Latest / The Guuuzan Show / S1 Ep24 | Jozy Altidore: JOZY SAID WHAT ABOUT ATL???

Transcript

S1 Ep24 | Jozy Altidore: JOZY SAID WHAT ABOUT ATL??? · The Guuuzan Show

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_01: Dude, talk to me.
• 0:01
  SPEAKER_01: Why what what happened?
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_01: I should be asking you, Brad.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_01: I did just get home, man.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_01: Every time I come to the city, Brad's like, oh yeah, man, you're gonna love it.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_01: You're gonna enjoy it.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_01: Soon then I step out in the field, just booze everywhere.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_05: Welcome back to another episode of the Goose An Show.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_05: I'm your host, Bragg Zan, sitting next to me, back from vacation, Joe Freihover.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_05: Joe, good to have you back.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_05: But we've got a very special guest today for our show.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, someone, former teammate of mine, a friend.
• 0:34
  SPEAKER_05: Um, welcoming now to the Goozan show, a man with over 100 caps for the USMNT, two World Cups, MLS champion, Mr.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_05: Josie Eltador.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_05: Joe's, welcome to the show.
• 0:45
  SPEAKER_05: How are you, man?
• 0:46
  SPEAKER_02: I'm amazing, Goose.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_02: Good to see you.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_02: Thanks for having me on.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_05: Great to see you as well.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_05: Thank you for coming on.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_05: We appreciate it.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_05: Um, listen, uh I know it's been a crazy summer for all of us, and and now obviously the World Cup has has come and gone.
• 1:02
  SPEAKER_05: It's finished.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_05: How are you feeling?
• 1:05
  SPEAKER_05: Are you able to take a uh a deep breath and kind of regather yourself or or what?
• 1:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, a little bit.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, as you know, it's like it was a weird summer because obviously you had everything that happened in the World Cup, which was amazing, and then it's like right back into school.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_02: As soon as we came out, it's like you know, catching back up with the kids and getting them ready for school.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER_02: So it's it's fun, you know, it kept us busy, and I definitely think you saw kind of the effect it had on the American public.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_02: No, for sure, for sure.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_05: And listen, obviously, I was I was covering the tournament with with Fox.
• 1:36
  SPEAKER_05: You were with Telemundo.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_05: How was that, dude?
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_05: How how was that experience?
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, I I was I was telling Joe off camera before we started, I would see you on the field talking to players, whether it be from the US or other countries, former teammates of yours, talking to coaches.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_05: I would see you up on the platforms, uh, you know, on the the hundred level of of stadiums.
• 1:56
  SPEAKER_05: I saw you everywhere, man.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_05: So so how was it?
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_02: No, it was amazing.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_02: It was amazing.
• 2:01
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I really enjoyed it.
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_02: You know, Telemundo, you know, first of all, I was honored to be able to come on that network and and then obviously be a part of the World Cup broadcast for me.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_02: It was an honor.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_02: My first experience at it.
• 2:13
  SPEAKER_02: And it was, it was, I have a new appreciation, man.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_02: New appreciation for people that are, you know, doing these productions, putting them on, you know, the amount of moving parts that happens during some of this stuff.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER_02: It's incredible to see now.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_02: I understand just how good and how difficult it is to do that job, you know, on a full-time basis.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_02: So for me, it was great to kind of see the other side of the lens.
• 2:34
  SPEAKER_02: You know, we we were as players, we never got to appreciate that side.
• 2:37
  SPEAKER_02: And there's a real art and professionalism to it.
• 2:40
  SPEAKER_02: And then on the other side of it, you know, just to be a fan, man, was cool to be, you know, I haven't been that close to the action in a long time.
• 2:46
  SPEAKER_02: So it was cool to just be a fan.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_05: No, for sure.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_05: I I agree.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, you you go into that side of it, right?
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_05: The the the hosting side, the media side of it, and all of a sudden you realize, you know, it is certainly difficult.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_05: It's not as easy as it as it looks, and and how so many different talents are able to make it look so easy.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_05: Um, and so I I thought you crushed it, man.
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_05: From from what I gathered from my my little Spanish that I know, I I thought you crushed it.
• 3:12
  SPEAKER_05: Um but Joe, Spanish now.
• 3:14
  SPEAKER_01: You're in Atlanta, bro.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_03: Hey, the words he knows he can't say on the podcast, Jason.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_03: Let's just say that.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_03: We'd be called that way right now.
• 3:21
  SPEAKER_05: Correct, correct.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_05: Um, listen, before we get into your journey, right?
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_05: And and obviously you just touched on it, Atlanta, we're here.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_05: Um, you know, and we we gotta we gotta touch on the fact that in 2018, obviously it was a it was a failure, right?
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_05: We didn't qualify for the World Cup.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_05: And then you fast forward to every time that you'd come to this beautiful city, to our beautiful stadium, and you're already chuckling, so I I feel like you know what's coming.
• 3:50
  SPEAKER_05: Talk talk to me why the reception of of the the non-southern hospitality, right?
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, you your reception in into our stadium after the World Cup, uh, it I'm just gonna say it wasn't the warmest uh at times.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_05: What dude, talk to me.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_05: Why what what what happened?
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_01: I should be asking you, Brad.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_01: This is your home, man.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_01: Every time I come to the city, Brad's like, oh yeah, man, you're gonna love it, you're gonna enjoy it.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_01: Soon I step out on the field, just booze everywhere.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_02: You know, honestly, like on one side it was disappointing, right?
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_02: It kind of sucked, obviously, to be on that end of you know, that treatment from the fans basically everywhere we went around the country.
• 4:27
  SPEAKER_02: But on the other hand, you know, from starting the game where we started, you know, 20 something years ago, it's it's interesting to see the development of the US fan and the expectation, right?
