Walker Zimmerman could be the USMNT's next great centerback
Who will be the United States' next great centerback? The position has been plagued by instability ever since Oguchi Onyewu hurt his knee in 2009, and while John Brooks has flashes of brilliance, he's also dealt with inconsistency. Worse yet, he's the only regular U.S. centerback 25 years old or younger. But that could be changing.
Walker Zimmerman, who just made his U.S. debut two months ago, has the look of a man who could spend a decade in the heart of the American defense.
The excitement around Zimmerman picked up last season, as he teamed with Matt Hedges to make for a formidable heart of the defense on the best team in MLS, FC Dallas. But even so, it was difficult for Zimmerman to get a ton of praise, with most of the attention directed at Hedges, but that changed in January. While both players were called into the United States' January camp, Hedges was injured, leaving Zimmerman without his partner and with huge expectations. He delivered.
Zimmerman didn't just earn his first cap against Jamaica, he was named Man of the Match. And afterward, Bruce Arena had nothing but good things to say about him.
"He had a terrific game, so I’m very impressed with him," the U.S. boss said.
Now Zimmerman isn't seen just as Hedges' partner. He stands on his own, and as arguably the most promising young centerback in the U.S. pool.
In the weeks after Zimmerman's debut, Arena continued to bring up the defender's name and of all the centerbacks from January camp, only Zimmerman was called in for the Americans' World Cup qualifiers against Honduras and Panama. It's one thing to look good in a friendly between weakened sides, but it's another to be called upon when the country's World Cup hopes are on the line. Arena picked Zimmerman for the latter.
Why?
For starters, you'd be hard-pressed to find a better player on aerial challenges.
"You can't beat him in the air. It's impossible," Hedges said to FOX Sports about his centerback partner. "He's the best player in the league in the air by far."
That's a typically American quality. Go back to Onyewu and you have a dominant player in the air. Before that, the same could be said of Alexi Lalas or Marcelo Balboa. It's even Brooks' top skill now. But while it's not sexy, it is undoubtedly valuable and Zimmerman really is nearly unbeatable in the air.
And for those who want a little more evolved play from their centerbacks, Zimmerman can deliver there.
"And his feet passing out of the back is getting much better all the time. It helps a ton because the way we want to play is we want to play out and every year he's gotten so much better at that," Hedges added.
Being able to play out of the back is a must for anyone at FC Dallas. Oscar Pareja has preached it ever since he took over as the club's manager in 2014. So is the ability to read the game. As far as player development and well-rounded play go, you won't find a better manager in MLS than Pareja. But more than that, Pareja demands a keen understanding of the game and ability to read it.
Praise Zimmerman all you want for how good he is in the air. And he is that good. Or for his ability to initiate the attack from the back. Because he can do that. But the reason he stepped into the national team for the first time in January and impressed from the beginning was how he read the game and the maturity he showed in adjusting to the step up in play.
The similarities between Pareja and Arena helped with that.
"I think Bruce did a great job of helping us understand 'this is how we're going to play, this is my vision, this is where I want to see it going,'" Zimmerman told FOX Sports. "Both Bruce and Oscar are very clear about their expectations."
Zimmerman has already proven he can shine under Pareja. And in one match, he did it for Arena too. But World Cup qualifying is another beast and a slew of injuries could mean that Zimmerman gets the nod against Honduras or Panama. For a player who has already made his mark for club, country is next, and Zimmerman knows it.
"Club is very important, your country is extremely important as well," the defender explained. "I think if you aren't eyeing those key tournaments, qualifying, Gold Cup, if you aren't looking at those events, imagining yourself there, I think that's the wrong mentality to have. We're always eyeing those chances."
Now Zimmerman may have that chance. But whether it comes against Honduras and Panama or not, it's not as if this will be his last opportunity. The U.S. centerback carousel is still spinning, but Zimmerman has the look of a defender who can stop it and be the dominant man in the middle that the Americans have spent nearly a decade looking for.
