Atlanta United’s Caleb Wiley described getting called to the U.S. men’s national team as a dream come true.
Wiley, 18 years old, last week became the second academy player from the MLS team to be tabbed to train and possibly play for the U.S. George Bello was the first. The U.S. team is in camp training to play Mexico on Wednesday. Wiley joined the team Sunday after Atlanta United’s 2-2 draw at Toronto on Saturday.
“It’s pretty unreal,” Wiley said Saturday in an exclusive interview with The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “I was not expecting it, especially so early. It’s truly a special moment for me and my family and the club.”
Wiley received the invitation by email. Wiley hadn’t yet spoken to U.S. interim manager Anthony Hudson, so he said he didn’t know why he was selected, other than Hudson must have liked what he’s done so far. Wiley has three goals and two assists in the first seven games this season. He has four goals and four assists in 34 appearances the past two seasons.
“It’s just great news for everyone here in this club, in this building,” Atlanta United manager Gonzalo Pineda said. “We’re obviously very happy for Caleb because he’s the one that has been grinding, has been fighting.”
Grinding and fighting is exactly how Wiley earned the call-up.
Wiley joined Atlanta United’s Under-12 team in its inaugural 2016 class. He was coached by Matt Lawrey, who now is the franchise’s academy director.
Lawrey said that in 2016 the club didn’t yet know Wiley’s potential.
“He was quiet,” Lawrey said. “He pulled up every day. He worked exceptionally hard. And he was pretty good at everything. Not exceptional at anything.”
It started to become evident when Wiley moved up to the Under-15 team, and the competitions became more fierce. Lawrey said that he and former academy director Tony Annan were reviewing GPS data used to track the players’ movements in training and matches. Wiley had run more than anyone else on the team by a large amount in every training session and every game.
“It was kind of a flag for us,” Lawrey said. “He’s gotten better every single week, and his work rate is just so consistent.”
Wiley advanced to the U-17s and soon outworked his older teammates and earned another starting spot at left fullback.
“Then we knew we had something special,” Lawrey said.
Wiley made his professional debut with Atlanta United 2 on July 11, 2020. He played well enough to be offered a Homegrown contract by Atlanta United. He signed and joined the first team for the 2022 season.
Wiley’s story is one that Pineda and Lawrey said will be used to inspire other players in the academy, as well as for recruiting possible players from metro Atlanta, from Georgia and from the Southeast.
“It’s all about creating this big dream, very tangible dream for our players,” Lawrey said. “These are kids that have seen Caleb. Some of them have watched him come up with the older academy teams. He’s a very real person to them. It’s not just Lionel Messi on the front of a magazine or on a commercial. So these kids can see Caleb. They understand that he’s come through the same system that they came through, and he’s doing amazing things.
“We’re always talking about role models within the academy, and Caleb’s obviously a really big one right now for us. So we’re excited.”
Wiley’s advice to other players in the academy who hope to one day get called up to the U.S. was simple: Be patient.
“I think I was lucky to get into the team really quickly, but I think you got to work hard, and stay committed to it,” he said.
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Atlanta United’s 2023 MLS schedule
Feb. 25 Atlanta United 2, San Jose Earthquakes 1
March 4 Atlanta United 1, Toronto FC 1
March 11 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte FC 0
March 18 Atlanta United 5, Portland 1
March 25 Columbus 6, Atlanta United 1
April 1 Atlanta United 1, New York Red Bulls 0
April 8 Atlanta United 1, New York City FC 1
April 15 Atlanta United 2, Toronto FC 2
April 23 vs. Chicago Fire FC, 4:30 p.m., FS1
April 29 at Nashville SC, 1:30 p.m., Fox
May 6 at Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
May 13 vs. Charlotte FC, 7:30 p.m.
May 17 vs. Colorado Rapids, 7:30 p.m.
May 20 at Chicago Fire FC, 8:30 p.m.
May 27 at Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m.
May 31 vs. New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m., FS1
June 3 at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m.
June 10 vs. D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
June 21 vs. New York City FC, 7:30 p.m.
June 24 at New York Red Bulls, 7:30 p.m.
July 2 vs. Philadelphia Union, 4 p.m., Fox
July 8 at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
July 12 at New England Revolution, 7:30 p.m.
July 15 vs. Orlando City SC, 7:30 p.m., FS1
Aug. 20 at Seattle Sounders, 10:30 p.m.
Aug. 26 vs. Nashville SC, 7:30 p.m.
Aug. 30 vs. FC Cincinnati, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 2 at FC Dallas, 8:30 p.m.
Sept. 16 vs. Inter Miami CF, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 20 at D.C. United, 7:30 p.m.
Sept. 23 vs. CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 4 at Philadelphia Union, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 7 vs. Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m.
Oct. 21 at FC Cincinnati, TBA
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