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_02: And and so, you know, I can't be too disappointed at that.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_02: They're they're aware that what they saw wasn't good enough, they wanted something better.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, you have to kind of you know deal with what comes with that, being in the positions that we were in.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, obviously it wasn't the most enjoyable, some of the signs and some of the the noise, but at the end of the day, you know, the people are starting to understand, you know, what good football looks like and what they come to expect from our team.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_02: And so at the end of the day, you have to understand that responsibility and take it on the chin.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_05: Well, let me just let me just say, dude, you you handled it with grace, you handled it with professionalism, and and you know, I will add as well, I I think the reason a lot of that attention was was on you as well as some others is because of how important you'd been for our national team for for so many years, how unbelievable you were as a as a player, as a person.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_05: Um, and like I said, you you handled it with uh the utmost professionalism.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_05: And um, so yeah, so I'll I'll try to have a word.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_05: You're always welcome back to the day.
• 5:42
  SPEAKER_05: Um but yeah, man, I I just I just we didn't need to clear the air before we we st we jumped into everything.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, man, Atlanta's it's interesting.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_02: Like I've only only been booed there, so I I don't know what to expect.
• 5:54
  SPEAKER_02: But um funny story, actually.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_02: I actually had it had the opportunity to um to go there for a Falcons game like last last year, just to you know, just to go there and be a part of a Falcons game, and people didn't forget, man.
• 6:07
  SPEAKER_02: Even people there, they were like, hey, we didn't forget.
• 6:09
  SPEAKER_01: And I was like, they got crazy memories in Atlanta, man.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER_01: Crazy memories.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_01: Oh, I love it.
• 6:15
  unknown: I love it.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_03: Josie, let's go back to the beginning of your career because your last name is legit one that as a kid I used to scream out playing World Cup with all my buddies, Force Hill Central High School in Michigan.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_03: You are a legend of the game.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_03: So I wanted to find out way back before all your iconic goal scoring celebrations, trying to get on World Star like what Tim Wei.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_03: We'll get into that in a little bit.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_03: But how did you first find the ball at your feet in this beautiful game?
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so for me, I was I was lucky, man.
• 6:40
  SPEAKER_02: My dad, my parents are from Haiti.
• 6:42
  SPEAKER_02: Um, obviously, Haiti on that island, soccer is one of the most popular sports, if not the popular, the most popular sport.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_02: And I think we saw that on display with their return to the World Cup and all the fanfare it brought.
• 6:54
  SPEAKER_02: But my dad, my dad put us all in soccer as soon as we can walk.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_02: So I was the last one to pop out, and I followed the same journey as my my siblings, and yeah, the ball was between my feet since I was three years old.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_02: So for me, it was always kind of this relationship with the ball, and it's kind of all I knew.
• 7:12
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, as soon as I could, you know, get old enough to really understand the game, I started to tell my parents, hey, I'm gonna buy you a house one day.
• 7:19
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, all these things that we say as as young kids with the big dream.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_02: And and lucky enough for me, I was able to live it.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm I'm very, very grateful.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_02: But it all came from my dad and my mom.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_02: They they kind of instilled it all in me.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_05: That's awesome, man.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, I mean, listen, Joe's when we grew up, right?
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_05: Like, it's not like today.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_05: We couldn't just turn on the TV and watch a game at will uh or or select any game.
• 7:41
  SPEAKER_05: And and for me, I remember uh I've told this to Joe before, running home from school in Chicago and trying to catch the last 10 minutes of a Champions League game.
• 7:50
  SPEAKER_05: And back in those days, it was it was Bayern Munich, and so I was watching Oliver Kahn do his thing and be an inspiration to me uh as a goalkeeper.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_05: Who for you was was an inspiration and kind of really someone you looked up to and said, you know what, yeah, I want to follow in their footsteps, or you know what, that that looks pretty sweet.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_05: I want to be a part of that.
• 8:10
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so similar to you, like I didn't get get that much European soccer.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_02: Um, but I I I love Thierry Henry.
• 8:17
  SPEAKER_02: For when I did get to see him, you know, obviously the France, the the World Cup in France was a big part of that watching him.
• 8:23
  SPEAKER_02: And I just loved his style.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_02: I I I loved, you know, that's when I first kind of saw a striker that can do everything.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_02: And and it was the first striker that I watched.
• 8:31
  SPEAKER_02: And I immediately were like, you know, I said to my dad, I want to be that type of player.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I want to be able to score every type of way.
• 8:38
  SPEAKER_02: For me, he is the the you know, what you want to be as a modern-day striker.
• 8:42
  SPEAKER_02: You want to be able to do a little bit of everything, you want to be able to threat the defense in many ways.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_02: So I was a big fan of, you know, his technical ability, his physical ability, and his mentality.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I thought he was one of the best number nines in modern-day strikers we've seen in football.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_05: No, for sure, for sure.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_05: And and listen, I I know when you started off, right, your your professional journey was was early.
• 9:06
  SPEAKER_05: And you were kind of that trendsetter, if you will, and that first young American to go for big money to to Europe.
• 9:15
  SPEAKER_05: And and you know, talk us through that move to Villarreal, because I I remember seeing that move and everyone's like, oh my gosh.
• 9:23
  SPEAKER_05: And it was 10 million, right?
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_05: Or or in and around, in and around there.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER_05: And so it was that was a huge number back in the day.
• 9:30
  SPEAKER_05: And and everyone was just like, oh my gosh, this is this is it.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_05: You know, we've cracked the code and and Josie's gonna go and just take the take the world by by storm.
• 9:40
  SPEAKER_05: Um tell tell us about that move, man.
• 9:43
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's it's funny because obviously that was an exciting time, but like, and I think you'll appreciate this, Brad.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_02: Like looking back at it now, you know, you know, there's a lot of things that, you know, as no, as a young player, when you go for a transfer that you don't understand, you know, and being growing up, you know, I my parents didn't understand like the system and how the the transfer world worked, and kind of like, you know, this is a world of choice in a way, but we didn't get that.
• 10:09
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I was 16, no, I was 18 at that time, you know, I was playing in the in a developing league, and it was very important to, you know, do things in accordance with that, and in the sense of like, you know, basically Villarreal came in for me.
