Michael Hoyos
(Estudiantes)
Age: 19
The United States team will be gnashing their teeth at letting this one slip through their fingers. Born in Los Angeles to Argentinian parents, Michael was eligible to play for the US or Argentina at international level, but he now looks to have chosen the latter. His mother brought him to her homeland at the age of 15 where he trialled with Estudiantes and was subsequently recruited into their youth team. He made his first team debut in a summer friendly in January of 2010 and scored a spectacular goal against Boca Juniors, earning himself a squad place. He played an important role in Estudiantes’ recent Apertura triumph, where he was often called on to replace injured or suspended players in the starting lineup, stepping in for the likes of Veron and Braña with aplomb. Hoyos is a creative midfielder who pushes forward and looks to score goals with his powerful left foot. He has just been named as the number 10 in Argentina’s U20 squad to contest the South American championships in Peru this year. That means he’s good. Remember the name.
