ROOKIES
- 3/7: Evan Newton
- 3/8: Alex Dixon
- 3/9: Josue Soto
- 3/10: Will Bruin
- 3/11: Kofi Sarkodie
NEWCOMERS
- 3/14: Jordan Graye
- 3/15: Colin Clark
- 3/16: Jason Garey
- 3/17: Hunter Freeman
- 3/18: Jermaine Taylor
As the 2011 season draws closer, HoustonDynamo.com will introduce you to the newest members of the Dynamo roster. With 10 players who have yet to play a game for the Dynamo, the squad will feature a new look in 2011.
Starting the series with rookies, we move on to midfielder/forward Alex Dixon. A graduate of Atascocita High School in the Humble Independent School District, Dixon joined the Dynamo Academy in 2007. After helping the University of North Carolina to three consecutive trips to the NCAA College Cup, Dixon signed with the Dynamo as a home-grown player in January of this year.
An outside forward in a 4-3-3 formation in college, the speedy Dixon has been used mostly in midfield so far, where his vision, quick feet, and fluorescent orange boots have kept the ball moving. He scored his first goal of the 2011 preseason in Monday's scrimmage against San Jacinto Junior College.
PHOTOS: Dixon from UNC to Dynamo rookie
MEET ALEX DIXON
HD.com: Tell us about your soccer background.
Alex: I started playing soccer when I was 4 and just kept
going from there. My first club team was the Texas Heat, and then I switched
over to the Houston Texans. I made the [United States U-17 national team] residency
program when I was 15, stayed there for a couple of years, came back, and
started playing for the Dynamo
Academy. I went off to
college and played for three seasons and then got picked up by the Dynamo.
HD.com: What’s your earliest soccer memory?
Alex: Playing for my first soccer team, the Alief Squirrels,
when I was about four, so that’s a great memory.
HD.com: What’s your most memorable soccer moment prior to
joining the Dynamo?
Alex: Playing for the national teams from age 14 up; those
are great memories.
HD.com: What do you remember about being offered a contract
and the decision to go pro?
Alex: It was kind of a shock – it all happened so fast. It
was definitely a great honor and a dream come true.
ARCHIVE: Dynamo sign two Academy players
HD.com: What were your first impressions of the club? You
obviously knew about them going back to when they moved here.
Alex: It feels like coming home, coming to the hometown
team, coming to a good organization. Being able to play for Dominic Kinnear
means I’m coming to a great place.
HD.com: What’s your favorite thing about Houston?
Alex: My family, definitely.
ARCHIVE: Dixon happy to be back home
HD.com: What soccer players have you looked up to in your
career?
Alex: Different ones. Definitely [Thierry] Henry, [Lionel] Messi,
[guys] like that and the style they play.
HD.com: What is the best and worst part of being a rookie?
Alex: The best part is being in with all the guys, learning
every day, being able to train and doing what I want to do. The worst part is
grabbing all the gear and picking up every day.
HD.com: What has been the biggest adjustment to pro soccer
so far?
Alex: The pace, the physicality, the fitness levels, and
everything, really, but I’m enjoying it.
HD.com: What are some of your hopes and goals for the 2011
season?
Alex: I want to get better as a player, get fitter, keep
learning, and if I can, make an impact whenever I get the chance.
HD.com: Any particular reason you chose number 19?
Alex: No, not really. I haven’t used it before. I wanted to
get 17, but Chewy already has that, so 19 was the next best option.
