‘I’m pretty sure I didn’t imagine it’: the little-known trio of high schoolers who made USMNT history
Summary
Cavan Sullivan, a 16-year-old, may soon play for the US men’s national soccer team (USMNT), joining a list of the youngest players in history. Before him, three lesser-known players—Mike Slivinski, Mark Jonas, and Nelson Vargas—made USMNT debuts in 1991 as teenagers, marking a rare achievement at that time.Key Facts
- Cavan Sullivan is 16 years old and could become one of the youngest players to appear for the USMNT.
- Freddy Adu is still the youngest player ever to play for the US men’s team.
- Mike Slivinski, Mark Jonas, and Nelson Vargas made their USMNT debuts in 1991 while teenagers.
- Only Nelson Vargas played again for the USMNT after his debut, earning three more caps.
- In 1991, having teenagers on the USMNT was very unusual because youth development programs were not well-funded yet.
- Coach Bora Milutinovic led the USMNT from 1991 to 1994 and gave many young players their first opportunities on the team.
- The 1991 US U-17 team impressed at a tournament in Italy, beating strong teams and drawing attention to young players like Slivinski.
- Slivinski grew up playing high school soccer before being called up by US Soccer, showing how different the youth system was three decades ago.
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