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Mounds View’s Micah Burton joins U.S. soccer scene as Austin FC prospect

andy greder, pioneer press
·3 min read

Micah Burton was in Guatemala on Feb. 24, eyeing up a long-range free kick in a U.S. youth national team match against Canada. Meanwhile, the 16-year-old’s family was anxiously watching him back in Minnesota.

The standout on the U.S. Under-17 national team couldn’t hear it, but his mother, and roughly 20 relatives, were cheering from a watch party in Mounds View.

“Come on, baby,” mother Samie Srey recalled saying. “Make the goal.”

Burton delivered a right-footed missile into the upper corner of the net from roughly 25 yards out to help the U.S. advance in the semifinal of the Concacaf U17 Championships. Burton scored three total goals in six tournament matches as the U.S. finished runner up to Mexico and qualified for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Peru in November.

“I think that one was probably the best goal I’ve ever scored,” Burton told the Pioneer Press.

But Burton did it as member of Austin FC — not as a representative of Minnesota United.

Burton played in the Loons’ youth academy for a few years, including with the U15s, but he left when it briefly shut down amid the pandemic in summer 2020. He wasn’t the only promising player to depart.

MNUFC chief soccer officer Manny Lagos declined to comment on Burton’s exit but wished him well.

Days before Burton’s 17th birthday on Monday, he signed a professional contract with Austin FC II, the club’s developmental team in the MLS NEXT Pro league.

“Since (Burton) joined our academy, he has established himself as a player with clear potential,” Austin FC Interim Sporting Director Sean Rubio said in a statement. “We’re excited to continue to support his development moving forward.”

Loons supporters who double as USMNT fans will be cheering for Burton to continue to climb the national team ranks, but if that happens, there might be disappointment when Burton returns wearing something other than Minnesota black and blue.

In an interview with the Pioneer Press, Burton said of his move to Austin: “I kind of looked at it for a bit and it kept my eye on it with my family. … (The) ownership group attracted me, the facilities. I think just knowing that Austin FC was going to become one of the top teams in MLS really motivated me to come over here.”

At age 6 or 7, Burton started playing soccer in his neighborhood with his brother, Chex, and other kids. Then Micah joined the St. Paul Blackhawks youth club for a few years before joining MNUFC’s academy.

Burton has since played for Austin’s U15s and U17s and got his first USYNT experience with the U17s last year, scoring in friendlies against Uruguay and Portugal, before a breakout showing at the Concacaf Championships in February.

Now Burton will focus on playing for Austin FC II this season and striving to make the U.S. U17 roster for the FIFA World Cup come autumn.

“I don’t even think proud is a word for what I feel,” Srey said of her son. “He’s been very, very determined. Since Day 1, this was his dream. Just seeing his short-term goals and his long-term goals all coming into play is just is amazing. It’s very inspirational.”

Burton sees himself as a versatile attacker who might fit in as a No. 10 creative midfielder. He has previously trained with Austin’s first team, and Verde head coach Josh Wolff referenced Burton and others when he said, “There are players of quality” in the Austin’s academy.

“It obviously is a big accomplishment, another big step in my career,” Burton said of signing a pro deal. “I think it meant a lot to sign with this club that’s invested in me, and really values me, coming through the academy to the second team is another step on hopefully making it with the first team.”

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