He has traveled to all stretches of the globe and plays for a development team that will prepare him for the English Premier League. And recently, he was selected as captain of the U-15 U.S. national soccer team. All this and Zak Wenger is only 15.
Wenger, a Dundalk resident, lists a number of favorite players, including Portugal?s Cristiano Ronaldo, France?s Thierry Henry and U.S. captain Claudio Reyna. And some day, he hopes to be playing at their level.
“My goal is to become one of the most elite players at my age and at my position ? to be one of the best,” said Wenger, who is a defender with Harford County-based development club Crystal Palace USA.
With his work ethic, there?s little doubt that he can drive himself to that level.
“He is one of the hardest-working players I have ever worked with,” said Jim Cherneski, Crystal Palace USA?s sporting director. “If practice is at 6, he is out there at 5 doing his own training.”
That effort and determination has led Wenger to his recent honor.
“Every drill we do, he is 100 percent focused,” Cherneski said. “It is no wonder that he has been selected as the captain of the U-15 national team.”
Wenger grew up watching the Baltimore Blast and other local soccer teams, and he has played for the Baltimore Bays, a local club power. An eighth grader now at Father Kolbe School in Canton, Wenger must decide among Calvert Hall, Archbishop Curley and Loyola by next fall.
He will travel to London in February to train with the English Premier League?s Crystal Palace Football Club, the parent organization to the local academy where Wenger trains.
“Every day, it comes closer,” Wenger said of his London trip. “I?m marking it down on my calendar. It?ll be a really good experience. I just can?t wait to play with those guys over there.”
Wenger makes no bones about it: His aspirations are beyond that of playing soccer on American soil.
“My goal,” Wenger said, “is to become one of the most elite players in my position and hopefully be playing in Europe.”
