How a surprising USL champion could have a huge impact on Olympic football in Paris 2024

With the Olympics in full swing, all eyes turn to the United States U23 National Team. With the U.S. men’s national team looking to end the summer on a high note following a disastrous defeat in the Copa America group stage, all eyes will be on the squad heading into a crucial match against New Zealand on Saturday. But there’s one surprising American club that will be well represented when these two teams meet. It’s not even an MLS club, but a small but historic and well-established Northern Virginia outfit, Loudoun United FC.

The USL champions played a major role in the Olympics, with two club alumni on the U.S. squad, a current player on the New Zealand expansion squad and a video analyst on the U.S. women’s staff — huge implications for a team that was only formed in 2018.

The Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) area has always been a hotspot for football, often recognized through the University of Maryland graduates, but if the University of Loudoun continues to maintain this momentum, it could become one of the top talent pipelines in the region over time.

Who are Loudoun United?

Loudoun United originally announced their joining the league in July 2018 as an affiliate of D.C. United. Although they were originally a USL team, their players remained in the D.C. United system due to their affiliate status. Loudoun United coach Ryan Martin spoke about some of the difficulties this brought in terms of roster selection.

“The question we used to ask ourselves when we were selecting players was, what’s good for D.C. United. Now we ask, what’s good for Loudoun United,” Martin said.

In February 2023, a majority stake in Loudoun United FC was sold to Attain Sports and Entertainment, allowing DC United to include its team in MLS Next Pro, a league created specifically for youth development in the United States.

No longer an affiliate of DC United

Martin worked in a variety of roles, first as a college assistant coach at Wake Forest University, then as a scout for Toronto FC and Columbus Crew. He later coached at the Crew and FC Cincinnati before becoming the academy director at D.C. United. That’s when he really started to shine, becoming the head coach at Loudoun United in 2019.

This season, Martin has been able to guide Loudoun United to a playoff spot in the United Soccer League B while also ensuring the core of the academy team is balanced with winning.

“When you put young talent with experienced veterans who can help them navigate tough situations and find solutions in the game,” Martin said, “I think it makes it easier for young players to grow and grow faster.”

That style is what separates USL Development from MLS Next Pro. While there is no right way to prepare players for the next level, they take very different paths. Loudon took a similar path to Philadelphia Union-owned USL club Bethlehem Steel, where young players would experience setbacks before making their senior debuts. That path produced players like Brenden Aaronson, Paxton Aaronson and Mark McKenzie, all of whom are now competing for glory abroad. That path has been successful, but it is no longer the norm.

USL Development

“Looking at how Loudoun wants to run things in terms of development, Martin’s background in running academies is clear. He knows the mix he wants and has a mechanism within the club to facilitate the growth of those players and ensure they are successful. But it’s not just about the players, either.”

“For example, we have Gavin Turner, who was a young player in the USMNT. Now he can play alongside Tommy McCabe because McCabe won the USMNT trophy and he also played in MLS, and Florian Vallotte can help some of the players. Keegan Hughes signed with Columbus Crew and won the MLS Cup, and he can help Mattei Akiboni in a tough game against Monterey Bay, how he can contend with a 32-year-old frontrunner,” Martin said.

“What are the skills and knowledge that he has learned in his career that he can pass on to the younger players? I’m happy to have these young players and we’ll continue to do that. But for me, it has to be a balance because otherwise the growing process is too long and if these kids see kids around them who are 19 or 20 years old or even a year older, they’re going to get stuck and not have the answers that the opponent is providing.”

When talking to players Martin has coached, factors such as the ability to make mistakes and the connection to the club stand out. Even if someone only made 15 appearances for Loudoun during his time in and out of D.C. United, that’s enough to make a connection given the time spent in training and at the club. With players starting younger and younger every year, even a Kavin Sullivan’s 14-year-old made his professional debut In MLS, the meaning of development changes every day.

“It’s difficult because you have to consider that they are still young and still growing physically and mentally. I think the mental aspect is the hardest challenge for a coach in any environment because they are obviously very good physically, otherwise they wouldn’t be able to compete with the professionals technically and tactically,” Martin said. “They still have a long way to go but technically they are all pretty good. I find that the mental aspect is that you have to teach and educate these players on how to be a professional football player.”

With more and more players choosing to go straight to academies rather than go to college, this has to become a process everywhere because it’s one thing for a 14-year-old to make his debut, but it’s another to ensure they thrive and succeed.

Famous Paris players and staff

Some of Loudoun’s accomplishments will be on full display when the United States and New Zealand take part. Not only will Griffin Youe and Kevin Paredes represent the United States, but Riley Bidois will also be representing New Zealand, and there’s even a Loudoun alum, Luis Guevara, joining the USA Women’s Basketball team. The team, based in Loudoun County, Virginia, a town of less than 500,000 people, will have considerable representation in Paris.

“You know, four former Loudoun guys represented us at the Olympics in Paris in Griffin Yoo, Kevin Paredes and Luis Guevara-Riley? So for us, for me personally, it’s just a huge honor to be able to see guys go on to have great things in their careers and continue to develop,” Martin said of the Olympians. “Hopefully I was able to play a small role in their development and give them the opportunity to get to where they are today and build relationships with them. I still keep in touch with all of them to this day. There’s no greater honor than to represent your country at the Olympics, and it’s pretty amazing to be able to represent your country at the Olympics, and to be able to work with four Loudoun guys is even more special.”

Bidois’ call-up to the New Zealand squad marks the third consecutive time that MLS has included an MLS player on its roster at a men’s Olympic Games. The moment illustrates the growth of MLS, which, despite being the lower tier of American soccer, is gaining influence as it grows in domestic and global transfer markets.

“I think it’s time for our league to step back and reflect on what we’ve accomplished over the last three, four, five, six years in the growth and development of our sport. Not only in the United States, but around the world. Especially in the United States, including some of the players and staff that you mentioned,” said Jeremy Alumb, president of the United States Soccer League, of the league’s impact on the Olympics.

“That’s another thing I would say. We spend a lot of time with our players and it can be personal, but I think it’s also important that we take that step both on the sporting side and on the business side and make that leap so that they can potentially play in the Olympics representing the sport that they love. So I think we need to step back sometimes and have a smile on our faces and look at the path that these players have taken.”

He went on to mention current Columbus Crew goalkeeper and U.S. Under-23 starter Patrick Schulte. Schulte began his career with St. Louis FC in the United States Soccer League, and this is just another example of the huge impact that the league has had over the years.

What’s Changing

While the development path is ever-changing, USL and Loudoun United are making sure they have a place on that path. We don’t know what will happen next, as things like NIL deals could entice more players to go to college, changing the ever-moving goalposts. But even Martin wants to continue his development.

“You know, one day I’d like to go to Europe and be a coach, that’s the reality, but we tell people that Loudoun is a great place to be,” Martin said. “When you go down your path, you learn lessons along the way, it’s part of your journey, and we’re lucky to be a part of these guys’ journey.”

The journey won’t end with the USA and New Zealand taking the field, but it’s an important moment to reflect on how far the team has come and how far they can continue to go in the future.