CHICAGO, Ill. (Friday, Jan. 3, 2014) – The Chicago Fire Soccer Club announced Friday that goalkeeper Sean Johnson and forward Mike Magee have been selected by the United States Men’s National Team Head Coach Jurgen Klinsmann to participate in the annual January training camp at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. from Jan. 6 – Feb. 1.
After six days in California, a 23-player group will head to Sao Paulo from Jan. 13-25 to give the players and staff a dry run of the upcoming 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. The team will then return to the U.S. Soccer National Training Center.
The four-week training camp will culminate with an international friendly against to Korea Republic on Saturday, Feb. 1 at the StubHub Center at 4:00 p.m. CT. (ESPN2/WatchESPN/UniMas).
A Lilburn, Ga. product, Johnson made his international debut Jan. 22, 2011 against Chile at the Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif. Johnson earned his first start for the U.S. Men’s National Team and earned the shutout in a 0-0 draw with Canada at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston, Texas Jan. 29.
The 24-year-old ‘keeper has been capped four times and last summer competed in the 2013 CONCACAF Gold Cup, earning the shutout in the 1-0 win against Costa Rica on July 16 in the final group match of the tournament. The U.S. would go on to defeat Panama 1-0 in the final, winning the Gold Cup for the fifth time.
In four seasons as a professional, Johnson has made 100 Regular Season appearances for the Men in Red, earning 21 shutouts and making 325 saves while tallying a 41-33-26 career record.
The reigning Volkswagen MLS Most Valuable Player, Magee earns the call after a breakout season for the Fire. Magee joined the Fire in a trade on May 25 from the LA Galaxy. In 22 games with the Men in Red, Magee scored 15 goals and tallied four assists.
Prior to joining the Fire, Magee scored six goals with the LA Galaxy, bringing his season total to 21 goals, just one shy of Vancouver Whitecaps FC forward Camilo Sanvezzo, the 2013 MLS Golden Boot winner.
The eleven-year MLS veteran earned his first career MLS All-Star nomination when he was named to the 2013 MLS All-Star Fan XI and faced Italian Serie A side AS Roma in July. In 2013, Magee was also named to his first career MLS Best XI.
A U.S. Youth International, Magee participated in the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship in the United Arab Emirates. The Chicago native has yet to make his senior international debut.
U.S. ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (4): Tally Hall (Houston Dynamo), Bill Hamid (D.C. United), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire), Nick Rimando (Real Salt Lake)
DEFENDERS (10): Matt Besler (Sporting Kansas City), Brad Evans (Seattle Sounders FC), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Clarence Goodson (San Jose Earthquakes), Michael Harrington (Portland Timbers), Chris Klute (Colorado Rapids), Chance Myers (Sporting Kansas City), Shane O’Neill (Colorado Rapids), Seth Sinovic (Sporting Kansas City), DeAndre Yedlin (Seattle Sounders FC)
MIDFIELDERS (8): Eric Alexander (New York Red Bulls), Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Brad Davis (Houston Dynamo), Mix Diskerud (Rosenborg), Benny Feilhaber (Sporting Kansas City), Luis Gil (Real Salt Lake), Dax McCarty (New York Red Bulls), Graham Zusi (Sporting Kansas City)
FORWARDS (4): Landon Donovan (LA Galaxy), Eddie Johnson (D.C. United), Mike Magee (Chicago Fire), Chris Wondolowski (San Jose Earthquakes)
