COURTESY OF NEW YORK RED BULLS |
15 than Iever was . He ’ sanatural with the ball at his feet .” The senior Stokes is now aphysical education teacher at Pearl R . Miller Middle School in Kinnelon , where he ’ scoached both the boys and girls high school teams .
“ In this day and age , it ’ snot your ability to save the ball , but how well you integrate into the team philosophy building from the back ,” says Nick . “ He ’ s shown he can do that on all the levels he ’ s been playing .”
Aidan played for the Red Bulls ’ U-15 academy team , as well as the U-17 team . He is now training primarily with Red Bulls II , but attended the first team ’ s preseason in January and February . Aidan was also called to the United States U-15 youth national team training camp in October and March .
“ Aidan has made it hard for us not to recognize his skill ,” Red Bulls II coach Ibrahim Sekagya said in apress release . “ Given what he has shown at the academy level , and how well he fit in
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SIGN HERE Aidan Stokes appears with his Red Bulls contract for the camera , though due to his youth , his parents handled the actual paperwork .
with the first-team environment during preseason , we are excited to announce this pathway for his development within the club going forward .”
The U-15 team lifted its first MLS NEXT Cup trophy on June 24 , claiming the top spot with a2-1 comeback victory over CF Montreal ’ sacademy . Aidan and the Red Bulls ’ back line allowed only two goals infive matches , notching shutouts in the first three rounds . Hestopped apenalty kick in a
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4-0 quarterfinal victory against Seattle .
Aidan will be asophomore atPassaic Valley in the fall . He took one class each semester on campus — computer programming in the fall and public speaking in the spring — then caught aride with his mom to the Red Bulls ’ training facility in HanoverTownship . Aidan takes the rest of his classes at Scholar-Athlete Leadership Academy ’ s satellite campus there .
Nick Stokes insists his son still has to do chores and his homework , and be kind to his 12-year-old sister Sofie . Father and son also enjoy watching Liverpool matches , though Aidan started to become aRed Bulls fan when he joined the academy .
“ The Red Bulls opened the door for him , and he stepped right through it ,” Stokes says .“ He is aprofessional student-athlete . This is what he does . It ’ s surreal , but I ’ m also incredibly proud . As grand as everything is , this is just the beginning ofavery long process .” ■
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