
Miguel Acosta, Isaac Arellano, Baltazar Durán named top three finalists of Sueño MLS 2015 presented by Allstate; winner to be announced live on
República Deportiva on June 7
NEW YORK (Tuesday, June 2, 2015) – Eduardo Muñoz Díaz, a 16 year-old goalkeeper from Lafayette, Indiana, has won the Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper - El Portero Allstate award. Muñoz Díaz has been invited to join one of the Chicago Fire Academy teams, where he was initially discovered at the local tryouts.
The announcement was made this past Sunday from The StubHub Center in Carson, Calif., live on Univision Deportes’ República Deportiva, which has chronicled the competition in a “reality show within a show” format.
“I am very happy, very excited,” said Eduardo Muñoz Díaz , winner of the Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper - El Portero Allstate. “After these four days of competition, I thought I wasn’t going to win, not because of my work, but because the other two participants were excellent goalkeepers. In the end I believe it was all worth the win, all my hard work, everything I did to make it here was worth it. Now I have to keep working hard.”
The Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper - El Portero Allstate winner was chosen among three goalkeepers, who were in Southern California for four days of competition and mentoring by top soccer goalkeeping legend Martín “El Pulpo” Zúñiga.
“Muñoz Díaz demonstrated all the best skills needed from a goalkeeper, especially his good ball distribution which is very important. He is a complete goalkeeper with good reaction, speed, potential and good command with his defensive line,” said Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper - El Portero Allstate mentor/coach, Mexican goalkeeping legend Martín “El Pulpo” Zúñiga.
Photos of the goalkeeper winner and the three Sueño MLS finalists, as well as Sueño MLS 2015 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company b-roll and logos are available HERE.
Now in its ninth year, Sueño MLS 2015 – Presented by Allstate Insurance Company is staged by three Major League Soccer teams, including first-time host Orlando City SC, as well as returning hosts Chicago Fire and LA Galaxy. Up to 400 tryout spots are made available in each city on a first come, first serve basis. In past years, spots have filled up after only a few hours following the start of registration. A waiting list is made available once all spots have been filled.
ABOUT THE WINNER:
Eduardo Muñoz Díaz (Goalkeeper – 16 years old – Lafayette, Ind.)
Eduardo Muñoz Díaz is the local winner of the Allstate “Good Hands ®” top goalkeeper award – El Portero Allstate. He made his way to Lafayette, Ind., only two weeks before his successful trial in Chicago rom Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. Muñoz Díaz offers a very advanced approach to the goalkeeper position, honing his skills at Mexican Liga MX’s CD Chivas Guadalajara’s prestigious youth academy. The scouts were impressed by his fielding ability, good frame and quickness on his feet, giving him a good upside in this intense competition and beyond.
Allstate “Good Hands®” top goalkeeper award - El Portero Allstate ALL-TIME WINNERS:
Year Name Home Town Host Team
2015 Eduardo Muñoz Díaz Lafayette, Ind. Chicago Fire
2014 Steven Manuel Ortiz Linden, N.J. New York Red Bulls
2013 Luis Aranzazu Pembroke Pines, Fla. D.C. United
2012 Jimmy Camacho Riverside, Calif. Chivas USA
2011 Anthony Hall Dallas, TX FC Dallas