Getting to know the 28 players on the Inter Miami roster
INTER MIAMI 2020 ROSTER
Drake Callender, GK
Hometown: Sacramento, Calif.
Age: 22.
Bio: Homegrown player from the San Jose Earthquakes. Played for Cal-Berkeley, was named All-Pac 12 three years in a row. Called up to the Under-23 U.S. national team during his college senior season.
John McCarthy, GK
Hometown: Cinnaminson, N.J.
Age: 27.
Bio: Returns to MLS after spending a year with the Tampa Bay Rowdies in the USL. Made 29 regular-season appearances with 10 shutouts in 2019. Played in MLS for the Philadelphia Union, where he made 21 appearances in four seasons. Also played 26 games for the club’s USL affiliate, Bethlehem Steel FC. Four-year starter at LaSalle.
Luis Robles, GK (TEAM CAPTAIN)
Hometown: Fort Huachuca, Ariz.
Age: 35.
Bio: Started 238 regular-season games for the Red Bulls over the past eight seasons, and recorded 72 shutouts during that time. MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2015. Holds record for most consecutive MLS regular-season starts, 183 from 2012 to 2018. He is also sixth all-time in MLS history with 114 goalkeeper wins. Played three games for the U.S. national team. His father is Puerto Rican and his mother Korean. Played five seasons in Germany before joining the Red Bulls and attended University of Portland.
Mikey Ambrose, D
Hometown: El Paso, Texas.
Age: 26.
Bio: Played for Orlando City and Atlanta United, and the U.S. U17, U18 and U20 teams. University of Maryland alum.
A.J. DeLaGarza, D
Hometown: Bryans Road, Md.
Age: 32.
Bio: Known for his versatility across the back line. Was a key player in the L.A. Galaxy’s three most recent MLS Cup titles (2011, 2012, 2014). Has played for U.S. and Guam national teams. Two-time national champion at University of Maryland. 2014 MLS Humanitarian of the Year for his Luca Knows Heart campaign, started after he and his wife lost their newborn son to a congenital heart defect.
Nico Figal, D
Hometown: America, Argentina.
Age: 25.
Bio: Center back played 79 games for Independiente from 2014-19. Played on 2017 Copa Sudamericana championship team. In August 2019, called up to Argentine national team for friendlies against Chile and Mexico.
Grant Lillard, D
Hometown: Hinsdale, Ill.
Age: 24.
Bio: Had a promising rookie season with the Chicago Fire, starting six games, but did not play as much his second season. Started all four years at Indiana University, where he was a three-time Academic All-Big Ten, Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and MAC Hermann Trophy finalist.
Christian Makoun, D
Hometown: Valencia, Venezuela.
Age: 19.
Bio: Played for Zamora FC in Venezuela’s first division and also on the Venezuelan youth national teams. Versatile player can be effective as a defensive mid or center back. He was on loan in Italy with Juventus U-23 team last season.
Dylan Nealis, D
Hometown: Massapequa, N.Y.
Age: 21.
Bio: Four-year fullback and two-year captain at Georgetown, which won 2019 NCAA title. Started 76 of 78 games. Older brother Sean is a defender for the New York Red Bulls. Hermann Trophy finalist.
Alvas Powell, D
Hometown: St. Thomas, Jamaica.
Age: 25.
Bio: Primarily plays right back, played 134 MLS matches with Portland from 2015-18, including the 2015 MLS Cup champion season and was with FC Cincinnati last season. Powell, known for his speed, has played 35 games for the Jamaican national team since 2012.
Andres Reyes, D
Hometown: Puerto Tejada, Colombia.
Age: 20.
Bio: On loan from Colombian club Atletico Nacional, with purchase option. Member of Colombian U-23 national team, also played U-20 World Cup.
Ben Sweat, D
Hometown: Palm Harbor, Fla.
Age: 28.
Bio: All-time leader in appearances (78) at the University of South Florida before joining MLS as the No. 14 pick in the 2014 Super Draft. He played in 79 games for NYCFC and two games for the U.S. national team in 2018, against Colombia and Peru.
Roman Torres, D
Hometown: Panama City, Panama.
Age: 33.
Bio: Gregarious Panamanian national team captain won two Major League Soccer championships with the Seattle Sounders in 2016 and 2019. Started in the Sounders’ three MLS Cup finals and scored the championship-winning penalty in the 2016 MLS Cup. Under his leadership, Panama qualified for its first World Cup appearance. He scored the 88th-minute winning goal against Costa Rica in the last qualifying game on Oct. 10, 2017, and played every minute of Panama’s World Cup appearance. Played in seven Gold Cups. Torres spent three years (2012-2015) with Colombian club Millonarios and played in four Copa Libertadores games.
Denso Ulysse, D
Hometown: Gonaives, Haiti.
Age: 21.
