Please Help Me Make A Comeback!

[SoCR143]

Hey friends:

Well my story is as follows...

I guess i was a bit descent when I was younger, I guess enough to be in the well known residency program, however I did not seem to impress anyone in the higher ranks. I went on trials in Europe under management,(i will not say names only out of respect), the management that seem to lose handle of my situation and left me stranded where I am today. Anyways, that is ALL in the past.

Now all I am looking to do is figure out where I went wrong. I understand there could be many places this hapened, however I could not handle my self anymore witnessing some of the lower skilled players in the league on starting line ups. Does anyone know how I can get a trial for the upcoming season??? Or anyone who will be interested in giving me a hand with my case?? My name is Rodrigo Hidalgo, I played for the U17s and the Minn. Thunder. To be honest, I am not quite sure what made me write on this site, but being a professional in the states has been my only dream as a child and I figured well before I let it go for good maybe I can find answers.



WHEN I MADE THE MISTAKE OF SIGNING WITH AN AGENT BEFORE LEAVING SCHOOL AND HAVING A CONTRACT, I DID IT BECAUSE MY AGENT TOLD ME THE MLS REQUIRED ME TO HAVE AN AGENT FOR NEGOTIATIONS. AFTER THE MLS DENIED ME OF ENTERING THEIR COMBINE, DRAFT, AND EVEN SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT THEY ADVICE ME TO PLAY USL-1 OR IN A PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD TO BECOME ELLIGIBLE TO PLAY IN THE MLS. FOR ALL THAT ARE NOT AWARE I BELIEVE YOU CANNOT ENTER THE LEAGUE LEAVING SCHOOL EARLY WITHOUT THE GEN ADIDAS CONTRACT. THEREFORE, I WENT ON TWO TRIALS IN EUROPE. THERE WAS NO AGREEMENT WITH NEITHER OF THEM. FIRST CLUB WAS NOT TOO INTRIGUED IN MY TALENT, AND THE SECOND CLUB IN IRELAND HAD NO CHOICE OF SENDING ME BACK AFTER A SERIOUS INJURY TO THE JAW. I ENDED UP WITH MINN THUNDER, AGAIN AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH MY AGENT ON HOW THIS WAS GOING TO BE A REWARDING MOVE IN MY CAREER AS HE SAID. IT TURNED OUT BEING THE ROUGHEST AND FINAL MOVES IN MY SHORT ??CAREER??. I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING BAD TO SAY ABOUT THAT ORGANIZATION OR STAFF, I CAN ONLY SAY IT WAS NOT THE PLACE FOR ME NOR THE TIMING. HOWEVER, AGAINST ALL ODDS I MADE IT OUT OF THERE AND MADE THE BEST OF IT. AFTER A PRETTY ROUGH SEASON OVERALL, I HIRED A PERSONAL TRAINER AND STARTED PREPARATION FOR THE 2007 MLS COMBINE, WHICH AGAIN LET ME REMIND YOU I WAS SUPPOSEDLY GUARANTEED A SPOT IN THIS COMBINE REGARDLESS AS MENTIONED BY MY MANAGEMENT. WELL, THE REST FROM HERE IS PRETTY STANDARD I GUESS. AGENT WAS NO HELP AT ALL, AND KEPT ME PATIENTLY WAITING ALL THE WAY TIL MARCH 10TH TO TELL ME THAT THEY WERE NOT HAVING TOO MUCH SUCCESS WITH MY SITUATION. ALSO TO SHOW ME THEIR DISBELIEF IN ME AND TO PROVE TO ME I HAD MADE THE WRONG DECISION FROM THE BEGINNING. All my management told me was..
"A few teams want you in preseason" One day later, "A different team wants you down in Bradenton", day later... "Well we have been doing everything we can to get you in but we do not know what is wrong".

I am not looking for pity nor anything in the sense. Really I just want help, someone that could either help me on my goal to make a comeback, or someone that could tell me the harsh truth about my situation. I have tried contacting agents, friends from te past, coaches and they all say they will get back to me, and never do. Except the agents for some reason they do not even bother with me. Someone please tell me what to do. thanks

[brentgoulet]

Through Google I found out that you used to play with Adu, Bradley, Szetela and the other guys

I'm sorry I cannot help you but I wish you a lot of good luck

It would be a shame to lose a talent like you

[narko]

Go to another USL side.

I don't know what else you can do.

[wolfp10]

Start a 2nd career.

[anazarn]

Hello,

I can't personally help you but I read this on the Marco Vidal thread. He is playing for Indios in Ciudad Juarez:

'There are so many players out there (in the USA) that won't make it pro because club soccer is real expensive. I hate getting political but a friend of mine from Solar 91 called me and said his team will be playing in some developmental league and it's going to cost him 10,000 a yr. I just dont see the out-reach to the inner city soccer players. I grew up in the hood of Dallas where there were a ton of amazing ballers who never knew about club soccer or couldnt pay the high-fees. The system is Mexico is different. The first Wednesday of every month you can try out for Tigres, Rayados or any big club. If they see potential they ask for you to come back. We got free housing at Tigres and free education. Our Salary a month was 300 dollars but free meals-parents support and free education was priceless!Of course there are pro-s and con-s everywhere but if you really really really want anything in life it never hurts to try.'

