Youth development is one of the most interesting and divisive topics in American soccer. Coaches and scouts are constantly scouring the country for the next Lionel Messi or even the next Landon Donovan.
And that conversation moved back to the forefront once again last week when MLSsoccer.com released it's 24 Under 24. The list, voted on by soccer media members in North America is a comprehensive list of the top 24 players in MLS under the age of 24. Sporting KC defender Erik Palmer-Brown came in at No. 24 in his first appearance on the list.
So what is Sporting Kansas City's philosophy when it comes to youth development? During a recent trip to New York, Sporting KC assistant technical director Mike Jacobs (pictured, left) sat down with MLSsoccer.com editor Andrew Wiebe for an ExtraTime Radio interview to offer his perspective on youth development and how it relates to Sporting KC. Jacobs covered a variety of topics including Major League Soccer's connection with USL, the current state of college soccer and Sporting KC's goals for youth development. Listen to the full interview below starting at 24:45.
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