Son of NFL legend breaks through into US national team

Antonio Freeman had tears in his eyes when his 20-year-old son Alex walked onto the field for his United States national team debut against Turkiye on June 7.

"It just gives me chills," the former All-Pro wide receiver and Super Bowl champion said. "He has on a USA jersey. He's representing his country. That's probably the top level of recognition you could possibly get."

With Sergino Dest still regaining fitness after a torn ACL, Freeman started at right-back for the US on Sunday in the team's opening win over Trinidad and Tobago at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. He is among the young players hoping to impress coach Mauricio Pochettino as he considers next year's World Cup roster.

Freeman's ascent has been unexpected. He played just 11 minutes of first-team league soccer before this season.

"Alex, to be honest, I had no idea who you were before you got called up," American midfielder Luca de la Torre said Tuesday, turning toward Freeman and smiling during a news conference.

Now 53, Antonio played nine seasons in the NFL, making the All-Pro team in 1998 and winning the 1997 Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers.

"Growing up I always got asked if football was the path, but, when I was younger, I always had a secret love for soccer," Alex said.

Alex's mom rejects the notion she directed her son, who also played basketball as a kid, away from American football.

"The real story is, Alex didn't want to play football and he didn't want to tell his dad that," Rochelle Hinkle said. "They all use me as an excuse. He just wanted to make his own path. He didn't have, I guess, the words to say it then."

Alex played for youth teams at Weston FC, near his home in the Fort Lauderdale suburb of Plantation. He wanted to play for Inter Miami's youth academy, but was turned down. Freeman was then recruited for Orlando City's academy by Javier Carrillo, his former Weston coach.

"Without him taking me in, maybe I might not be where I am today," Alex said. "Obviously moving at the age of 15 was something that was hard for me, being away from my family and everything, but I feel like it made me grow up fast, and I feel that that's something that I needed to do."

He moved to Orlando in 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic.

"I still have PTSD from that, because I wasn't done raising him," his mother said.

Freeman debuted for Orlando City B in the third-tier MLS Next Pro on March 26, 2022, and played his first match for the senior team in Major League Soccer on April 29, 2023, entering in second-half stoppage time. He had two more substitute MLS appearances last year, totaling 10 minutes, before taking over from Iceland international Dagur Dan Thorhallsson as starting right-back this season.

"Alex is player with little experience, but in soccer the desire, the capacity and the talent usually rise above experience," Pochettino said. "The reports we got on him were really good."

Freeman is competing for what will likely be two right-back roster spots with Dest, Joe Scally, Nathan Harriel, Bryan Reynolds, Shaq Moore and Marlon Fossey. Pochettino envisions narrowing his focus from a current group of 60 players when he makes roster selections for the autumn friendlies.

"These camps, these games, I feel like it's just motivation for me to earn Pochettino's trust," Freeman said.

Alex credits his dad for teaching him training, eating and lifestyle habits. Years ago, they used to kick a ball around together.

Not anymore, though.

"At that point I realized: You're going to hurt yourself out here," Antonio said. "We might shoot around some basketballs in the backyard, shoot some three-pointers or something, but nothing soccer related."

Agencies via Xinhua