You could maybe e-mail him marcovidaltigre@yahoo.com. I don't know, he had trials in Mexico before and then wanted to go to MLS but they ignored him. Now he is playing first division Mexican soccer. Not much but hell it's worth a shot. If you really want to live in the States you could commute over. I can bike to the stadium in Mexico from my house. Once again, it sounds wacky but :o.

[bunge]

Talk to a lawyer and get out of the contract because your agent isn't fulfilling the promises he made. Best of luck.

[ugaaccountant]

From what you say here your agent isn't very good.

Use some of your other contacts. You have college coaches, former teammates, former youth national team coaches. Surely someone there can get you pointed in the right direction.

[metros11]

I would suggest starting with a PDL or a USL-2 side, that way you get your foot in the door. If you're good enough to rise above the rest, then I'm sure you'll be on someone's radar.

[crewfighter]

Talk to a lawyer and get out of the contract because your agent isn't fulfilling the promises he made. Best of luck.

Yep, it's a breach of contract. If your agent is promising you a combine and a few preseason camps with MLS teams and is being dishonest about that.

[trip76]

as others have said, definitely get rid of your current agent. maybe give some of your old youth team mates, and old US nat youth coaches a ring and see if they can help you get in contact with MLS people that can get you a trial.

talk to someone in the seattle and philly system. they are both trying to flesh out expansion team rosters, and might be willing to give you a trial and a developmental contract, which if you have the talent, is the only foot-hole you'd need to move up the ranks.

[IowaClone]

I Think trip76 has the best idea. Definatly jettison your agent and then talk to your old youth team members etc.

[MarkyMark]

Try sending out some DVDs to teams.

Also, ask people for feedback on your skills. They might be too nice to just come out and say something like "you're too slow", "you don't use your weak foot", etc. that would give you something to improve upon.


Good luck

[trip76]

put together a soccer centric resume with all your achievements right from the very youngest age, and referencable contacts too.

i'd mail a copy with the dvd to everyone involved in MLS i could get a mailing address for. even different people at the same mailing address. then follow up with a phone call.

[RSwenson]

First of all, you need to be free of contracts to other clubs (own your own player pass) and free of legal obligations to your agent.

You then either have to contract with another agent (I would ask any of your former team mates who have "made it" for recommendations) or you have to be your own agent... In that case you will need to contact everyone that you know who is in the professional game (well, at least those who you are certain have been favorably impressed your past performances)... These contacts may be able to get you a week trial with a team, or know of a team that is looking for someone at your position...

The idea of "cold-calling" teams (with a resume and well edited video) is not completely out of the question... but you then have to be wiling and able to perform at a moment's notice... the good news is that the number of options outside of MLS is fairly large, the bad news is that pay can vary widely (but generally isn't great).... perform well and you may get picked up overseas like the guy who just want from Baltimore over to Crystal Palace...

Many overseas clubs are more willing and used to the idea of trialing players than are teams here, but even MLS clubs have "guest players" all the time at practices and reserve games... It is not hard to find the names and addresses of club secretaries on web sites... most will just throw the info away (unless you establish some connection with the area or club), but some will at least look at it (and it might take only one to make it worthwhile)...

Finally, if you have particularly close friends or former coaches who have good knowledge of the professional game you would be well served by asking them to be brutally honest regarding your strengths and weaknesses and whether you have what it takes (some things are correctible, such as strength, stamina, attitude, isolated technical flaws, and some are not correctible such as quickness, outright speed, poor fundamentals, bad field vision)...

Use your contacts! That is how most jobs are obtained... with all of your experiences, assuming that you haven't burned all of your bridges, you should have many people in positions to help you...

Good Luck!

[arsenalfc08]

Get a new agent, try one of the agencies. I think I saw something about an IMG agency in Cleveland.

Don't just sette for MLS, try other leagues. You said something about Ireland before. Go back there and to lower league teams in Scotland. England may be hard without a wp, but try Mexico too. It may not all be glamerous but neither is MLS, the pay scale is really screwed up. Have you also thought about Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Belgium? Charlie Davies is in Sweden and he has been doing really well, 8 goals so far I believe and he was in the Olympics.

There is a thread in the usl section about someone wanting to play in usl. One poster said MLS and USL have a combine at the cost of $300. You will get to tryout for numerous teams. I don't remember anymore details but check out the thread, I think its on the last page or the page before.

Don't give up!! Exhaust all avenues if thats what it takes to fufill your dream. Also be leary of agents, really do your homework. Anyone can be an agent, hell your dentisit could call himself an agent.

[Wog Vader]

From Miami FC's website. They have an open tryout, but it's closed for now.

TRYOUTS CURRENTLY CLOSED

The tryouts for the 2008 season are currently closed. Please check back at: http://www.miamifc.com/ in December, 2008 for more information about the tryouts for the 2009 season.

Please DO NOT try to contact Miami FC directly either by e-mail or by phone because you will not be able to obtain any further information. We look forward to seeing you participating on Miami FC's next tryouts in the beginning of 2009.