 | An editor has performed a search and found that sufficient sources exist to establish the subject's notability. (December 2023) |
 | |
| Company type | Joint venture |
|---|---|
| Industry | Sport |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Headquarters | United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Recruitement of soccer players |
| Owner | Major League Soccer U.S. Soccer |
Generation Adidas is a joint venture between Major League Soccer and U.S. Soccer aimed at raising the level of young professional soccer talent in the United States.[1] The program, sponsored by Adidas, offers professional-ready players in the U.S. developmental system not yet eligible for the MLS SuperDraft early entry, allowing MLS to compete with foreign professional clubs without comparable restrictions on player signing.[2] From its establishment in 1997 to 2005, the program was sponsored by Nike and was called Project-40.[3] Originally intended to improve the U.S. national team player pool, American national team eligibility is no longer required for program entry.
Carlos Parra was the first Project-40 player when he signed with the league and was allocated to the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 1997. Since then, the program has included players such as Tim Howard, DaMarcus Beasley, Maurice Edu, Carlos Bocanegra, Clint Dempsey, Jozy Altidore, Ben Olsen, Sacha Kljestan, Freddy Adu, Brad Guzan, Michael Bradley, Nick Rimando, Kyle Beckerman, and NFL kicker Josh Lambo.
Generation Adidas players do not count against the MLS senior roster and usually earn a much higher salary than the league minimum.[4] Entering into the program automatically classifies a player as professional, and thus disqualifies them from playing college soccer. As a result, Generation Adidas players are also guaranteed scholarships to continue their college education should they end their professional career early.[5]
From 1998 to 2000, MLS entered a team of Project-40 players, supplemented by other MLS players who did not get much playing time, into the A-League in the USL.[6]
In 2017, MLS introduced Canadian Generation Adidas players, part of a new initiative with the Canadian Soccer Association. Canadian Generation Adidas players count as domestic players on US based MLS teams.[7]
- ^ "U.S. U-20 players headline 2006 class". ESPNFC.com.
- ^ "McCabe Explains Generation adidas". US Soccer Players.
- ^ "US Soccer Players". www.ussoccerplayers.com. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2007.
- ^ Palmer, Tod (May 16, 2014). "Generation adidas program has been beneficial to Sporting KC". Kansas City Star. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ Galarcep, Ives (December 10, 2008). "The Generation adidas targets". Soccer By Ives. Retrieved December 19, 2023.
- ^ Firchau, Nick (April 2, 2020). "Project-40: The story of the original MLS youth super team". MLSsoccer.com. Retrieved April 19, 2020.
- ^ "MLS announces 2017 Generation adidas class and senior signings". MLSSoccer.com.