The Best Kept Secret: Lee Nguyen

June 25th, 2007 | by: Carter Daly |

Let me be (probably not) the first to introduce you to Lee Nguyen. Prior to a ten minute run in the China friendly earlier this summer, most of you probably had never seen the kid touch the ball, save of course that youtube clip of his PSV appearance.

If you follow US soccer closely, you had probably heard of the name. You had maybe read the blurbs on Yanks Abroad about his youth team goals for young PSV or somewhere else about how he could be the next big thing for the national team in the future. I mean, he is on PSV, he must be good, right? But what you hadn’t heard or seen is proof, or at least something of actual substance to base your opinion on.

When the China friendly rolled around our man of mystery Lee made the roster, in what looked to be his first chance to show the soccer hounds what all the fuss was about. Well Commander Bob didn’t really comply with my wish, as Mr. Nguyen only had ten minutes to fill me in on a couple years of speculation. But boy did he do his best to help me out.

In those ten minutes, plus a few of stoppage time of course, Lee showed skill on the ball, speed, the ability to get out of a tight bind, and a great, outside foot cross that found Boca’s head perfectly in what should have been Lee’s first point of his national team career. But I guess our man Boca didn’t feel like pounding the Chinese any harder then they had already been.

That was all good and nice but my appetite had only been wetted, not even close to fulfilled.

The upcoming Copa America roster may look like a lamb waiting to be devoured by a pack of wolves (Argentina), but this is the perfect opportunity for our man of mystery, as well as others of his kind (Charlie Davies) to step out onto the big stage and finally show the American soccer public if the buzz is warranted.

Well kids, the time has come to unwrap the best kept secret in American soccer. Lee Nguyen awaits.

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chuck

I’m looking forward to seeing what this guy can do.

I saw a few flashes of potential in the game versus China, but I also saw far too many hopeful dives.

Far too many.
JBZ

I personally played on the same high school team with Lee. I remember the first time I saw this kid play soccer and told everyone within ears reach that this kid was the real deal and the quite possibly the spark that our national team could use come cup time. That first practice I watched Lee, then only 14 years old about 4ft, 11 in. and maybe 110 lbs, single handedly embarrass every single challenger he faced. That year in games he made opponents seem like four year olds, I’m not exaggerating here either. This kid has the skill, hard work, and determination to be a soccer GOD if what I saw with my own eyes was actually real, and I’m pretty sure it was.
Woody10

Lee is a talent. If he would have gotten a chance at PSV, it would have helped his chances to be seen. I would like to see him knock down the door and get on the National Team. I think all he needs is a chance.