El Pasoan Selected No. 1 Overall Pick In Major League Soccer Draft

Omar Salgado, a 17-year-old forward on the U.S. Under-20 team, has been selected by the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps with the first pick in the Major League Soccer draft.

Salgado, who is 6-foot-4 and weighs 170 pounds, spent 1 years with Chivas Guadalajara, then signed with MLS and was loaned to Vancouver for three months last summer when the team competed in the U.S. Soccer Federation Division 2.

Watch video of Salgado in action here.

“Omar is an exceptional young talent – he?s not only been gifted with outstanding natural athletic ability, but at only seventeen, he already posses a maturity, work ethic, and focus well beyond his years,? Whitecaps FC president Bob Lenarduzzi said in a news release. “Today is an historical day for our club and we are incredibly pleased we were able to select Omar as our first ever MLS SuperDraft selection.”

Although Saldado had trained with Vancouver and had some conversations with the team about playing in Canada, Salgado said he had no clue he would be the No. 1 overall pick.

“I was surprised,” Salgado told ESPN of being drafted No. 1. “It’s awesome. It’s the best. I never imagined it. I can’t believe it. It’s amazing.”

Salgado, who is left-footed, also described his style of play.

“I usually go to the left side,” Salgado said. “I can dribble, I’m tall, I’m good in the air, I’m a scorer.”

Last summer, the striker scored his first international goal in his debut for USA U-20’s at the Milk Cup in Northern Ireland. Appearing in all three of the USA’s matches, Salgado helped the American U-20 squad prevail in the prestigious international youth tournament, as they defeated host nation Northern Ireland 3-0 in the Elite tournament final on July 30. Salgardo signed with MLS as a member of ‘Generation adidas’ – a program that encourages early entry of elite players into the league – last July.

Before joining the USA U-20 squad, Salgado, at 15 years old, moved 1,000 miles away from his parents and spent one season with the youth set-up of Mexican giants Club Deportivo Guadalajara – better known as ‘Chivas’ (Goats). Salgado scored seven goals in 10 appearances with the Chivas’ reserve side, with the youngster also spending time with the club’s U-17 squad.

Though he had trained with U.S. youth national teams in the past Salgado traveled to Spain with a Mexican youth team in early 2010.

But like many young players who move far from home, Salgado had a difficult time adjusting to the new lifestyle and having few friends his own age. Despite his appreciation for the opportunity Chivas had given him to grow as a professional, Salgado waited for a chance to return to the United States.

“It was a very different experience for me and I suffered a lot because my family wasn’t there,” Salgado told U.S. Soccer’s Website of his opportunity in Guadalajara. “It was a different country, the life was really different from what I was used to and I was alone. In the end, it really helped me out with soccer, but I wasn’t happy with my life there.”

In July, Salgado finally got the chance he had been waiting for. He was one of 24 players called into a training camp with the U.S. Under 20 soccer team in San Jose in late June – perfect timing as he contemplated his next career move.

Salgado had the chance to play against the San Jose Earthquakes twice during that training camp. After seeing first hand how an MLS team practices and plays, the 6-foot, 4-inch forward knew that the U.S. league was where he wanted to be.

“[The camp] was really fun,” said Salgado. “I wanted to play for the United States and I got the opportunity so I took it and came to San Jose. We played against the Earthquakes and we really got to experience what it was like to play against an MLS team, and we saw how they trained. It really helped me to see how I would do. I wanted to sign with MLS and I got a lot of help from everyone here.”

The Texan, who was born to an American mother and a Mexican father with Spanish heritage, cites his favorite team as Real Madrid and hopes to one day play with the La Liga giants.

Born in 1993, Salgado is also age-eligible to play in 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup, but his stature and experience have prepared him to compete against older players.

“My goal is first to go to the World Cup next year,” Salgado said. “Coach Rongen has me at forward, sometimes with another teammate and sometimes alone. I’ve been doing well there and helping the team so I think it’s a good fit. I think being a bigger guy helps me a lot, especially with competing against older players like I’m doing right now.”

Salgado Info: -Six appearances, five camps with U-20 U.S. national team -Won the 2010 Milk Cup with the United States, scored a game winner in his first appearance -Played with C.D. Guadalajara 2008-2010 -Played with U-20, U-17 Mexico national teams -Generation adidas player -Trained with Everton, Vancouver, Portland and D.C. United

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