Interviews

A week or so ago, thanks to a friend, I stumbled across a trailer of Footplay. In fact, it was the extended version used to attract investors for an adventure called "The Soccer Project" in which 2 twenty somethings kick their 9 to 5 jobs and head across in search of perfect pick-up game. Something, considering I have little money, I probably wasn't supposed to be in possession of. Twenty-five countries later they, as in former Duke player Gwendolyn Oxenham and former Notre Dame midfielder Luke Boughen, are...

When we caught up with Dane last time, he had just earned a 6 month contract with VfL Osnabruck, a 2.Bundesliga squad fighting for survival. Since joining the team, Murphy has trained with the first team and started at defensive midfield for the second team which plays in the Oberliga (the German fifth division). In five games, even as a defensive mid, the former Cav has 2 goals, 2 assists and an unbeaten streak. He still waits for his call in to the first 18 but the journey...

After graduating from Wake Forest in 2004, Jeremiah White decided it was best for his career to take a chance playing his professional soccer in Europe. A local Philadelphia product, CHI got the chance to catch up with him before heading back to Denmark and getting back to work.


Career-wise, when he made his decision to go abroad, did he expect to play in four countries over the course of only a four year professional career so far? Probably not, but he certainly has...

Back with the second installment of The Academy Gen and this time you might be meeting quite possibly the soon-to-be newest and youngest Yank Abroad.

It feels like I start every one of these interviews with "the past few years for so and so has been a true whirlwind", but for Andy you'll see why I say that yet again. The Columbus Crew Academy star has gone from high school soccer, to the Brad Friedel Premier Soccer Academy, to the Crew Academy, to a European trial, and then - deservedly so - international duty. Andy is currently in Belgium, training with the first team of Cercle...

We all know a bit about the MLS youth academy system, enough to be dangerous, but there hasn’t really been an insider’s perspective. I'd like to introduce a feature that will hopefully get better over time where I introduce a couple of the stars of the next generation. The next Tristan Bowen or Matt Kassel. With all that said, who better to ask this week than one of the most coveted prospects coming out of FC Dallas’ thriving youth system?

London Woodberry – one of the best soccer names I’ve ever come across – has worked his way to the top. He's had a lot of firsts throughout...

Sam Brill, last year around this time, went into New England Revolution training camp ready to prove himself at the highest level of American soccer. He went undrafted during the 2007 SuperDraft, but was given a chance at his pro dream after being invited in by former coaches Steve Nicol and Paul Mariner. Much like Dane Murphy’s trials, Sam Brill spent his year – after earning himself a developmental contract – in the now-defunct MLS reserve division, a subject Brill touches upon below. He did make two appearances for the Revolution’s senior side, scoring on his debut in Open Cup play vs. the...

In terms of goalkeeper prospects at this year's MLS Combine, Milos Kocic is easily near the top of the list. There's a foreign flavor with the keeper prospects this year, but Kocic has been the talk of America for some time now. He started his collegiate career at St. John's but transferred to Loyola (MD) seemingly marking the transition of the Greyhounds from regionally good to national contenders. The Serbian-born Kocic has built quite the resume outside Baltimore and it's clear he's ready...

Out here at the unprecedented capital of cheesesteaks (please feel free to fight over who's better - I'll stick with my Tony Lukes), home of former Mayor and present badass/Governor of Pennsylania Ed Rendell, and the Rocky stairs ( ), there's a team quietly producing future stars of the game. Alex Grendi had a monster season for the Quakers as they reclaimed the Ivy League title. The past few years, University City has been a keeper's place...

With the Combine rapidly approaching, many will chat about the Marcus Traceys [who might end up going abroad], the Omar Gonzalezs, and the Steve Zakuanis - but Lyle Adams, though worthy, doesn't seem to get the same write-ups. He has undoubtedly been a rock in the Wake Forest back four through thick and thin and a fullback that never seemed to get the full credit he deserved. Well, I'll call it now, Lyle Adams could wind up being the pick of the draft. It is no...

The past year for Neal Kitson at St. John’s University has been a career changer, one that he hopes to build upon. As a back-up for Jason Landers, Big East goalkeeper of the year, last season, Kitson was able to analyze and absorb everything he would need to win his well-deserved starting spot this year and his status as the one of the best keepers in the nation. After originally attending Division II Dowling College, Kitson transferred to St. John’s, red-shirted a year, and waited for his chance to take over between the posts. After getting a taste in his 4th year when Landers was injured to...