McBean makes it official

Jack McBean passed his driving test last month and his father is happy he did.

Scotty will not have to drive his 16-year-old son to soccer practice with the Los Angeles Galaxy.

McBean might show up to the Home Depot Center in Carson in a nice ride. Probably not as fancy David Beckham’s car.

Scotty is a general manager of a car dealership, but McBean might not need his father’s help. McBean can probably afford his own car now.

McBean has signed a professional contract with the Galaxy, making the Corona del Mar High sophomore the fourth-youngest player in Major League Soccer history. Scotty did not want to talk about how much money his son signed for, leaving that up to the Galaxy to formally announce the deal later.

Scotty just wanted to talk soccer and how he and his son used to kick the ball around when McBean was 4. Dad is still getting used to the idea of McBean kicking it with the likes of Beckham and Landon Donovan.

“He’s very excited and anxious to get home and train with his guys,” Scotty said of his son, who is with the U.S. under-17 national team in Jamaica, where the Americans are preparing for the CONCACAF U-17 championship next month.

McBean is trying to help the U.S. qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Mexico this summer. In between tournaments with the national team, McBean will be with the Galaxy.

Making the Galaxy’s roster is no guarantee for McBean, who is 6-foot-1.

“He’s a 16-year old [striker], strong, good with his back to the goal, athletically good,” Galaxy Coach Bruce Arena told reporters on Thursday. “He’s that at 16. We don’t get any bonus points for playing 16-, 17-, 18-year-old players. He’s now with the men. We’re going to see how that adds up in our environment.”