Mike Mecerod is from Atlanta. He played youth club here and for St. Pius High School. He was also a 2 time Jr. College All American for Perimeter College. As a teen, he spent some time training and playing with European clubs. He signed a few pro deals in Europe a few years ago, but had to come home due to personal family business here. I met him in an adult amateur league, where he was playing to stay fit. He is an incredible striker. Big, strong, fast and skilled. He also works hard during the game. He recently went back over to Europe and tried out for Floriana FC, a club in Malta. They signed him and this week he started in his first match (Powerade Cup) and scored a goal. Floriana is now headed to the Finals of the tournament. Here's a short article about the match: http://www.florianafc.com/news.asp?newsid=35 Pic of Mike playing in college #11 - he is a beast on the field: http://www.gpcinthelooponline.com/issue-archive/112.html Keep an eye out for him. I think he might do great things!
Ha! I didn't think about that. I have the same initials as him. But, good to point out. Personally I'm a soccer playing has been
I see. It seemed funny for someone to post such good things and have the name that you did. Oh well...I wish Mike Mecerod good luck and I hope he does well with Floriana. I'm sure he'll love Malta too!
Wow, a blast from the past. Here's the article announcing his signing on the club site: http://florianafc.com/news.asp?newsid=27 And here's the original thread on him that dates back to 2004: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129525 I love pulling players off my "Former Yanks Abroad" list after untold years!
geez Dave, while I picture Johann Derksen in a cage with CPU's and monitors and tracking equipment everywhere - like Gene Hackman in Enemy of the State - I definitely get a more retro vibe for you. Houndstooth hat and pipe, bloodhound at your feet in a dusty old office with overflowing oak card-file drawers and stacks of paper everywhere. "Mecerod! by Joe that rings a bell..." as you start leafing through a random pile only to hold up a weathered and dog eared piece of paper in triumph, "A!HA!"
I have also played against Mike while he was back in Atlanta (must have been a few years now). He is for sure a really good player. How old is he anyway? BTW - Malta has a professional league? Wow, good for Malta? Rhode Island must be bigger.
25. He was with Geel in the Belgian 2nd division back in '04 when he was 19 but I think he left after his 1 year contract was done.
Ha! I used to pick Mecerod up while playing Football Manager in like 2006/7 or something. He did well playing for my NE Revs teams
Mecerod scored another goal this weekend: http://www.florianafc.com/news.asp?newsid=38 I believe he's currently 24 and about to turn 25.
PS: Good info find Dave - interesting. The word around here is that Mike was on a very promising path in Europe early in his career, but due to some tough family issues at home, had to come home to help. In the year plus that I've know him here, he has worked very hard to get fit and has gained mental strength. I've got a feeling he could become one of those amazing comeback stories. I hope so, he is a nice guy and one of the best soccer players I've ever seen. I wish him the best, and his career should be a fun one to watch. My buddies and I have been doing a little studying about this league. Seems like a respected league for a small country. Passionate fans. Hear they feed promising players to Europe and Australia, and some older players come in reverse to Malta. Not a bad place to start or end your professional career. Jordie Creuff sp? just retired from a maltese team for instance.
This is kinda on topic but I was watching House Hunters International the other day and they were in Malta. I don't remember what part but it looked like a nice place to live and the houses were big, but the guy had a lot of money lol. My local soon to be USL-2 team had a dutch guy on the team who previously played in Malta before joining the team. He's retired now but was a good player. All the best to Mike.
Mike scored another goal for Floriana today. He has now scored three goals for them. Two in pre-season Cup play, and one in their second match of the regular premier league season. article: http://www.florianafc.com/news.asp?newsid=49
He scored another this past weekend: http://www.florianafc.com/news.asp?newsid=28 Videos of Mike playing: Watch 2:10 and 4:20 on this video of a past match. That's an amazing replay of him at 2:15 bringing a long ball down with his chest, controlling and shooting it. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEXFRDUQ8FM&feature=related"]YouTube - KONTRATTAKK 2010 / 11 TVM - Premier Leauge Review[/ame] From this weekends game - he scores the goal: http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101030/sport/floriana-qormi
Having been to Malta and watched their league, I can safely say that the football is not very good. Mostly it's players that could not make a USL/NASL (whatever you call it these days) team.
If a players goal is to eventually play in one of the higher leagues in Europe, the Maltese League is actually considered a better feeder league than USL or our MLS. Players go from there to Europe and visa versa at the end of Europe careers. One such example is Jordy Cruyff, (formerly of Manchester United and his father invented the Cruyff move) : http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/07/03/1361261/jordi-cruyff-revelling-in-maltese-role
I second that opinion. Many players in that league are semi-professional. If the league was any good, then the national team players wouldn't be playing in it.
Now I know what's Adu's problem is. He missed that important step stone and now nobody gives him a chance. Somebody needs to convey this important information. Unless it's classified of course.
Ooops! Upon further review I would like to amend my statement and take out "MLS" and replace with NASL. But, vs. the USL and NASL, I'd give preference to smaller European nation leagues as a stepping stone because of proximity to continental Europe. Also, something to be said by being a bigger fish in a smaller pond that sits next to the big ponds. Check out this exposure for instance - named in pretty good company. Would he have received that kind of exposure a few weeks after starting for a USL/NASL team: http://www.socceramerica.com/article/39675/american-soccer-scoreboard-weekend.html