Leeds United and USA centre midfielder Tyler Adams has been named as the USMNT (United States Mens National Team) Player of the Year for 2022.
Tyler Adams has been one of the better players in a struggling Leeds team this season (arguably the best). While striker Rodrigo has been excellent in front of goal and the emergence of youngsters like Willy Gnonto and Crysencio Summerville has been important for the Whites, if you were to name a Player of the Season to-date, Adams is right up there. And its that way for both club and country when it comes to the anchor that he is.
Adams was named as his national team’s captain ahead of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, in which the USA were one of the tournament’s impressive outsiders. Still only at the young age of 23, Adams was by a distance the youngest captain in the competition.
Adams was a standout player in USA’s clash with England during the two nation’s 0-0 draw during the group stages, catching the eye of many who watched the game.
Because I haven’t seen enough 0-0 draws at this World Cup, I watched England v USA again (so you never have to)
Some thoughts 🧵
1) Tyler Adams was so clearly man of the match that’s it’s beyond embarrassing FIFA gave it to Pulisic….
— Rob Draper (@draper_rob) November 26, 2022
The Leeds star has 36 caps for his country’s national team to date, and was part of the team that won the 2021 CONCACAF Nations League. Watching Adams play for club and country, its not the biggest surprise to see him picking up an honour like this. He gives it his all every second that he’s on the field, he can pick a pass, and his defensive positional sense is at a really high level.
USA head coach Gregg Berhalter has heaped remarkably high praise on the 23 year old. During the 2022 World Cup when discussing Adams captaincy, Berhalter said:
“His leadership has been vital to us from day one.”
“He’s the general, he’s the strategist. He’s the guy that goes out there and leads by example. When he talks, people listen.” [via The Guardian].
A huge congratulations to Tyler Adams from Vital Leeds on earning this award, and hopefully we see more impressive performances from him in a Leeds team that really needs it!