• 10:22
  SPEAKER_02: I didn't really know who else was there.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_02: I heard rumblings of other teams, but I didn't have it in my mindset to be like, oh no, let's explore this or let's look into that lead.
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_02: You know what I mean?
• 10:32
  SPEAKER_02: And so that was kind of the the the you know the thing that was that that popped in and was, you know, I don't want to say I was like very heavily pushed there, but everybody was like, hey, this is a good move for you.
• 10:43
  SPEAKER_02: And and look, I'm I'm very grateful, I'm very excited it happened, but it was it's just very interesting looking at transfers kind of at that time at 18 and kind of how I view them now, and in in accordance of like just your choice and and doing things that that kind of best suit you.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_02: But it as you can imagine, it was a life changer in so many ways, right?
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_02: But both from a professional standpoint and then a personal standpoint, you know, my life completely changed.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_05: No, for sure.
• 11:07
  SPEAKER_05: And and I get that, man, because we live in a different era now.
• 11:11
  SPEAKER_05: The the game is in a different era, we're in a different era.
• 11:14
  SPEAKER_05: Kids, players here in Major League Soccer have instant access to to games, to clubs, connections to to all over the world.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_05: And and so you you think about those days of of when you moved to Villa Real, when moved to the Premier League, and you know, it's just it was yes, you hear these rumblings, but there was never really it was always well, I'm gonna jump at the kind of that first opportunity that comes along, right?
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_05: And you're gonna take it, and it is life-changing.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_05: Um, and nowadays the the kids have there's so much more to think about because if team A is interested, there's probably a B, C, D, and and and so on.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_05: And so I I absolutely understand what you're talking about there, man.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_02: And and and to that point too, Brad, it's like, you know, even the agents now and the modern game have more experience, right?
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_02: And in our country.
• 12:03
  SPEAKER_02: So even they can be more helpful to these young players, you know.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_02: A lot of people don't get that aspect, you know.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_02: We were kind of part of a generation that was, I don't want to say first to do these things, but it was still in the interim of like going to Europe, you know, figuring out what your wages are, you know, what triggers what.
• 12:20
  SPEAKER_02: And I feel like now it's like a system where you kind of see guys, you know, going to Europe.
• 12:24
  SPEAKER_02: I feel like every window there's, you know, a few young guys jumping ship.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I just read about another transfer, obviously Gozo to Crystal Palace.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_02: Like it's it's it's wonderful to see our league now starting to really spit out top talent that that the world wants on their teams, you know?
• 12:39
  SPEAKER_02: A hundred percent, hundred percent.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_03: Josie, you were also a trailblazer in terms of how you performed over in Europe, smashing it in the Netherlands.
• 12:45
  SPEAKER_03: We'll get that to in a sec, uh, of scoring over 30 goals that one year.
• 12:48
  SPEAKER_03: I want to go back to your stint in England, because you and Brad both crossed paths there in the Premier League.
• 12:53
  SPEAKER_03: We'll talk about that match here in a second.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_03: But what do you remember about not just the cultural change of going from what, toast with ham and cheese and some olive oil on top to then going to beans and toast?
• 13:03
  SPEAKER_03: And then just the footy culture there.
• 13:05
  SPEAKER_03: What was some of the craziest shithousery, let's say it, right?
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_03: Just some of the most insane things you saw on the bus coming in with Sunderland or anything that you saw even out and about in England that you were like, oh, this is a different universe.
• 13:18
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's it's funny.
• 13:19
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, when I went to England, I I didn't compete in the best way.
• 13:23
  SPEAKER_02: There were a lot of elements that were happening for me, but like, and Brad can appreciate this.
• 13:27
  SPEAKER_02: Like, I arrived there and I was able to kind of put that against everywhere that I got to play.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_02: And there's nothing like playing in the prem.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_02: There's nothing about, you know, being in that kind of group of, you know, you're you're the most elite league in the world.
• 13:40
  SPEAKER_02: You're playing against the best players in the world.
• 13:42
  SPEAKER_02: And so I loved it from moment A to the end.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, obviously there were variables in between, but again, being able to just, you know, it was a norm to go to Old Trafford and play Cristiano and P.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_02: Rooney.
• 13:54
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's it's an unbelievable privilege that I'm so happy that I got it to do.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, for I don't know how many games, 50, 60, 70 games, to be able to do that against some of the very best.
• 14:06
  SPEAKER_02: It's something I hold dearly to me, and I and I really loved every minute of it.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_02: It's like, you know, playing the prem is playing in the prem.
• 14:12
  SPEAKER_02: It's it's an exceptional feeling against you know the elite players in the world.
• 14:16
  SPEAKER_05: My my oldest Joe's, you know, a he always is like, oh dad, did you play against this guy and you play against that guy?
• 14:22
  SPEAKER_05: And I'm like, yeah, he scored two, and that guy scored three.
• 14:26
  SPEAKER_05: But like when I when I step out of that conversation and I think about the privilege of having that opportunity, that that part's never lost on me, man.
• 14:36
  SPEAKER_05: And and that's something that that I'll cherish forever.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_05: And you know, competing in in that league, competing uh against the the world-class players that we went up against that you mentioned, it's something that that no one can ever take away from us.
• 14:48
  SPEAKER_05: Um and something that that I'm proud of, you know, and I know you are as well.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_05: And you know, you not only had stints in in Spain and you know, Holland and England, you were all over, man.
• 15:00
  SPEAKER_05: And and you I I feel like Americans back then, if it didn't work out at Team A, it was, well, I'm gonna come back to Major League Soccer.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_05: And and you just kept pushing, man.
• 15:10
  SPEAKER_05: You you kept going, um, and and just kind of finding the next solution.
• 15:14
  SPEAKER_05: And and that's something that that I think so many people hold you in and such a high regard for because it wasn't easy.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_05: It it wasn't easy uh at all, uh especially being American at a time when people were looking at America and saying, We're playing soccer over here, get out of here, you know, like no chance, you know.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_05: So uh I tip my hat to you, man.
