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Freddy Adu

American Soccer Phenom and U.S. Olympian

Freddy Adu

Freddy Adu

American Soccer Phenom and U.S. Olympian

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Olympics, Soccer
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Freddy Adu Biography

Born with a ball at his feet

Freddy Adu (full name: Fredua Korateng Adu) grew up in the Atlantic coastal town of Tema, Ghana. His father Maxwell and mother Emelia ran a convenience store and started Freddy on soccer shortly after he turned two. By six, Freddy was playing barefoot pickup soccer with local boys, many of whom were significantly older than him. When he was eight, his parents won an immigration lottery and moved with Freddy and younger brother Fro (Fredua Akoto Adu) to Potomac, Maryland, a suburb outside of Washington, D.C.

Pre-teen fever

Before Adu had even turned eleven, he was gaining worldwide attention for his soccer skill. His first shining moment came at the age of 10 when he earned the MVP award in a tournament United States ODP U-14 squad. Instead of going to Europe, Adu joined IMG Soccer Academy, the U.S. Soccer Federation's full-time residency program for the U-17 program based in Bradenton, Florida. In addition to playing soccer under an experienced coaching staff, Adu took courses at an accelerated pace, which allowed him to graduate in 2003, at the age of 14. Among his U-23 teammates who graduated from the Academy are Jozy Altidore, Eddie Gaven and Jonathan Spector.

Youngest pro ever

Being the highest-acclaimed youth soccer player in U.S. history allowed Adu some leeway as he decided to make his move into the professional ranks. He wanted to stay close to home, so Major League Soccer forced a deal whereby the Dallas Burn traded the #1 overall pick in the 2004 MLS SuperDraft to D.C. United. D.C. then chose Adu and signed him to a contract. By penning his signature, Adu became the youngest American athlete (14 years, seven months) since 1887 to sign a major league pro contract. He scored five league goals in his rookie season and showed flashes of brilliance even though he often came on as a substitute. Adu and D.C. captured the MLS Cup that season.

Don't believe the hype! Adu's second and third seasons with D.C. United were not as rosy. He was criticized by the media and his own coaches for his inconsistent defensive play and poor teamwork. He earned a one-game suspension for openly criticizing his lack of playing time. Despite scoring seven goals and assisting on fourteen more, he did not live up to the high expectations.

Traded to Real (Salt Lake) Rumors of moves to European clubs, consistent throughout Adu's youth and first season with D.C. United, became fewer and farther between. In December 2006, Adu was traded from D.C. to Real Salt Lake, the MLS equivalent of a trade from the New York Yankees to the Tampa Rays. It appeared that Adu was destined to fade into obscurity. Blame shifted from the U.S. soccer establishment to Freddy himself.

Breath of fresh foreign air

Adu played sparingly with RSL, but was selected to play on the U.S. U-20 national team at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. Finally, he showed the world (European club scouts) what it was waiting for, scoring three goals in the tournament (all in a 6-1 victory over Poland) and teaming up magnificently with Altidore. He assisted on both goals in a 2-1 upset of Brazil. Among the clubs that expressed interest in acquiring Adu's services was Portuguese outfit SL Benfica. A deal was struck, and Adu was off on a European adventure. After scoring five goals in 21 matches with Benfica, he was loaned out to French Ligue 1 squad Monaco for the 2008-09 season.

Dead-ball hero

Adu did not take part in any of the early U.S. U-23 training camps, or its December 2007 trip to Chima, joining only a few days before the CONCACAF Olympic qualifying tournament in March. However, Adu again showed that he was in top form. He scored the Americans' lone goal in a 1-1 draw against Cuba on a bending free kick, then fired home a penalty kick in their 1-0 defeat of Panama. In the deciding match against Canada, Adu scored the first two goals on free kicks that froze the goalkeeper in his spot on both occasions. The U.S. won the match, 3-0, and earned a berth in Beijing. For his effort in the tournament, he was named to the Best XI team. 

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Freddy Adu Videos

  • Freddy Adu - Ten Years On - YouTube
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FAQs on booking Freddy Adu

  • How do I book Freddy Adu to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Freddy Adu for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Freddy Adu, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Freddy Adu or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Freddy Adu

    Speaking fees for Freddy Adu, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Freddy Adu are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Freddy Adu, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Freddy Adu speak about?

    Freddy Adu is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Olympics, Soccer.

  • Where does Freddy Adu travel from?

    Freddy Adu generally travels from an undisclosed location, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Freddy Adu’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Freddy Adu for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Freddy Adu for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Freddy Adu or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Freddy Adu is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Freddy Adu for your event is available upon request. Freddy Adu generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Alexi Lalas, Landon Donovan, Mallory Pugh, Julie Ertz and Rose Lavelle. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Freddy Adu for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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