So close, oh so close.The 2008 U.S. Men’s Olympic Team got here inside one goal of qualifying for the knockout spherical on the Beijing Summer Games. As it stood, the Americans completed with a 1-1-1 file in Group B.They began on an optimistic observe, defeating Japan 1-0 on Stuart Holden’s Forty seventh-minute goal in Tianjin on Aug. 7. Goalkeeper Brad Guzan earned the clear sheet.Three days later in the identical metropolis, the Olympic MNT squandered noticed their lead towards The Netherlands snatched away within the third minute of stoppage time, as Gerald Sibon scored off a free kick to secure a 2-2 draw. Sacha Kljestan (sixty fourth minute) and Jozy Altidore (72nd minute) wrote their names on the scoresheet for the U.S.In the ultimate group stage match in Beijing, Nigeria bested the U.S. 2-1 through objectives from Isaac Promise and Victor Obinna. Kljestan pulled one back late with an 88th-minute penalty kick.Despite the early exit, right here’s how right here’s how that group of gamers superior their careers on each the membership and worldwide ranges following the 2008 Olympic event:GoalkeepersBrad Guzan – One of three overage gamers on the 2008 roster, Guzan has since solid a 19-year profession on either side of the Atlantic Ocean. At the time of the Beijing Games, Guzan was recent off of a 2007 MLS Goalkeeper of the Year marketing campaign for Chivas USA, whom he’d performed with since being drafted in 2005. Currently, Guzan has 267 MLS appearances to his credit score, encapsulating each his time at Chivas USA and his present gig at Atlanta United, the place he’s been since 2017. In between MLS stints, Guzan was a common for Aston Villa of the English Premier League, for whom he appeared 144 occasions from 2008-2016. Guzan, who turns 40 on Sept. 9, has made 64 worldwide appearances, and was on the USA roster for the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.Chris Seitz – Picked by Real Salt Lake because the fourth general selection within the 2007 MLS SuperDraft, Seitz wound up enjoying for 9 golf equipment throughout his 11-year skilled profession. He wore the uniforms of the Philadelphia Union, FC Dallas, Houston Dynamo and D.C. United (all of MLS), in addition to Cleveland City, Portland Timbers, Rio Grande Valley and Loudoun United (USL) earlier than he retired in 2021.DefendersMaurice Edu – One of MLS’ most promising younger gamers on the time of the 2008 Summer Games, Edu had shined as the primary general choose within the 2007 MLS SuperDraft by Toronto FC as he’d go on to earn MLS Rookie of the Year honors by season’s finish. The Fontana, Calif. native began all three video games in Beijing, earlier than signing with Scottish powerhouse Rangers instantly afterward the place he’d win three Scottish Premier League titles. He’d then spend time at Stoke City (England) and Bursaspor (Turkey) earlier than returning to the states to play three seasons for the Philadelphia Union earlier than retiring in 2017. Edu made 46 USMNT appearances, scoring as soon as. Since retiring, he has been a commentator for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, an analyst for CBS Sports, and labored FOX Sports’ protection of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.Patrick Ianni – A back-to-back MLS Cup champion with the Houston Dynamo getting into the 2008 video games, Ianni loved a lot success early in his profession following his eighth general choice on the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. Upon being traded to the Seattle Sounders in 2009, he’d choose up one other three trophies within the kind of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophies. Ianni was traded to the Chicago Fire in 2014, his remaining MLS season.Michael Orozco – Still lively on the age of 38, Orozco owns an 18-year skilled profession with golf equipment in each Mexico and the United States. Representing San Luis of Liga MX in the summertime of 2008, Orozco was a key determine in serving to the U.S. in qualify for the Beijing Summer Games, and he’d begin all three matches whereas there. He earned his first senior workforce cap that October, and would famously go on to attain the lone goal within the U.S.’ first-ever away win towards Mexico in August of 2012. He performed 29 occasions with the USMNT, scoring 4 objectives. Currently enjoying for Orange County SC within the USL Championship, Orozco’s membership profession has additionally seen stops at Puebla, Chiapas, Tijuana and Lobos