After playing only 24 minutes in the first two matches of the 2009 Confederations Cup, Manchester, NH native Charlie Davies earned the start in the United States' final group game against Egypt and scored a scrappy opener in a match the U.S. would go on to win 3-0. The result, combined with Brazil's 3-0 thrashing of Italy, saw the United States scrape into the semifinals, where they stunned European Champions Spain 2-0. In the final, Davies' perfectly weighted left-footed pass set up Landon Donovan to score a terrific counterracking goal in the United States' pulsating 2-3 loss to Brazil.
New England Prep School Star
After scoring 59 total goals in his final two years at the Brooks School in North Andover, MA, Davies played three years of NCAA soccer at Boston College, netting 15 times in 16 games in his final season with the Eagles. This remarkable strike-rate saw Davies become a Hermann Trophy finalist in 2006.
Move to Sweden: Davies Struggles to Adapt to Professional Ball
Davies joined Swedish club Hammarby for the 2007 season, but struggled to adapt to Scandinavian soccer, scoring only 7 goals in his first season in the Swedish capital. After accepting some tough criticism from his coach, Tony Gustavvson, Davies entered the 2008 season determined to become a better professional and more complete attacker. Davies' renewed commitment paid off with 14 goals in 27 games.
From the Fringes to the Center: Davies with the U.S. National Team
After playing limited minutes for the United States Olympic team in the 2008 Beijing Games, Davies scored his first goal for the full national team in a 2-1 World Cup qualifying loss to Trinidad and Tobago in October of 2008. Although Davies' early appearances with the US side demonstrated his electric turn of pace, the former BC star struggled at times with the demands of the international game, most notably with his link-up play and ability to hold the ball with his back to goal. At the 2009 Confederations Cup, Davies put in his best-ever performances for the Red, White, and Blue, starting the United States' final three matches of the tournament and scoring the crucial goal against Egypt that kickstarted The Comeback. In addition to his blistering pace, Davies showed flashes of a more well-rounded game in South Africa, though he retains the ability to frustrate with poor decision-making and over-dribbling.
The New Lion Cub: Davies Arrives at Sochaux for the 2009-2010 Season
Sochaux, nicknamed Les Lionceaux (Lion cubs), finished 14th in each of the last two seasons in France's Ligue 1. Their most successful recent season came in 2006-2007, when they finished in 7th place and won the French Cup. The club, which plays its home games at the 20,000-capacity Stade Auguste Bonal, is known as one of the best clubs in France at grooming young attacking talent. Benoit Pedretti (to Marseille), Pierre Alan-Frau (Lyon), El Hadji Diouf (Rennes), and Ilan (St. Etienne) all earned transfers to higher profile clubs after cutting their teeth with Sochaux.
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