Dr. Edward M. Decter, an orthopaedic surgeon at The Center for Orthopaedics in West Orange, New Jersey, has been selected by the U.S. Soccer Federation to serve as team physician for the U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team. Specializing in sports medicine with a focus on the reconstruction and revision of injured knees and shoulders, Dr. Decter has an extensive background in the sports world, specifically in the area of soccer. Dr. Decter is currently accompanying the team in Chile for a friendly tour and will be traveling to Northern Ireland for the 2012 Milk Cup on July 21-26. 

ABOUT DR. EDWARD DECTER  

Dr. Decter has brought his unique skills to the professional sports field in many different capacities. He has served as the head orthopaedic surgeon and head team physician for the New York Red Bulls/New Jersey MetroStars professional soccer team. In addition, he served as head orthopaedic surgeon for the New Jersey Gladiators of the Arena Football League and the New Jersey Storm of the Indoor Lacrosse League, as well as orthopaedic consultant/team physician for the Tahuichi Soccer Academy of Bolivia, New Jersey Cosmos Soccer, YM-YWHA Senior Olympics, and the United States Maccabiah Team.

Dr. Decter has been cited as a top surgeon by Consumer’s Research Council of America, a “best doctor” in the New York area by New York Magazine, and, for the past ten years, a top physician by Castle Connolly, a noted health care research company. He is certified by the American Board of Surgery and affiliated with Short Hills Surgery Center, where he is Medical Director and Chief of Orthopaedics, and Saint Barnabas Medical Center, where he sits on the Physician Executive Council of the Sports Medicine Institute. He is also a member of the prestigious, highly selective American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

ABOUT THE U.S. UNDER-20 MEN’S NATIONAL TEAM

The U.S. Under-20 Men’s National Team narrowly missed qualifying for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup after stellar performances in group play sent the team to quarterfinals of the CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

The U.S. beat Suriname 4-0 and Panama 2-0 to finish top of the three-team group. Former head coach Thomas Rongen led the men to the quarterfinal against Guatemala, but they fell 2-1 to a tough side in Guatemala City, where the home team was playing in front of a favorable crowd.

Kelyn Rowe scored three goals in the tournament, including a brace against Panama, while Doyle’s equalizer against Guatemala was his second in qualifying. The loss eliminated the U.S. from the Championship and meant the team did not earn one CONCACAF’s four available spots in the 2011 World Cup. It was the first time the U.S. did not qualify since 1995.

Tab Ramos was named head coach of the U-20 Men’s National Team in October and is tasked with preparing the team for the next cycle of World Cup Qualifying. The CONCACAF Qualifying tournament for the World Cup in Turkey will likely begin in early 2013.

SCHEDULE:

• 6/21/12 - U.S. U-20 Men vs. Chile - 6pm ET - Santiago, Chile
• 7/21/12 - U.S. U-20 Men vs. Denmark U-20 Men - 2pm ET - Limavady
• 7/23/12 - U.S. U-20 Men vs. Turkey U-20 Men - 3pm ET - Northern Ireland

RESULTS:

• 6/6/12 - U.S. U-20 Men vs. Uruguay U-20 Men 2-4L

• 6/8/12 - U.S. U-20 Men vs. Uruguay U-20  Men 0-2L