John Brooks

6. John Brooks Defender | Club: Hertha BSC (Germany) Brooks is a young center back who showed his lack of experience in a couple friendly appearances with

Liviu Bird | Jun 2, 2014

John Brooks /

6. John Brooks

Defender | Club: Hertha BSC (Germany)

Age	Hometown	Height	Weight	Goals	Caps
21	Berlin	6-4	170	0	4

Brooks is a young center back who showed his lack of experience in a couple friendly appearances with the U.S. in the past year. However, he is a good prospect for the future, which is likely why Klinsmann included him on the roster. Brooks is firmly No. 4 on the center back depth chart, behind Matt Besler, Geoff Cameron and Omar González, and is not likely to see time in Brazil, though 2018 could be his time to shine.

OUTLOOK: If the U.S. is fortunate, a player of Brooks’inexperience won’t have much of a role to play. He is on hand to learn and be prepared in case of a series of injuries and/or red cards brings up the need for a fourth center back. If he does play, Brooks will have to rely on the leadership of those around him to carry him through it.

Meet the 23: Complete roster breakdown

Published Jun 2, 2014

LIVIU BIRD

Liviu Bird is a soccer analyst with more than 20 years of experience in the game. He learned how to play in the streets of Romania before moving to the soccer wilderness of Fairbanks, Alaska, escaping to play collegiately as a goalkeeper at Highline Community College and Seattle Pacific University, where he also earned his B.A. in journalism. Bird played semiprofessionally and had tryouts at professional clubs but hung up his gloves in 2012 to focus on writing and coaching at the youth and collegiate levels. He joined Sports Illustrated in March 2013 as a freelance contributor and has also written for NBC Sports, Soccer Wire, The New York Times, American Soccer Now and the Telegraph (UK).