For the second consecutive year, San Jose Earthquakes forward Chris Wondolowski will join the U.S. National Team for its January training camp as the leading scorer in Major League Soccer found himself on the list of 20 players called into coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s winter session on Thursday.
The camp will convene on Jan. 3 ahead of matches against Venezuela on Jan. 21 (7 p.m. PT, University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.) and Panama on Jan. 25 (Estadio Rommel Fernandez in Panama City). Klinsmann is aiming to establish a player pool for 2014 CONCACAF World Cup qualifying, which begins in August of 2012.
“This is a great opportunity for Chris and I’m happy to see his hard work and success on the field rewarded. It’s an honor any time you get to represent your country,” said Earthquakes General Manager John Doyle.
Wondolowski was a January camp participant in 2010. He wrapped up that session by earning a spot in the United States’ starting lineup for a friendly against Chile on Jan. 22 at the Home Depot Center, his first cap with the national team. The two-time leading MLS goal scorer also appeared in three matches for the U.S. during the 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
The Danville native has led MLS in goals each of the past two seasons. He tied Dwayne De Rosario with 16 goals in 2011 after scoring eight goals in the Quakes’ final nine games. Wondolowski is just the third player in MLS history to lead or tie for the league lead in goals in consecutive seasons, joining Stern John (Columbus Crew) and Carlos Ruiz (LA Galaxy).
“We’re excited to see Chris called back into camp,” said Earthquakes head coach Frank Yallop. “Chris is a proven goal scorer in our league and deserves this opportunity.”
In addition to his goal total, Wondolowski had a career-high three assists in 2011. His efforts paid off with a number of postseason awards, including a spot on the MLS Best XI and the inaugural Castrol Index Player of the Year award, a system that utilizes data collected during the course of the season to measure player values. Wondolowski earned a rating of 9.31 out of 10, edging out Seattle’s Alvaro Fernandez and New York’s Thierry Henry, the next two on the list.
U.S. Roster by Position:
GOALKEEPERS (3): Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (7): Geoff Cameron (Houston Dynamo), A.J. DeLaGarza (LA Galaxy), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), George John (FC Dallas), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Parkhurst (FC Nordsjaelland), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA)
MIDFIELDERS (6): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Ricardo Clark (Eintracht Frankfurt), Benny Feilhaber (New England Revolution), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), C.J. Sapong (Sporting Kansas City), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