BUAP in Mexico, in addition to for the Philadelphia Union in MLS.Michael Parkhurst – Entering the summer season of 2008, Parkhurst was popping out of 2007 season with the New England Revolution the place he’d received the league’s Defender of the Year award, and was subsequently chosen to characterize the U.S. as an overage participant on the Olympic squad. A 2005 MLS SuperDraft choose by the Revs, 2008 can be his final season in MLS for six years, as his efficiency each domestically and in his three begins on the Beijing Olympics helped him earn a switch to Denmark’s Nordsjælland later that yr. A daily over the subsequent 4 seasons, he’d then switch to Germany’s FC Augsberg in 2012, earlier than returning home for a 5 yr keep in MLS with the Columbus Crew and Atlanta United, with whom he retired in 2019. Parkhurst made 25 appearances with the USMNT, successful the Concacaf Gold Cup in 2007 and 2013.Marvell Wynne – The son of former Major League Baseball Player Marvell Wynne, the youthful Wynne took his skills to skilled soccer. Wynne had been the primary general MLS SuperDraft choose in 2006 by the New York Red Bulls, and rapidly established himself as one of the quickest gamers within the league. By summer season of 2008, Wynne was enjoying for Toronto FC, who had traded for him the yr prior. Wynne performed all three matches in Beijing, and would go on to characterize the U.S. on the senior degree 5 occasions. Upon retiring in 2017, Wynne had additionally made stops on the Colorado Rapids and San Jose Earthquakes, and is one of simply 56 gamers to have made 300+ profession appearances in MLS.MidfieldersMichael Bradley – Named U.S. Soccer’s Young Athlete of the Year for 2007, Bradley had already made his senior workforce debut earlier than being named to the Olympic squad. Bradley was a star on the rise forward of the Beijing Games, having simply a few months prior damaged the file for essentially the most objectives scored in a single season by an American soccer participant in a European first division whereas ending with 18 objectives for Heerenveen within the Dutch Eredivisie. Bradley performed each minute of the primary two matches on the Olympics, however was compelled to sit down for the third as a consequence of yellow card suspension. His post-Olympic profession turned a legendary one for the senior USMNT. He captained the facet for a number of years, making 151 appearances in complete – the third-most all-time. He scored 17 objectives, together with each in a dos a cero conquer Mexico in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 2009. He was a Gold Cup winner in 2007 and 2007, in addition to the U.S. Soccer Player of the Year in 2015. On the membership degree, after leaving Heerenveen after the 2008 Olympics, Bradley’s profession included stops at Borussia Monchengladbach (Germany), Aston Villa (England), Chievo and Roma (each Italy). He returned to North America in 2014 to play 258 video games over a decade with Toronto FC, serving to the workforce to the 2017 MLS Cup and incomes three MLS all-star alternatives earlier than calling it a profession in 2023. He is now an assistant coach at Norwegian membership Stabaek.Benny Feilhaber – Well earlier than being chosen to the 2008 Olympic workforce, Feilhaber had already written himself into USMNT lore. The summer season prior, Feilhaber scored a beautiful volleyed goal towards Mexico that served because the game-winner in a 2-1 defeat of Mexico within the Concacaf Gold Cup remaining. In Beijing, he appeared in all three matches as a substitute. His 15-year skilled profession started with Hamburger SV (Germany) in 2005, and he’d go on to play for Derby County (England) and AGC (Denmark) earlier than returning to MLS in 2011. Feilhaber spent two years with the New England Revolution, then spent the majority of his MLS profession throughout two tenures with Sporting Kansas City, the place he’d make 167 appearances from 2013-17 and 2019-20, with year-long stints at LAFC and the Colorado Rapids in between. He is at present the top coach of Sporting Kansas City II in MLS Next Pro.Stuart Holden – Despite enjoying in solely 122 membership matches over 9 years earlier than knee accidents compelled him to retire on the age of 29, Holden was a participant to be reckoned with each time he suited up. A back-to-back MLS Cup winner with the Houston Dynamo main up to the summer season of 2008, Holden would begin all three matches in Beijing for the U.S. He put