• 15:33
  SPEAKER_02: Appreciate it.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_05: What's uh tell us a deal I I know probably when you were over there, right?
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_05: It made more sense and you were able to understand kind of the culture of what you were in.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_05: But tell us about a deal that that nearly happened but didn't, that fell through maybe in the last minute or or you know, one that you were like, ooh, I'm getting excited for that deal, that'd be amazing.
• 15:55
  SPEAKER_05: And were there any situations like that, anything like that come about?
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_02: Um yeah, I mean, there was an interesting one.
• 16:04
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, you know, I I went to MLS, but you know, I was really, I had I don't want to say basely, but I was I was I was ready to go to Lil.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_02: I was ready to go to Lil in France.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_02: And I spoke to Tim Howard and I called a bunch of guys.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, at the time they were my big brothers, you know, on the national team.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_02: And I talked to them about the options that I have, and I'll never forget Timmy.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_02: I think we had just played Everton or we were gonna play Everton at the Stadium in Light.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_02: So I was you know getting ready to talk to him.
• 16:32
  SPEAKER_02: He's like, you know, Joes, you know, what an opportunity for you to go back to MLS and and compete.
• 16:38
  SPEAKER_02: And obviously, you're able to do something in a way that hasn't been done and and and in a way usher in a new era.
• 16:44
  SPEAKER_02: And and the way to look at that opportunity for me was everything.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_02: And so that was really close.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_02: I was really close to joining Lil.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_02: I, you know, I was set on it.
• 16:53
  SPEAKER_02: And then at the last minute, I did a kind of a 360 and ended up joining Toronto FC.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, I'm very happy because I look back now and you know, we did amazing things in the league.
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_02: But I I sometimes do wonder, you know, what it life would have been like in France.
• 17:05
  SPEAKER_02: You know, that's it's normal, it's human nature.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_02: But that one was pretty close.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_02: I would have gone Sunderland to Lil, but instead I went Sunderland to Toronto FC.
• 17:13
  SPEAKER_03: Josie, you talked a bit there on just the brotherhood that you guys had within that national team, especially.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_03: Can you think back to, I know we said it earlier, just the world star moments of you and I think Moa would do, right?
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_03: When you guys were roommates trying to plan out goal celebrations.
• 17:25
  SPEAKER_03: And he said, Mo was like, listen, I know I'm not gonna score him, so I need to tell Josie all the idea info.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_03: What do you miss most now that you're post-playing career about that brotherhood and specifically that group that you guys had coming up through the national team, too?
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's it's it's funny because like in the moment, no matter who you are, you're not able to appreciate things.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER_02: And when I look at that team, like you're talking about a team with Brad, you know, who's a legend, he was he was the number two.
• 17:50
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you're talking about a guy, Maurice Du that was you know playing at Rangers Champions League football, you know, he wasn't even in the team in terms of like starting every game.
• 17:58
  SPEAKER_02: And so what I miss is like you know, that level, it was such a high level.
• 18:02
  SPEAKER_02: Again, you take these things for granted, but the training was high.
• 18:05
  SPEAKER_02: You had to compete all the time.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_02: Like, you know, the striker position you had Landon, Clint, Eddie Johnson, Brian Ching, guys scoring goals, you know, at a big clip.
• 18:14
  SPEAKER_02: And so I kind of missed that, that healthy competition.
• 18:17
  SPEAKER_02: Um, because you don't know it when you're in it, but you're scrapping, you're fighting for positions.
• 18:21
  SPEAKER_02: But what a journey it was.
• 18:23
  SPEAKER_02: You know, that group to go from South Africa, I think we went there twice, obviously, Confederations Cup to the World Cup, that group in particular for me was so much fun.
• 18:32
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, I was a young guy, but having a guy like Mo as my roommate, that having guys like Brad, having guys like Steve Trundolo, you know, Carlos Bocanegra, to kind of like, you know, they were they're our leaders, and and you can kind of like let them lead in a way, and you can just be yourself.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_02: And I look at, you know, try not to make comparisons, but to look at, you know, the group now, you know, I sometimes I feel for those guys to not have that because I think that's a real superpower, to be able to lean on guys that have more experience that kind of take that pressure away.
• 19:04
  SPEAKER_02: And I don't think I would have been able to do what I was able to do without that kind of that brotherhood and that safety net around me, you know?
• 19:11
  SPEAKER_03: On that brotherhood, I listened to a piece coming into this podcast where you talked about nearly fighting Clint Dempsey.
• 19:17
  SPEAKER_03: You don't know where I'm from, dog.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_03: I think he almost swung on you in the middle of a drill.
• 19:20
  SPEAKER_03: We're here with the Goozan show.
• 19:22
  SPEAKER_03: We're next to the polar bear right now.
• 19:24
  SPEAKER_03: Could you give the fans listening an anecdote of maybe the angrist that you've seen Brad at training or when you were playing him?
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_03: Is there anything like that where the polar bear nearly got you?
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I must say Brad was, you know, in all the years, you know, I I think I've gotten into it with you always get into it with people, you know, but Brad was one guy that it was just always top professionalism.
• 19:47
  SPEAKER_02: Like even when he got at you, he got at you in a way where it's like, it's gotta stay there because he's right.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_02: He's right.
• 19:54
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, no, because goalkeepers, right?
• 19:57
  SPEAKER_02: They they're they're constantly barking directions, they're constantly in your ear.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_02: And sometimes it can get annoying.
• 20:01
  SPEAKER_02: But like with a guy like Brad and Tim, it was always coming from the right place.
• 20:05
  SPEAKER_02: You never felt that there was any animosity there or any undertones with how they kind of were barking directions.
• 20:11
  SPEAKER_02: So full credit to to Brad.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_02: I got no moments where I was looking back, I'm about to go.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_02: You know, like I'm not gonna do any of that.
• 20:19
  SPEAKER_02: There was never that, it was always respectful, and it was always a teaching moment with him and Tim.
• 20:24
  SPEAKER_02: It was always, hey, this is why I asked you to do that.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_02: This is why you need to go at this angle.
