically real strong. ... "Eddie's thing is: He's 'just chillin'.' He's a very quiet guy, gets along with everybody. He's one of those guys: If he's your friend, he's your friend for life." Ellinger was convinced both players were ready to make the jump to pro soccer. European clubs -- among them Juventus, several in Portugal and England -- expressed interest, but neither wanted to leave the country. "Over there you can play, make some good money, but a lot of times you're not going to make the first team." says Quaranta. "Perfect example: Landon Donovan. He lingered around Germany for awhile, played for the reserves, I'm sure he made some nice money, but it was a tough situation for him." D.C. selected Quaranta with the eighth pick in February's draft, and Dallas took Johnson with the 19th. Both are Project-40 players. Quaranta has left the U-17 residency in Bradenton, Fla., and is commuting to D.C. from Baltimore. He fits nicely into a squad that has five players younger than 20. "We really feel in a short amount of time he will be a terrific player on this level," says D.C. coach Thomas Rongen. "Only time will tell how quick he will contribute." DIPLOMACY. Johnson will remain with the U-17s through June, then play with the Burn until -- presuming the Yanks qualify -- Ellinger's final preparations for the championships. Johnson will concentrate on his senior year of high school, likely in Bradenton, before returning to the Burn full-time next spring. His situation -- Mom was adamant he get his high school degree -- may have dropped his draft position. "There are issues with [these kind of situations]," acknowledges Dallas coach Mike Jeffries. "You get guys who aren't going to be a factor this year, and you don't know if next year is going to be a developmental year or if they'll be able to contribute." Athletically, he says, Johnson can hold his own in MLS. "He can score goals; let's be simple about it," Jeffries says. "And he's a forward who likes to play with his back to the goal, and he doesn't mind having defenders on him. That's a great quality to have in a forward." Scott French is a senior editor at Soccer America magazine.
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