Earlier today at ESPN.com, I reflected on the paucity of Mexico-based Americans in contention for the Olympic team. There are plenty of U-20s who looked very promising during the last U-20 cycle, but haven’t taken a step forward the way MLS-based U-23s like Perry Kitchen, Zarek Valentin, and Ethan White have over the past year.
Along with several others, Moises Orozco is a promising young American on the roster at Mexican champion Tigres. But the quality at Mexico’s latest top team has been barrier to the half dozen or so American in the youth ranks in Monterrey, and Orozco seems to be on the outside looking in to America’s U-23 team, like fellow Mexican-Americans Adrian Ruelas, Ernest Nungaray, and Victor Garza, among others.
Yet to break into a loaded first team in which American international Jonathan Bornstein has struggled for PT in a similar d-mid position, Orozco did turn out for the American U-20s in the failed effort to qualify for the 2011 U-20 World Cup. Now, he and his fellow Americans have turned their efforts back to Tigres’ youth team.
“Tigres is one of the clubs that has the most Mexican-Americans,” he said. “It’s pretty good because you have friends that are from here. It makes you feel because you miss that part.”
The path to Tigres has been well-worn in recent years, since scouts caught on to the talent in the U.S. that qualifies as national players in Mexico. The club even signed an agreement with FC Dallas, one of the top developers of youth talent in the U.S.
“I got invited by Dennis Te Klose, and I went out for a tryout in January 2010,” Orozco said. “He invited me two weeks to go tryout, I went and I liked it, and then I got invited back for Copa Chivas. He found me at a friendly game in LA, they made this friendly match with scouts from Chivas, Tigres, Chivas USA.”
It’s clear that Orozco and others have had a harder road to their first team than their compatriots in the U.S. and other countries. But while Orozco sees the U.S. domestic league improving in strength, he still thinks Mexico provides a good option for players like him who want to turn pro early, rather than going to college for a ear or two until MLS is ready for them.
“Of course, different leagues offer different advantages, and the Mexican league may be more apt for a certain type of player, particularly one who wants to turn pro early and doesn’t find a place in MLS’ draft,” Orozco said. “It’s good because sometimes there’s talent in the U.S. that doesn’t get to go anywhere because of the grades, to universities and such, so Mexico’s not a bad option.
“I was invited to Monterrey when I was 15. I didn’t go because I was in high school, I thought it was better to graduate first and then see,” he added. “I think [Mexico's] youth [development] is one of the best ones, they work well with young players, and since I’ve been out there I’ve been really comfortable.”
In fact, everything in Mexico is more comfortable than you might think for the Mexican-Americans, even those on the U.S. national teams. Only Chivas discriminates against Americans in that sense — elsewhere players have always said everything is fine in terms of the ever-growing rivalry.
“Everything’s cool with it. There are two or three players that are with the Mexican national team and they tease me about it. But everyone thinks it great that I’m playing for the United States, nobody goes against it or anything,” he said, adding that he gets to catch up with his fellow Americans when their U-20 teams cross paths. “I grew up following both national team because I grew up with a cousin on the U-17s. The only time I get to talk to other Americans is when we play. After we get through with the games we talk and catch up.”
With time to develop, and though he won’t make the Olympic team, it’s too early to give up on Orozco or his compatriots in Mexico just yet. He says his goal is still to reach historic heights.
“I like Zinedane Zidane a lot. At Tigres there’s one player that the whole city loves him, and I love watching him, that’s Lucas Lobos,” he said. If Orozco can reach that level, he’ll have a long national team future ahead of him.