• 20:28
  SPEAKER_02: And you know, that's what made that that team so special.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you're always learning something.
• 20:33
  SPEAKER_05: Unless you try to dink me, you know.
• 20:36
  SPEAKER_05: If there was a little chance, Joe's always respectful, bro.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_04: I was in the red zone, I'll be running out.
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_04: Joe, get over here, Joe's.
• 20:43
  SPEAKER_04: You know, like what are you doing?
• 20:44
  SPEAKER_04: You're not gonna do that in a game.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_04: Don't do it in training.
• 20:47
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, nah, for sure.
• 20:49
  SPEAKER_05: It it was always good, man.
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_05: We we had such a good group in terms of pushing each other in the right ways, and uh, you know, I agree that that's what made that group so special in terms of the bonds, the brotherhood, uh, and the relationships off the pitch just as much as on the pitch, you know.
• 21:06
  SPEAKER_03: Josie, let's before we get into MLS, I want to go to your stint in the Netherlands.
• 21:10
  SPEAKER_03: What for you do you think was the biggest factor that had you so switched on?
• 21:14
  SPEAKER_03: I think I heard you said you also were told to take Dutch lessons, right?
• 21:18
  SPEAKER_03: Every day was that after training?
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_03: But this guy speaks like nine languages.
• 21:22
  SPEAKER_05: That's unbelievable.
• 21:23
  SPEAKER_05: I don't know about that.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_03: You got a little something I was gonna say.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah.
• 21:26
  SPEAKER_03: What was it about life over there you think that just had you so so activated that time in your career?
• 21:32
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I think the the football, the football, the type of football, you know, playing for a team that's on the front foot, that wants to have the ball, I think was something that I realized suited my style.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_02: You know, I was a player that liked to move around the box, like to combine.
• 21:45
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, it's difficult to do that if your team doesn't have the ball and is not on top of the game.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_02: And so, you know, when I played for Azette, you know, we're always literally on top of the game, except for when you played three or four teams, you know, then it was, you know, obviously a more even match and more difficult.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_02: Difficult in terms of possession.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_02: But I think that style of football suited me.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_02: You know, having the ball, playing with wingers, playing with a number 10.
• 22:08
  SPEAKER_02: And I just think that the culture of football there, you know, it was football 24-7.
• 22:13
  SPEAKER_02: You know, they call it total football over there.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_02: Like we had two a days.
• 22:16
  SPEAKER_02: We, you know, you're looking at video all the time.
• 22:18
  SPEAKER_02: And if you didn't watch the video, they knew about it.
• 22:20
  SPEAKER_02: So it was always football 24-7.
• 22:23
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that type of environment, although it could be heavy at times, it suited me.
• 22:28
  SPEAKER_02: It suited me because, you know, I felt like I was always sharp because of the amount of training I was doing.
• 22:34
  SPEAKER_02: And it was, it was really cool to kind of be in that type of environment for the time I was in it.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_02: And it's so infectious when you're there.
• 22:41
  SPEAKER_02: It's just soccer all the time.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_03: How has MLS grown from the time that you were over there in Europe to coming back here between the Apple TV deal, between the arrival of Leo Messi, between the return of Braggusan back to American soil, too?
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_03: How have you seen it develop?
• 22:56
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, I mean, it's it's it's no secret, man.
• 22:59
  SPEAKER_02: You look at the MLS now.
• 23:00
  SPEAKER_02: I don't even remember when I left how many teams were there.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_02: I would imagine maybe half of the number that there are today.
• 23:06
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you look at the league now, 30 teams, almost every team has a soccer-specific stadium.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's pretty impressive to see the growth.
• 23:15
  SPEAKER_02: One can't deny where the league is compared to where it was 20 years ago.
• 23:19
  SPEAKER_02: The question is now, how do we keep that momentum?
• 23:22
  SPEAKER_02: How do we keep improving?
• 23:23
  SPEAKER_02: How do we go from now where we are today and 20 years from now looking back like, man, look how far we've come.
• 23:30
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm very excited, like everybody else, to kind of see what comes next on the back of the World Cup.
• 23:35
  SPEAKER_02: You know, there's a new commissioner now.
• 23:37
  SPEAKER_02: You know, what type of growth now the league can sustain over this next period?
• 23:41
  SPEAKER_05: I love that you mentioned that, man.
• 23:43
  SPEAKER_05: What what is it?
• 23:44
  SPEAKER_05: How how do we keep this going?
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_05: Because that that's the billion-dollar question, right?
• 23:49
  SPEAKER_05: Because we just had this amazing summer, the the best World Cup in the history of sport.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_05: And now as a country that is still growing, that is still learning, how do we keep this going?
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_05: What what what in your eyes is something that we need to try and look into, pivot to, continue to do what we're doing and just do more of it?
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_05: What what do you think the the solution is, Joes?
• 24:12
  SPEAKER_05: And and listen, I know that's a big question because there's there's so many different avenues to go down.
• 24:17
  SPEAKER_05: Uh, but what what do you think?
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_02: Well, I could be wrong, um, but but what I what I've noticed, you know, in all the places that I played, and I don't know if it was like this in England, but a lot of places where I went, there was a mandate to play a certain amount of players from the home country.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_02: And when I look at like our league now and the amount of young players we have, I would like to see something similar.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_02: Because as much as the product is important, I get it, having big spending teams and and and high profile players, I think it's important not to lose sight of the American player.
• 24:53
  SPEAKER_02: And I think at the same time with MLS and the way the CONCACAF is set up, I think the CONCACAF player, right?
• 25:00
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously the American player, but also the CONCACAF player, because it's kind of our job right now to develop you know the smaller areas.
• 25:06
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, I would like to see some type of rule where, you know, a certain amount of Americans have to play.
• 25:13
  SPEAKER_02: And I I saw that in Turkey, I saw that in Mexico, I saw that in a lot of places, and I thought it was really interesting.
