An unexpected Yank Abroad?

I remember reading a El Grafico (Argentina's Sports Illustrated) article on him and saying that when he returned from college his skill level had gone down because of the lower level of competition there. Of course, he recovered.

 

Before the crash, there was more info on the college boards DIII thread. Somebody over there may know more, but apparently he had some down-time that fall before joining up with Real, and had some family at Richard-Stockton. That is all I can remember.

 

Solari's dad and uncle coached the 94 Saudi World Cup team.

Team trained at Richard Stockton.

Solari was 18 at the time and supposed to start his career with River Plate that winter.

Coach at Richard Stockton was used by the Saudis/Solaris as an envoy and got to know the family.

With Solari having some down time till his pro career started, dad suggested he get some schoolin' in and spend the fall 94 semester at Stockton. They had a team and he played for them.

That was his only season of college ball.

Went to River, showed well, after a couple years went to Athletico Madrid and eventually transfered to Real Madrid. He's since played, and scored, for Argnetina and won La Liga and Champion's League trophies.

Suffice to say, that's the most impressive post-college career of anyone who ever played college ball in the states.

 

Not to go into a tangent of completely irrelevant information but I think John Oshea at ManU went to college here and he also could end up having an impressive resume.

 

Uh, I'm pretty sure O'Shea came up through ManU's system. He's only 22 and he's been with them for a while.

From ManU's site: John signed professional terms with United in August 1998 and made his first team debut just over a year later, away to Aston Villa in a Worthington Cup defeat.

In August of 98, O'Shea was 17. So, unless he was playing college ball at age 16 - not impossible, but doubtful - you're mistaken.

 

So, the only part I had right was that he went to Richard-Stockton . . . oh wait, that information was already given.

Its official foks, drugs are bad!

 

Got it. I thought I had heard that he had played here at one point.

 

Sure you're not thinking of Scottish international and Everton defender, David Weir?
Played college ball for University of Evansville, in Indiana.