in his greatest season as a professional to-date in 2009, incomes MLS All-Star and MLS Best XI nods and parlaying them into a transfer to Bolton Wanderers of the English Premier League in 2010. Despite struggling a knee harm in March of 2011 that will power him out for the remaining of the season, Holden’s efforts to that time led to him being voted the 2011 Bolton Wanderers Player of the Year. Internationally, Holden performed 25 occasions andscored three objectives for the USA, and was a member 2009 and 2013 Gold Cup squads in addition to the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad. Upon retiring, Holden rapidly rose up the ranks within the broadcasting world, and is now the lead colour commentator for FOX Sports soccer contests.Sacha Kljestan – Kljestan turned down an look within the 2008 MLS All-Star game to characterize his nation on the Beijing Olympics, a determination that proved clever for each participant and nation. One of the league’s high midfielders at Chivas USA, Kljestan put in a star efficiency on the 2008 event, scoring twice whereas enjoying each minute in all three video games. The exhibiting sparked European curiosity within the California native, as he earned a trial with Scottish powerhouses Celtic in early 2009 and an eventual transfer to Belgian Pro League Anderlecht in 2010. After making 132 appearances over the subsequent 5 seasons, Kljestan returned to MLS to compete with the New York Red Bulls (2015-17), Orlando City (2018-19), and the LA Galaxy (2020-22). Known for his skill to unlock a protection, Kljestan’s 67 assists throughout 316 appearances rank ninth in league historical past. For the senior U.S. workforce, he scored six objectives and recorded 5 assists in 52 USA appearances. Today, Kljestan might be seen and heard on MLS 360 on Apple TV.Dax McCarty – McCarty was two years into a skilled profession that’s nonetheless going robust on the time of the 2008 Olympics. Then a midfielder for FC Dallas, who chosen him out of North Carolina at sixth general within the 2006 MLS SuperDraft, McCarty would seem as soon as in Beijing on the summer season video games. A stout presence in midfield at every of the 5 groups he’s performed for since leaving FC Dallas in 2010, McCarty has worn the captain’s armband for D.C. United, the New York Red Bulls, Chicago Fire, and Nashville SC. When he turned the third MLS discipline participant to achieve 400 league matches on April 22, 2023, McCarty admitted that retirement had crossed his thoughts. More than a yr later, McCarty continues to be enjoying for Atlanta United, having made 481 MLS appearances – the third-most in league historical past. He has performed 13 occasions for the USMNT, most notably as half of the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup-winning roster.Robbie Rogers – Rogers was within the midst of his most profitable season as a professional in 2008 as a member of the Columbus Crew. After transferring to MLS in 2007 following an early profession stint with Heerenveen in Holland, Rogers would earn MLS Best XI honors in 2008 en path to serving to his workforce raise each MLS Cup and the Supporter Shield that season. Rodgers began all three video games in Beijing for the U.S. After a five-year run with the Crew and short stints with Leeds United and Stevenage (England), Rogers signed with the LA Galaxy in 2013, the place performed till his retirement in 2017. At 25, Rogers made historical past when he introduced that he was homosexual, changing into the primary professional soccer participant primarily based in England to return out since Justin Fashanu in 1990. Upon returning to the U.S. to play with the Galaxy in 2013, Rogers turned the primary overtly homosexual athlete to compete in a high North American skilled sports league. He scored twice in 16 video games for the USMNT.Danny Szetela – A product of the U.S. Under-17 residency, Szetela was so sought after that MLS needed to carry a lottery to find out which workforce for which he would play in 2004. After three seasons with the Columbus Crew, he journeyed throughout the pond to play for Racing Santander (Spain) and Brescia (Italy), whom he represented whereas with the U.S. Olympic workforce. He returned to the States to carry out for D.C. United in 2009. A yr later, Szetela suffered a torn meniscus and didn’t play professionally again till becoming a member of the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League in 2013. There, he performed