• 25:19
  SPEAKER_02: Um, even in Canada, the Canadian championships, you know, a certain amount of Canadian players have to be on the field.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_02: And again, I don't know if that's the rule or what the exact rule is, but I think something like that to ensure the development of some of our guys that they don't get lost in the shuffle, I think would be interesting to look at.
• 25:36
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, for sure.
• 25:37
  SPEAKER_05: Uh I I agree, man.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_05: I I've heard certain countries obviously have that rule, and it certainly helps the their domestic youth player kind of progress through the ranks, right?
• 25:48
  SPEAKER_05: To to go from whether it's the academy into their second team, into their first team, but it certainly helps them and gives them a clear path uh to be able to progress and get meaningful minutes that's going to help them develop, you know.
• 26:01
  SPEAKER_02: Exactly.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_02: And I don't want to be that guy, but like I'm here now in Southern Florida, I get to watch inner Miami, and I love inner Miami.
• 26:08
  SPEAKER_02: I love Messi, I love what they've done.
• 26:10
  SPEAKER_02: We need more of that.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_02: That that is what elevates the league.
• 26:14
  SPEAKER_02: I would just love to have seen more, and we've seen young guys play there, uh, right?
• 26:18
  SPEAKER_02: Ian Frye, we've seen a uh a ton of guys play there, but it would have good to be able to see, you know, four, five, six, seven of these guys lining up with Messi every game.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_02: You know, how cool would that be?
• 26:28
  SPEAKER_02: And I and again, you see that in Turkey.
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_02: You know, when I played there, there was a rule.
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_02: I believe in Mexico there's a rule.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_02: So it would be cool to see things like that because that experience, you know, is is incredible for our youngsters.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_05: All right, guys.
• 26:41
  SPEAKER_05: You heard it, you heard it from Josie himself.
• 26:44
  SPEAKER_05: Implement the rule.
• 26:45
  SPEAKER_05: Joes, obviously your career was was unbelievable, right?
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_05: And and you know, you, like I said, you were a trailblazer for so many young Americans to go over there and continue to press forward and and find a solution, find the answer uh when all the questions were being asked.
• 27:01
  SPEAKER_05: How did you know at the end, right?
• 27:04
  SPEAKER_05: How did you know it was it was time to step away?
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_05: Or was there one moment, was it something that you were thinking about uh leading into your final season?
• 27:12
  SPEAKER_05: Was it something you had private conversations with with family?
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_05: What what what was it?
• 27:17
  SPEAKER_05: What was the moment that that you said, you know what, this is this is it?
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_02: Kind of what life looks like after soccer.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_05: No, for sure, for sure.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_03: Josie, the Altador goal catalog is madness, bro.
• 27:29
  SPEAKER_03: So this next one's gonna be pretty tough.
• 27:31
  SPEAKER_03: But if we think about it, you know, you're the youngest player to ever get a hat trick for the US MNT, uh tied for the lead in World Cup qualifying goals, too.
• 27:37
  SPEAKER_03: If you had to pick two, we came to the decision of two, so you gotta go one for club level and one for the US MNT.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_03: What would you say are some of your not favorite, but maybe just top goals that come to mind at both uh the national team and at the club level as well?
• 27:53
  SPEAKER_02: Um, national team.
• 27:54
  SPEAKER_02: I mean, I I feel like I change my answer all the time.
• 27:57
  SPEAKER_02: You know, there's there's just too many.
• 27:59
  SPEAKER_02: There's too there's too many goals, you know, like yeah, no, but there was there was, you know, one that for me was really cool that that I I got to actually see the other day was you're not gonna know much about this goal, but I got injured in the 2014 World Cup.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_02: But then we had a friendly in my home city, and I got to get like 150 tickets or something ridiculous.
• 28:21
  SPEAKER_02: And my mom, my you know, my first coaches family, my some of my first teammates ever, my school teachers, my they've never gotten to see me play live.
• 28:31
  SPEAKER_02: And I thought this is a post-World Cup game in the fall.
• 28:34
  SPEAKER_02: What is it gonna mean?
• 28:35
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's a friendly, but it meant the world to see them all there in my shirt and supporting.
• 28:41
  SPEAKER_02: And I got quite emotional because that was my first game after the World Cup I got injured.
• 28:45
  SPEAKER_02: We played it at FAU.
• 28:46
  SPEAKER_02: I don't know if you were part of that game, Brad.
• 28:48
  SPEAKER_02: We played against Honduras.
• 28:49
  SPEAKER_02: I think we drew them 1-1 or we won 1-0.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, just looking at my parents when I scored the emotion on their face, it was special for us to be able to have that game.
• 28:59
  SPEAKER_02: Not you don't get to do that often to play down the street where you grew up.
• 29:03
  SPEAKER_02: So for me, you know, it it I didn't appreciate it as much until I retired, that moment, and what it meant for my family and for the people in the area that remember that game, that went to that game.
• 29:14
  SPEAKER_02: I don't remember the national team playing many games this in Boca Ratone.
• 29:18
  SPEAKER_02: So that was uh a pretty special moment and one that I didn't realize how special it was to everybody around me until I retired.
• 29:25
  SPEAKER_05: That's amazing, man.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah.
• 29:26
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, those moments uh are so special.
• 29:30
  SPEAKER_05: And and again, you when you're in the moment, you you don't always appreciate it to the fullest extent until you step away and you're like, man, that was special.
• 29:39
  SPEAKER_05: And and I'm glad I was able to do that.
• 29:40
  SPEAKER_05: I I had a few of those we'd play in Chicago, you'd have a hundred people, 150 people come to the game, and and just to have that ability to play in front of friends and family in your backyard is is so cool.
• 29:52
  SPEAKER_05: Um, you know, and I I I thought you were gonna mention maybe the the goal against Spain, you know, in South Africa and 2009.
• 29:59
  SPEAKER_05: This is what I mean.
• 30:00
  SPEAKER_05: It changes all the time.
• 30:02
  SPEAKER_05: No, but that but I mean, go go.
• 30:05
  SPEAKER_01: That goal changed my life, right?
