1 of 3 Valley pro soccer players return home to play for Fuego FC USL League One 2022 inaugural season
Fresno, Calif. – Central Valley Fuego Fútbol Club is excited to announce Nathan Smith has officially signed for Central Valley Fuego FC’s USL League One team. Smith is 1 of 3 players who is being announced this week and is a Central Valley native with an impressive professional soccer career.
“I’m grateful to have the opportunity to work with Nathan Smith. He’s a local product that developed his talents with Odyssey Academy that took him to the US U-17 National program,” said Head Coach and Director Deportivo, Jaime Ramirez. “After that, he was chosen to play for the LA Galaxy, where he gained valuable experience in MLS matches. Recently he has finished playing for Orange County SC of the Championship division, where he was an integral member of their championship run in 2021. Excited to have Nathan back with Fuego.”
Nathan Smith, 27, born and raised in Clovis, California is a former California Odyssey player. He was named No. 25 club player in the country by Top Drawer Soccer, he ranked in the top 5 in College Soccer News’s list of Top 150 Recruits, and is a three-time NSCAA Youth Boys All-American. Smith was a consistent player with the U.S. U-17 National team earning 23 caps. He competed in the FIFA U-17’s World Cup and scored the winning goal against Canada in 2011. In the same year he was also a member of LA Galaxy Academy helping lead the U-17’s to the MLS Generations Adidas Cup. Between 2013-2015 Smith played for the UCLA Bruins. During which he made an appearance with PSA Elite. In 2016 Smith made his USL Championship debut as a homegrown player with LA Galaxy II. Smith played 2 seasons with the Portland Timbers 2, garnering 47 appearances, before signing with Orange County SC and helping lead them to win the 2021 USL Championship Final and joins us for our inaugural season.
“I think this move is important to me because I was born and raised here,” said Nathan Smith. “I got family rooted here so just to be able to play in front of them, I think it was a unique opportunity to come back to the Valley.”
