Still just 16, it’s no wonder Texas native Emerson Hyndman is fearless. Somewhat 
undersized on the field, he comes from an international soccer tradition that has opened doors for him from a young age. Now in England with Fulham’s youth academy, the technically gifted young American looks to have a bright future.
“Emerson since the age of 12 has been recognized as a very technical player and excelled in some areas,” said FC Dallas coach Schellas Hyndman, also Emerson’s grandfather. “The thing that’s always been kind of a hamper to it all is that much like his grandfather, he just grew slowly. Just more immature for the age and the body.”
As the photo at left (from www.texasfutgol.com) proves, Hyndman had plenty of growing to do a few years back when he was already training occasionally with FC Dallas’ full team as a member of the Hoops academy. But mentally, the soon-to-be 17-year-old was looking for bigger adventures.
“He has had quite a few opportunities whether it was different clubs in Europe, Spain, Portugal, England,” Hyndman, the coach, said. “He seized the opportunity to go and train at Fulham. And he’s over there now training and he loves it, sometimes playing with the U-16s sometimes with the U-18s. He’s growing and developing and he’s in an environment that brings the best out of him, he’s still got the technical ability, and he loves it. ”
Though his commitments at Fulham will keep him overseas for the time being, he’s in the age group for next year’s U-17 World Cup and could potentially play a role for the U.S., if the rather strict Bradenton-based precedent is loosened.
Of course, there are no sure things for a 16-year-old prospect, as most academy products don’t pan out at higher levels. But the young Hyndman is in the right place to learn his craft and develop what many already consider a prodigious technical ability.
“Hopefully he can continue to develop,” said the elder Hyndman, who was born in Macau, giving his grandson access to a Portuguese passport and European chances from a young age. “He has a Portuguese passport so it puts him in a situation where if he’s fortunate to be on their list, somewhere down the road really positive things can happen.”