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_01: That goal changed my life.
• 30:07
  SPEAKER_01: Because you were a beast.
• 30:09
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, we hadn't we had no business.
• 30:10
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, we certainly had business being in that game, right?
• 30:13
  SPEAKER_05: We earned the right to be in that game.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_05: Um, but Josie just out there just beasting Spain on what was it, a 35-36 game, unbeaten streak, semifinal the Confederations Cup, bang, Josie just rolling.
• 30:25
  SPEAKER_05: Who's in the net for that, by the way?
• 30:26
  SPEAKER_03: Is that Iker Casillas?
• 30:29
  SPEAKER_05: No, bro.
• 30:30
  SPEAKER_03: Yeah, no, right.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_03: Who was in that back line, Josie?
• 30:33
  SPEAKER_03: Do you remember like doing up the young Sergio Ramos training?
• 30:36
  SPEAKER_03: Like, do you remember the run you made?
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_03: Of course he does.
• 30:38
  SPEAKER_03: Tell him.
• 30:40
  SPEAKER_03: But you know what's crazy, Bad?
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_02: Brad, you'll appreciate this, right?
• 30:44
  SPEAKER_02: For me, obviously, it was a big game for all of us, but like I was playing my club teammates.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_02: You know what I mean?
• 30:50
  SPEAKER_02: And you'll appreciate this.
• 30:51
  SPEAKER_02: So it kind of like takes away the nervousness.
• 30:53
  SPEAKER_02: Look, I know these guys, I know the jokes that they do.
• 30:56
  SPEAKER_02: You know what I mean?
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_02: In the canteen all the time, like the group chat.
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_01: So it's like while everybody's looking at this, like Behemoth, I'm like, man, Santi, like, I know how he likes his eggs in the morning.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_01: You know what I mean?
• 31:08
  SPEAKER_02: I know Joan, how what he really likes.
• 31:10
  SPEAKER_02: So for me, I'm laughing the whole time, you know, and I'm just like, it feels like a training game.
• 31:14
  SPEAKER_02: So I felt I felt like it helped me, obviously, playing a bunch of guys that I knew.
• 31:19
  SPEAKER_02: So it didn't feel that obviously it was a serious game, but it didn't feel the the moment didn't feel that big because I recognized and knew the guys on the other side.
• 31:29
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that helped me, obviously, in that game.
• 31:31
  SPEAKER_05: You were a beast, dude.
• 31:32
  SPEAKER_05: You were a beast, always have been.
• 31:34
  SPEAKER_05: And listen, talk about being a beast, you know, on the field.
• 31:37
  SPEAKER_05: You certainly transitioned off the field just as much.
• 31:41
  SPEAKER_05: And, you know, whether it's podcasting, broadcasting, sports ownership, you know, what about post-playing has has been your favorite?
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_05: Um, you know, what what what has been the most joyful that that you've been able to get out of post-playing?
• 31:56
  SPEAKER_02: You know, all the things you mentioned, like uh obviously have been really cool because I've I've always had this fascination with these things while I was playing.
• 32:04
  SPEAKER_02: You know, you're always reading about different things, you always wanted to understand more.
• 32:08
  SPEAKER_02: And I love it.
• 32:09
  SPEAKER_02: I tell you right now, I love every day getting up and working on these ventures and working on things outside of the game.
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_02: But more than anything, man, and again, you'll appreciate this too.
• 32:18
  SPEAKER_02: You have a tribe at home is like being able just to be present at home, you know, take my son to school, you know, go to parent teacher, you know, PTA stuff and just like, you know, be be involved, you know, and and and what it does for our kids to look back and kind of see us there, you know, when before when we're playing, it was more difficult.
• 32:38
  SPEAKER_02: That's been really amazing.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you know, being able to go to meets and and and all these different events that I wasn't able to attend.
• 32:45
  SPEAKER_02: And I swear, like that helps me be better and everything else that I'm doing.
• 32:49
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and so just having that time, like go hang out with my mom, you know, hey mom, I'm gonna come over and have lunch, you know, like what?
• 32:55
  SPEAKER_02: You know, it's just it's it's it's amazing, you know, to be able to pick up my nephews, to pitch in and help my sister, because for a long time, you know, you you're on the other side, right?
• 33:06
  SPEAKER_02: You're in England or whatever, you're talking, they're telling you how it is, but you don't realize how difficult and how you know chaotic it is for them.
• 33:13
  SPEAKER_02: You know what I mean?
• 33:14
  SPEAKER_02: And be able to help and take some of the weight off honestly has been amazing.
• 33:18
  SPEAKER_02: Um, and just to be able to help them and and now sacrifice a little because they sacrificed so much for me.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_02: So to be able to like pitch in and just be a son, a brother again, it sounds corny, but it's been really nice.
• 33:31
  SPEAKER_02: That's awesome, man.
• 33:32
  SPEAKER_05: Just just a little bit of normalcy, right?
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_05: Things that that you know that the the average person misses out on.
• 33:37
  SPEAKER_05: Obviously, we're very fortunate to have had the experiences that we've had, right?
• 33:40
  SPEAKER_05: We we don't take those for granted by any means.
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_05: But like you said, just going to have lunch with your mom, or you know, I'm I'm over here, assistant flag football coach, baseball coach, softball coach.
• 33:51
  SPEAKER_05: I mean, it's it's it's all the things, but like I wouldn't have it any other way.
• 33:56
  SPEAKER_05: And and I love to hear that you're the same way, man.
• 33:58
  SPEAKER_05: It's it's so cool.
• 34:00
  SPEAKER_05: Um, just that little bit of normalcy, you know, and you know, we we talk about the game and and what the game has given us and being able to give back to the game.
• 34:09
  SPEAKER_05: I know you're you're you're part of the the group in in OKC.
• 34:13
  SPEAKER_05: Um, how's that going?
• 34:16
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, it's been it's been really exciting in Oklahoma.
• 34:18
  SPEAKER_02: You know, what an opportunity to kind of bring soccer back to the forefront there.
