Miazga
Date of Birth Jul 19 1995
Hometown Clifton, NJ
Club Chelsea (England)
Despite his age, center back Matt Miazga could easily be considered a veteran player with the mentality of a winner. Standing at 6-4, his defensive power comes not only from his size but the experience he's gained marking some of the top players both domestically and in his club career abroad. A dual national, Miazga started his international career playing one match for the Poland U-18s in 2012. In 2013, he played his first matches with the U.S. U-18s traveling to the 19th Annual International Juniors Tournament in Portugal and went on to be a key figure in the USA's run to the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup quarterfinals in New Zealand. Later that year, Miazga made the step up to the full U.S. Men's National Team, making his debut in a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
VITAL FIRST INTERNATIONAL GOAL
At age 22, Miazga was one of the youngest members of the USA squad at the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup. While his playing time was limited in the competition, the emerging center back came through in a big way during his lone tournament appearance.
Starting the MNT's last first round match against Nicaragua, the USA knew it needed to win by three goals in order to finish on top of the group. The USA held a 2-0 lead late but was frustrated after being thwarted by Nicaragua's keeper, Justo Lorente, on two second-half penalty kick attempts. With time ticking away, the MNT won a free kick in the 88th minute. Graham Zusi swung a ball into Miazga who dove at the back post to head it past Lorente and give the USA the needed three-goal edge to win the group.
Two weeks later, Miazga and his teammates lifted the USA's sixth Gold Cup trophy in Santa Clara, Calif.
Every time I'm here, I want to give it my all, impress and wear the crest with a lot of pride.Matt Miazga
CLUB STANDOUT
In 2009, the New York Red Bulls Academy selected Miazga to participate in their program after just one year at Clifton High School. He was a key defensive player with the U-16 team that went on to win the 2012 U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship. The next year he was signed as a Homegrown Player by the club and by 2015 was a regular starter helping the team to win the Supporter's Shield. Despite being offered a designated player deal after that season, his attention remained firmly fixed on playing in Europe.
In January of 2016 he agreed a four-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea. In the tunnel during his first match with the club against Aston Villa, he recounted that just a few years ago he would have been waking up early to watch the match on TV and now he was lined up with some of the world's greatest players, ready to take the pitch. Miazga was later loaned to Vitesse in the Netherlands, playing every minute of their successful 2016-17 KNVB Cup campaign in which the club won their first trophy in more than 100 years.
After beginning the 2018-19 season with Nantes in France, Miazga returned to England in a bid to help keep League Championship side Reading from relegation. Prior to his loan arrival, the Royals seemed a decent bet to drop, but Miazga's presence stabilized the back line, leading Reading to earn more than double the points in the second half of the season and keep their place in England's second tier.
BORN INTO THIS
Born to Polish parents Adam and Elizabeth in Clifton, N.J., Miazga showed his playing prowess as young as six. Staying true to his roots, he grew up speaking Polish first and learning English later on. His parents were exceptionally encouraging of his interest in the game, with his father telling him that, "If you're going to try something - be the best." No doubt owing to the support his family has given him through the years, Miazga makes sure to FaceTime with them every Sunday after church.
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