Jozy
Altidore

  • Position Forward
  • Date of Birth Nov 06 1989
  • Height 6' 1"
  • Club New England Revolution
Photo of the soccer player

A target forward known for his agility and physical style of play, Jozy Altidore has seen plenty of minutes with the MNT, registering more than 100 caps and 40 goals along the way. His success with the MNT is complemented by his stellar professional career which has seen him have a major impact both domestically and abroad. Though he did not see playing time with the MNT in 2018, he still remains a strong veteran presence in the player pool.

EARLY YEARS

Born to Haitian parents in New Jersey, the Altidore family soon relocated to Boca Raton, Fla. Showing skill from an early age, Altidore joined the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in 2004 as the youngest player on the roster at the time. He netted his first international goal that year and continued his scoring ways the next year, tallying 19 goals over 26 games. He appeared with the U-20s at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, scoring four goals to help the USA to the quarterfinals. Later that fall, he earned his first MNT cap coming on as a sub in USA's 1-0 victory against South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup. The debut came just two weeks after his 18th birthday and would be his first of many MNT appearances.

COMING INTO HIS OWN

The year 2008 saw Altidore make his first start and score his first MNT goal, both coming in a 2-2 friendly draw with Mexico that February in Houston. A crucial part of the qualifying effort for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a 19-year-old Altidore became the youngest player in MNT history to tally a hat trick, doing so in a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Trinidad & Tobago on April 1, 2009 in Nashville, pacing the team with six goals during the successful campaign. In the midst of it, Altidore also took part in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring the opening goal in the USA's 2-0 semifinal upset of reigning European champions Spain. He would go on to start all four matches for the USA at the 2010 FIFA World Cup a year later, and earned Man of the Match honors in the MNT's memorable 1-0 win against Algeria in the group-stage finale. Altidore again played a significant role in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, providing four goals to help the MNT book its ticket to Brazil.

Altidore went on to lift his first trophy as a member of the U.S. team, scoring the MNT's opening goals in the semifinal and final of the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup. He was again big in the USA's 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign, leading the team with eight goals and finishing tied with Clint Dempsey for the MNT's all-time World Cup Qualifying scoring lead with 18.

CLUB CAREER

Altidore has had an impressive club career to match his international pedigree, playing for eight teams spanning five countries. Beginning his professional career with the MetroStars in 2006, Altidore went on to play for Villarreal and Xerez (Spain), Hull City (England) and Bursaspor (Turkey), before finding his scoring touch with AZ Alkmaar. Joining the Dutch Eredivisie side in 2011, Altidore would register 51 goals in 93 competitive appearances during his two seasons, helping the club to the 2012-13 KNVB Beker before, earning a move to English Premier League side Sunderland in 2013. After two seasons at the Stadium of Light, the striker returned to MLS, signing as a Designated Player in Toronto FC in 2015. A force on the bank of Lake Ontario, Altidore was named Most Valuable Player of the 2017 MLS Cup, helping TFC lift its first league title. Along with that success, Toronto won the 2017 MLS Supporters Shield, as well three-straight Canadian Championships from 2016-2018.

EARLY YEARS

Born to Haitian parents in New Jersey, the Altidore family soon relocated to Boca Raton, Fla. Showing skill from an early age, Altidore joined the U.S. Soccer Residency Program in 2004 as the youngest player on the roster at the time. He netted his first international goal that year and continued his scoring ways the next year, tallying 19 goals over 26 games. He appeared with the U-20s at the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada, scoring four goals to help the USA to the quarterfinals. Later that fall, he earned his first MNT cap coming on as a sub in USA's 1-0 victory against South Africa in the Nelson Mandela Challenge Cup. The debut came just two weeks after his 18th birthday and would be his first of many MNT appearances.

COMING INTO HIS OWN

The year 2008 saw Altidore make his first start and score his first MNT goal, both coming in a 2-2 friendly draw with Mexico that February in Houston. A crucial part of the qualifying effort for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, a 19-year-old Altidore became the youngest player in MNT history to tally a hat trick, doing so in a comprehensive 3-0 victory against Trinidad & Tobago on April 1, 2009 in Nashville, pacing the team with six goals during the successful campaign. In the midst of it, Altidore also took part in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring the opening goal in the USA's 2-0 semifinal upset of reigning European champions Spain. He would go on to start all four matches for the USA at the 2010 FIFA World Cup a year later, and earned Man of the Match honors in the MNT's memorable 1-0 win against Algeria in the group-stage finale. Altidore again played a significant role in 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifying, providing four goals to help the MNT book its ticket to Brazil.

Altidore went on to lift his first trophy as a member of the U.S. team, scoring the MNT's opening goals in the semifinal and final of the 2017 Concacaf Gold Cup. He was again big in the USA's 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign, leading the team with eight goals and finishing tied with Clint Dempsey for the MNT's all-time World Cup Qualifying scoring lead with 18.

CLUB CAREER

Altidore has had an impressive club career to match his international pedigree, playing for eight teams spanning five countries. Beginning his professional career with the MetroStars in 2006, Altidore went on to play for Villarreal and Xerez (Spain), Hull City (England) and Bursaspor (Turkey), before finding his scoring touch with AZ Alkmaar. Joining the Dutch Eredivisie side in 2011, Altidore would register 51 goals in 93 competitive appearances during his two seasons, helping the club to the 2012-13 KNVB Beker before, earning a move to English Premier League side Sunderland in 2013. After two seasons at the Stadium of Light, the striker returned to MLS, signing as a Designated Player in Toronto FC in 2015. A force on the bank of Lake Ontario, Altidore was named Most Valuable Player of the 2017 MLS Cup, helping TFC lift its first league title. Along with that success, Toronto won the 2017 MLS Supporters Shield, as well three-straight Canadian Championships from 2016-2018.