for 3 NASL championship sides. Szetela has performed for Morris Elite SC for the reason that Cosmos’ demise in 2020.ForwardsFreddy Adu – Until only in the near past the youngest participant ever to debut in Major League Soccer, the then-19-year-old Adu was already 5 years into his skilled profession when the 2008 Summer Olympics started. Plying his commerce at Benfica in Portugal on the time, Adu had already represented the U.S. at three separate FIFA U-20 World Cup tournaments (2003, 2005, 2007), simply the second participant ever to take action. In Beijing, Adu began within the workforce’s first two matches and assisted on Kljestan’s goal towards the Netherlands, however was compelled to overlook the ultimate match towards Nigeria as a consequence of yellow card accumulation. Over his 18-year profession, Adu would play with 15 groups throughout 9 nations. He represented the USA on 17 events, scoring twice, whereas additionally being half of the 2009 and 2011 Concacaf Gold Cup squads. Adu’s title of youngest-ever MLS debutante (14 years, 307 days) was simply surpassed by the Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan (14 years, 293 days) on July 17, 2024.Jozy Altidore – Another participant who made his debut as a teenager, Altidore was 16 when the NY/NJ MatroStars traded up to take him within the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. When the 2008 Olympics got here round, he was recent off of an $8 million switch to Spain’s Villareal – the largest-ever charge paid for an MLS participant on the time. Altidore appeared in all three matches in Beijing, twice as a substitute – scoring within the 2-2 draw with Holland – and as a starter within the workforce’s finale towards Nigeria. Across Altidore’s subsequent journey in Europe, his stops included Xerez (Spain), Hull City (England), Bursaspor (Turkey), AZ Alkmaar (Netherlands), and Sunderland (England). In 2013, whereas with AZ, Altidore broke Clint Dempsey’s file for many objectives by an American in a European membership season along with his twenty fourth of the marketing campaign. He returned to North America in 2015, beginning a nine-year stint with Toronto FC the place he scored 62 objectives in 139 matches and received the 2017 MLS Cup. On the national workforce degree, Altidore scored 42 occasions – the second-highest complete in program historical past – in 115 matches whereas representing the U.S. at two FIFA World Cups (2010, 2014) and 4 Concacaf Gold Cups (2011, 2015, 2017, 2019).Charlie Davies – Davies went straight to Europe upon ending faculty at Boston College, latching on with Sweden’s Hammarby IF from 2007-2009. 2008 was Davies’ breakout season in Sweden, scoring 14 objectives in 27 video games and getting chosen to the U.S. Olympic squad. While there, he appeared as a substitute within the workforce’s group stage finale towards Nigeria. He’d go on to attain 4 worldwide objectives in 17 senior workforce appearances, together with one of the most important objectives in USMNT historical past – the ultimate tally of a 3-0 group-stage victory over Egypt that boosted the Americans into the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup semifinals. He performed for Hammarby IF (Sweden), Sochaux (France) and Randers (Denmark), returning to the states in 2013 to carry out for the New England Revolution and Philadelphia Union earlier than retiring in 2017. These days, Davies might be seen and heard on the CBS Golazo Network.Brian McBride – An overage participant and captain of the 2008 Olympic Team, McBride was by far essentially the most internationally expertise member of the USA roster in Beijing. Having made his U.S. debut in 1994, McBride would go on to be half of the 1998, 2002, and 2006 FIFA World Cup groups. Upon scoring within the 1998 and 2002 tournaments, he turned the primary American to attain at two World Cups. In Beijing, McBride began all three matches of the Olympic event. The USA’s fifth all-time main scorer, the Illinois native discovered the web 30 occasions in 95 senior workforce appearances. On the membership facet, he tallied 62 objectives in 161 video games for the Columbus Crew from 1996-2003, 33 objectives in 140 contests for Fulham (England) from 2004-08, and 18 objectives in 59 appearances for the Chicago Fire from 2008-09. He additionally competed for Preston North End and Everton in England, and VfL Wolfsburg in Germany. McBride was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2014.