Since jumping the pond, Charlie Davies has found his place with Swedish Allsvenskan club Hammarby and with rumors swirling about a possible transfer the American Abroad wants to make more waves in Europe for the U.S. national soccer team and hopefully in South Africa at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

By Sean Heffernan

One of the hottest players in the American soccer player pool has to be Swedish-based striker Charlie Davies. The former Boston College standout has continued his goal scoring exploits from last season scoring 6 goals this year in only 12 appearances for his Swedish Allsvenskan club Hammarby.

Growing up in Manchester, New Hampshire Davies came to the game of soccer by accident when he brought home a permission slip to play soccer when he thought it was for Pop Warner football. His ex-soccer playing, Gambian father was delighted in Davies’ interest in the sport so Charlie gave the sport a chance. To Charlie’s surprise his speed and strength made him a natural goal scorer. He went to school at the Brooks Academy in Andover, Massachusetts where he not only set soccer records, but was a two time All-American wrestler. Charlie’s high school wrestling coach, Alex Konovalchik, called him “The best new wrestler I have ever coached. He could have been a Division I All-American if he had stuck with it.”

Charlie’s aspirations to play soccer professionally won out over wrestling as he earned a scholarship to Boston College where he starred for three years. After his junior year Davies left school forgoing the MLS draft and signed with Hammarby.

After a disappointing first season with Hammarby, the American adopted a workmen like approach to training reminiscent of the blue collar Stockholm borough Södermalm his club calls home. In 2008, Charlie’s work paid off leading Hammarby in goals with 14 and finishing fourth in scoring in the Allsvenskan. Södermalm is historically home to the working classes of Stockholm, but has turned into a bohemian, hip area of the city center. Davies has grown fond of the city he’s lived in since he left the U.S., “I love Stockholm because it's a great city with a lot of things to do. The people are very friendly and love to show their support for me and my club. I miss the food in the States the most because there is just so much more variety.”

The young American credits the work he put in on a daily basis for his success, “What made me so successful was the way I approached training each and every day. I made sure each training that I focused on getting better and being the best player I could be”.

The impressive start Davies has gotten off to this season in Sweden earned him an inclusion in head coach Bob Bradley’s U.S. Men’s National Team camp ramping up for the busy summer of important contests . Charlie remains grateful of the honor of playing internationally for the United States, “It is the greatest feeling when you can represent your country. I take so much pride in putting on that jersey and going out on the field to represent my country by playing the best soccer I can.”

Being that Charlie is one of only four forwards who attended the U.S. camp there is a likelihood he will see the field at some point during the two World Cup Qualifiers that will be played this week. Two victories this week could make the U.S.’s road to qualification much easier and Charlie is working toward the goal of reaching South Africa, ‘I'm very excited for the 2010 World Cup. It has always been a dream of mine to participate in the world's greatest sporting event. I will do everything possible to make sure I'm best prepared to be apart of that squad.”

Professionally Davies time in Sweden may be coming to a close as rumors of a possible move to a bigger European league have been swirling around the 22 year old. His club Hammarby could use the money they would get from selling the striker and the summer transfer window would be the most opportune time to sell. Some of the rumors have linked Davies moving to the French league, but the club has yet to make any decisions on the matter.

As for now Charlie Davies’ professional future is unknown, but that doesn’t keep him from having big dreams of one day playing for his all-time favorite club Arsenal. “To play for Arsene Wenger would be a dream come true.”

Perhaps this week Davies will have the oppurtunity to turn a few heads in Europe with his play in the stars and stripes Wednesday against Costa Rica and then on Saturday versus Honduras.