JOSMER VOLMY 'JOZY' ALTIDORE

Jozy Altidore’s worldwide career had humble beginnings as a youth player in Florida playing for his local sides before a stint at the IMG Academy. From there he was selected 17th overall in the MLS SuperDraft by the MetroStars (now the New York Red Bulls). 

After two years in New York, he was transferred to Spanish club Villareal for $10 million, and so his globetrotting career began. During his european club days, Altidore would play for two spanish clubs (Villareal and Xerez), an english club (Hull City), and a Turkish one (Bursaspor), before finding his way to the Netherlands and AZ Alkmaar. 

In Dutch country he found his stride, scoring 39 goals in 67 appearances, and earning another shot at the premier league when Sunderland came calling in 2013, before coming back home and winning an MLS championship with Toronto FC.

All this while playing in over 100 games for the United States including two world cup appearances and 41 goals.

FUN FACTS

• His transfer fee from New York Red Bulls to Villareal ($10 million) set the record for highest fee for an MLS player, surpassing Clint Dempsey’s $4 million fee from Fulham.
• Wears a wristband with both the US and Haitian flags during US games as a representation of the country his parents came from.
• Founded the Jozy Altidore Foundation in 2011 to aid underprivileged children around the world