George Bello
George Bello (born January 22, 2002) is an American professional soccer player who plays as a left back for Major League Soccer side Atlanta United FC.
 Bello at an Atlanta United FC event in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | George Bello | ||
| Date of birth | January 22, 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Abuja, Nigeria | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Left back | ||
| Club information | |||
Current team | Atlanta United | ||
| Number | 21 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2011 | Southern Soccer Academy | ||
| 2011–2016 | Alpharetta Ambush | ||
| 2016–2018 | Atlanta United | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2018– | Atlanta United | 23 | (2) |
| 2018– | Atlanta United 2 | 19 | (1) |
| National team‡ | |||
| United States U15 | |||
| United States U16 | |||
| 2019 | United States U17 | 8 | (1) |
| 2021– | United States | 1 | (0) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of November 8, 2020 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of January 31, 2021 | |||
Early years
Born in Abuja, Nigeria, Bello moved with his family to Douglasville, Georgia when he was one year old.[1] During his early career, Bello played for Southern Soccer Academy, a youth soccer club affiliated with English club Chelsea, and the Alpharetta Ambush, where he played for five years.[1] While playing at Alpharetta Ambush, Bello would play with future Atlanta United academy teammate Zyen Jones.[1]
After spending five years with the Alpharetta Ambush, Bello moved to the academy side at Atlanta United FC, a new expansion club for Major League Soccer.[1] His former coach, Tony Annan, now at Atlanta United as their academy director, was the one to reach out to Bello to join his side.[1]
In 2017, a couple of months after signing a professional contract with Atlanta United FC, Bello helped Atlanta United's under-16 side win the U.S. Soccer Development Academy U16 Championship.[2] His performance during the season saw Bello named 2016–17 East Conference U15/16 Player of the Year and also included in the East Conference U15/16 Best XI.[2]
Club career
Atlanta United FC
On June 17, 2017, Bello, alongside teammates Lagos Kunga and Patrick Okonkwo, was signed by Atlanta United FC to a homegrown player contract which would start in 2018.[3] He would go on to make his professional debut on March 31, 2018 for Atlanta United 2, the club's reserve team, against Charlotte Independence. He started and played the whole match in a 2–2 draw.[4]
On September 2, 2018, Bello made his debut for the Atlanta United FC senior side in their Major League Soccer match against D.C. United. He came on as a 76th minute substitute for Héctor Villalba as Atlanta United FC were defeated 1–3.[5] Bello then scored his first professional goal a month later on October 6 against the New England Revolution. He scored his team's opening goal in the 17th minute of a 2–1 Atlanta United FC victory.[6] During the 2018 MLS Playoffs, Bello featured for Atlanta United FC twice from the bench but didn't play as Atlanta United FC won the 2018 MLS Cup.[7]
The next season, Bello made his international club debut for Atlanta United FC in the CONCACAF Champions League against Herediano on February 21. He started as a left-wide back as Atlanta United FC were defeated 1–3.[8] In May 2019, it was confirmed that Bello would miss 2–3 months of the season with an injury to his right adductor.[9] Despite returning in August, Bello would go on to only play 12 matches with Atlanta United 2 in the USL Championship and none with Atlanta United FC during the 2019 season.[10]
International
Bello has represented the United States at both the under-15 and under-17 level. He was part of the under-15 squad that won the Torneo Delle Nazioni in 2017. The United States won every match in which Bello started.[11] On October 10, 2019, Bello was named in the under-17 squad for the FIFA U-17 World Cup.[12] He started and featured in two out of three matches as the United States were eliminated in the group stage.[13][14]
Personal life
Bello is named after his grandfather, Georgie.[15] His father was an amateur footballer in Nigeria and helped Bello develop his interest in the game.[11] Bello also did track and field in high school and helped his school win the 2016 Georgia team state championship.[15] His favorite soccer players growing up were Neymar and Lionel Messi but he also was interested in the left back position and watched videos of David Alaba and Marcelo.[11]
Career statistics
- As of December 30, 2020[16]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Atlanta United FC | Major League Soccer | 2018 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 1 |
| Major League Soccer | 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Major League Soccer | 2020 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| Total | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 | ||
| Atlanta United 2 (loan) | United Soccer League | 2018 | 6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| USL Championship | 2019 | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |
| Total | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 41 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 42 | 3 | ||
References
- Patrick, Joe (August 10, 2018). "George Bello: Atlanta United's 16-year-old wonderkid on the brink of a breakthrough". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- "George Bello named US Soccer Development Academy Player of the Year". Dirty South Soccer. July 14, 2017. Retrieved February 19, 2002.
- Rodriguez, Alicia (June 17, 2017). "Atlanta United FC sign three Homegrown players for 2018 season". Major League Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- "Charlotte Independence 2–2 Atlanta United 2". Soccerway.
- "D.C. United 3–1 Atlanta United FC". Soccerway.
- "Atlanta United 2–1 New England Revolution". Soccerway.
- "Atlanta United 3–1 New York City FC". Soccerway.
- "Herediano 3–1 Atlanta United FC". Soccerway.
- Huntle, Sydney (May 3, 2019). "George Bello out for 2-3 months with injury to right adductor". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Patrick, Joe (February 10, 2020). "George Bello cleared from hospital after head injury; says injury not "as bad as feared"". Dirty South Soccer. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- Sciaretta, Brian (August 15, 2018). "U.S U-17 standout George Bello eyeing a breakthrough with Atlanta". American Soccer Now. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- "HEAD COACH RAPHAEL WICKY NAMES USA ROSTER FOR 2019 FIFA U-17 WORLD CUP IN BRAZIL". US Soccer. October 10, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- "United States U17 0–4 Netherlands U17". FIFA.
- "United States U17 0–0 Japan U17". FIFA.
- "George Bello". US Soccer.
- George Bello at Soccerway
External links
- Profile at the Atlanta United FC website