From the moment he turned professional with D.C. United, goalkeeper Bill Hamid has been thought of as the future of the U.S men’s national team.
That future begins next week after the Hamid was called into the senior team for the first time as part of new U.S. head coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s first camp ahead of a friendly against Mexico in Philadelphia on Aug. 10.
Hamid didn’t recognize the number when the call came so he finished his lunch and then checked his messages.
“I was shocked,” Hamid said. “As soon as I heard the voice, I knew it was him. I didn’t listen to the rest of the message. I put the phone down and was like staring in a far off land. I started crying a little bit. It was crazy.”
The Annandale native’s camp invitation is in part a reflection of his play for D.C. United (6-6-8) in recent weeks, earning three shutouts and one goal conceded in the last four games. But the 20-year-old has long been projected as the likely starter for the under-23 U.S. squad that will attempt to qualify for and participate in next summer’s London Olympics, and the senior team currently has no clear standout backup for starter Tim Howard.
“It’s important for him to take it in stride and enjoy the experience but stay grounded and stay focused here, especially in the short term,” United head coach Ben Olsen said. “I think he will. He’s been in a good place and a very good goalkeeper in this league for the last month. He went through a tough patch there but he dug his way out of it. Look, I think it shows Jürgen is committed to bringing in guys that are potentially the future of the national team.”
D.C. United assistant coach Pat Onstad has seen Hamid transform from a precocious 6-foot-3, 225-pound athletic talent to a confident, maturing leader.
“I’m a bit old school,” Onstad said. “I congratulated him, and that was about the end of it. He’ll enjoy it when he’s there. I’m impressed with him going from what I would almost call like a boy – he’s kind of grown into a man the last six months.”
Hamid said the call-up made him think back to when had first signed with D.C. United in 2009, and made the travel roster for a CONCACAF Champions League game in Trinidad. Less than two years later, he’s a regular MLS starter, and now a U.S. national team keeper.
“Things are kind of happening fast right now,” Hamid said. “After we get these three points at home [vs. Toronto on Saturday], I just want to take it in. Jürgen said that he wants guys that want to get better on a day-by-day basis. I want to get better and show him that I want to be one for the future. I just want to work hard and be in his plans.”
The full U.S. roster:
GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton)
DEFENDERS (8): Carlos Bocanegra (Saint-Etienne), Edgar Castillo (Club America), Timmy Chandler (FC Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover 96), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)
MIDFIELDERS (7): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Michael Bradley (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), José Torres (Pachuca)
FORWARDS (5): Freddy Adu (Benfica), Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), DaMarcus Beasley (Puebla), Edson Buddle (FC Ingolstadt), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)