Bio: Haitian youth national team defender. Played 58 games for Tacoma Defiance of the USL from 2017-19 and earned USL All-League Second Team honors. Joined the Seattle Sounders academy from Haitian club Real Hope Football Academy du Cap-Haitien in March 2017.
George Acosta, MF
Hometown: Miami.
Age: 19.
Bio: The only local player on the roster, Acosta played with Weston FC and IMG Academy youth teams, and is currently with Austin Bold FC of USL. Has been a regular on U.S. youth national teams since U-14. Competed in U-17 World Cup in India, and called up to U-20 and U-23 camps.
Luis Argudo, MF
Hometown: Queens, N.Y.
Age: 23.
Bio: Made 39 appearances for the Columbus Crew the past two seasons. Can play as a wing or central midfielder. Started 40 games for Wake Forest and scored eight goals with six assists in 23 games his senior season. He also played two seasons at Elon University.
Jay Chapman, MF
Hometown: Toronto.
Age: 25.
Bio: Was a homegrown signing with Toronto FC, where he got valuable experience with a playoff club. Played for Canada’s U-17 team and U-23 team, and the senior national team. First-team All-American at Michigan State University in 2014.
Lewis Morgan, MF/Winger
Hometown: Greenock, Scotland.
Age: 23.
Bio: Previously played for Celtic, spent half of last season on loan with Sunderland in England. Was looking to expand his game and get more playing time.
Lee Nguyen, MF
Hometown: McKinney, Texas.
Age: 33.
Bio: Creative, technical midfielder who finished third in MLS MVP voting in 2014 when he scored 18 goals with the New England Revolution, which reached the MLS Cup final. Spent 2018-19 with Los Angeles FC. Nine appearances with the U.S. national team. Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Indiana University before heading to Europe, where he played for PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch league, Randers FC of the Danish League and then in Vietnam. Known for his fashion flair.
David Norman Jr., MF
Hometown: New Westminster, Canada.
Age: 21.
Bio: Central midfielder who came up through the Vancouver Whitecaps academy from age 9 and reached the first team in 2019 after a season in USL. Played one season at Oregon State and has represented Canada at U-15 and U-17 levels. Son of former Whitecaps player and Canadian international David Norman.
Matias Pellegrini, MF
Hometown: Magdalena, Argentina.
Age: 19.
Bio: Young Designated Player. Transferred from Argentine club Estudiantes, where he is a key player and made two Copa Libertadores appearances. Played for Argentina’s U-17 and U-20 teams. Attacking player known for his passing and ability to cover ground. Drew attention from several top teams in Europe.
Rodolfo Pizarro, MF
Hometown: Tampico, Mexico.
Age: 26.
Bio: Designated player, signed for a reported $12 million from Mexican club Monterrey. Creative, attacking midfielder who can play multiple positions. Played for Inter Miami coach Diego Alonso at Monterrey and Pachuca. Key player on the Mexican national team. Recognizable by his ever-changing hair styles.
Wil Trapp, MF
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio.
Age: 27.
Bio: Homegrown player for the Columbus Crew and one of that club’s most beloved players. The tenacious defensive midfielder played 185 games for the Crew. Known as a locker-room leader.
Victor Ulloa, MF
Hometown: Wylie, Texas.
Age: 27.
Bio: FC Dallas homegrown player anchored the Dallas midfield in 2014 and 2015. Is known for his locker-room leadership. Spent last season with FC Cincinnati.
Juan Agudelo, F
Hometown: Born Manizales, Colombia, raised in Barnegat Township, N.J.
Age: 27.
Bio: Spent six years with the New England Revolution and has played 28 matches for the U.S. national team. Began his career with the New York Red Bulls in 2010, traded to Chivas USA in 2012, went to the New England Revolution in 2013, Stoke City in 2014, was loaned to FC Utrecht, then returned to the Revolution in 2015. Represented the United States at the U-17 World Cup and in 2010 was called up to the senior team. Became the youngest player to score for the U.S. national team when he scored a goal at age 18.
Julian Carranza, F
Hometown: Oncativo, Argentina.
Age: 19.
Bio: Transferred from Banfield of the Argentine league, where he scored 10 goals through 30 matches. Has trained with Argentina’s U-17 team. Injured left foot during preseason, out until April.
Jerome Kiesewetter, F
Hometown: Berlin, Germany.
Age: 26.
Bio: Speedy German-American dual national, began his career in Germany with Hertha Berlin, Stuttgart and Fortuna Dusseldorf before moving to the United States. Has played for U.S. national team and spent 2019 with USL club El Paso Locomotive, where he scored 12 goals in 28 games.
Robbie Robertson, F
Hometown: Camden, S.C.
Age: 21.
Bio: Clemson standout and No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 MLS SuperDraft. Imposing striker won the Hermann Trophy, was first-team All-American, joint top-scorer in NCAA in 2019 with 18 goals in 19 games.
This story was originally published February 27, 2020 at 5:55 PM.