• 34:22
  SPEAKER_02: There was a team uh you know a few years ago there, the the energy, but you know, now what we're trying to do with OKC United is really exciting because I don't know if you've ever been to Oklahoma, but it's literally like a blank canvas in terms of you know, they've kept true to who they are in terms of the community and when you when you drive through through the downtown, but at the same time, there's so much opportunity, right?
• 34:44
  SPEAKER_02: They they want to do more, whether it be in sport, whether it be um in in education, like the amount of attention going to Oklahoma on how to continue growth of that uh community has been incredible.
• 34:56
  SPEAKER_02: And so to have the opportunity now coming on the soccer side, and when you look at kind of the demographic setup there, there's a massive Latin demographic there.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_02: Um it's really exciting to tie to tie to have the opportunity to to meet them, to galvanize them, to kind of be um you know a beacon in terms of you know what soccer brings to the community.
• 35:18
  SPEAKER_02: It's it's a big responsibility, but it's really exciting because at the end of the day, I, you know, uh when I was playing in Europe, I got to see like LAFC start and all these teams start.
• 35:26
  SPEAKER_02: And I always said it would be cool to do something like that and kind of usher in a new kind of community for people to kind of galvanize and and and get behind.
• 35:36
  SPEAKER_02: I think that's pretty special that we can do that here in America in terms of our sports demographic with all the emerging sports and teams.
• 35:43
  SPEAKER_02: So I don't take that lightly.
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_02: I'm really excited about the opportunity there in Oklahoma.
• 35:47
  SPEAKER_02: We've got a brand new stadium that was um fully funded by the MAPS program in Oklahoma, which is basically a dollar of up that you spend every dollar you spend in Oklahoma goes to a pot of money there where they spend on things that are important to the city.
• 36:01
  SPEAKER_02: So, you know, shout out to the maps program and being able to do that.
• 36:04
  SPEAKER_02: So in Oklahoma, it's gonna be some really, really exciting stuff when it comes to soccer.
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_02: That's awesome, man.
• 36:09
  SPEAKER_03: Josie, let's take you through some rapid fire questions here, real quick.
• 36:12
  SPEAKER_03: If you could live back one moment of your career right now, what would you choose?
• 36:21
  SPEAKER_02: One moment that's hard.
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_02: Uh probably probably 2014 uh getting injured because uh I felt so good in that World Cup.
• 36:33
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I felt so fit, and it it sucks sometimes because you always wonder, you know, what if, you know?
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_02: Um so probably that moment.
• 36:40
  SPEAKER_03: Who's the most talented creator you've ever played with?
• 36:45
  SPEAKER_02: I have two.
• 36:46
  SPEAKER_02: I have two um because I gotta give my man respect.
• 36:49
  SPEAKER_02: One is Santika Sorla.
• 36:50
  SPEAKER_02: I this guy was a magician.
• 36:52
  SPEAKER_02: I I you know he can play every position.
• 36:54
  SPEAKER_02: I've never played with a player like that.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_02: He can play center back, left back, right back.
• 36:58
  SPEAKER_02: Pretty sure he can play goalkeeper too.
• 37:00
  SPEAKER_02: Santika Sorla is is pure soccer.
• 37:03
  SPEAKER_02: Like he was made to play football.
• 37:05
  SPEAKER_02: And then I'm going with Freddie Adu.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_02: Freddie Adu on his day was nasty.
• 37:09
  SPEAKER_02: Okay, he can find a pass just as good as anybody.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I wish you know it worked out differently with a few things, but in terms of talent, in terms of ability, Freddie was up there.
• 37:20
  SPEAKER_02: That left foot was dangerous.
• 37:22
  SPEAKER_03: Toughest defender you've played against.
• 37:26
  SPEAKER_02: Um had me chasing shadows, man, when I played against Italy.
• 37:31
  SPEAKER_02: I didn't know what was going on.
• 37:33
  SPEAKER_03: Let's build your dream footballer, starting with left boot boot.
• 38:30
  SPEAKER_01: I love Robbie Keane celebration, though, the roll, the tumble, the boom boo.
• 38:34
  SPEAKER_01: Like it's just so iconic, you know what I mean?
• 38:37
  SPEAKER_01: Like, that is dope.
• 38:38
  SPEAKER_01: Robbie Keane.
• 38:39
  SPEAKER_01: I love that.
• 38:40
  SPEAKER_03: Of all the countries you've lived in or visited for soccer, best food.
• 38:48
  SPEAKER_02: That is tough.
• 38:50
  SPEAKER_02: Best food.
• 38:52
  SPEAKER_02: I'll go turkey, man.
• 38:55
  SPEAKER_02: Turkey, Turkish food, dish gander.
• 38:58
  SPEAKER_02: Brad, you've got to try some dish gander for like authentic.
• 39:01
  SPEAKER_05: Hey.
• 39:02
  SPEAKER_05: Joe, next podcast.
• 39:04
  SPEAKER_05: We're fine.
• 39:04
  SPEAKER_05: We're fine.
• 39:05
  SPEAKER_05: We're fine.
• 39:05
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah, we're ordering takeout.
• 39:07
  SPEAKER_05: Into the podcast room.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_05: We're getting it.
• 39:09
  SPEAKER_05: That or we're taking the the podcast on the road.
• 39:12
  SPEAKER_05: We're going to turn it.
• 39:13
  SPEAKER_05: Joe's we'll stop in Miami.
• 39:14
  SPEAKER_05: We'll pick you up.
• 39:15
  SPEAKER_05: Um, listen, uh, obviously, we've we've talked a lot about obviously the game here in the States and the growth on the back of the summer.
• 39:23
  SPEAKER_05: Big news, obviously, out of the U.S.
• 39:25
  SPEAKER_05: uh men's national team.
• 39:26
  SPEAKER_05: Pasha Tino resigns.
• 39:28
  SPEAKER_05: What are your initial thoughts uh with with him coming back and and and how does this team continue to progress going forward into 2030?
• 39:38
  SPEAKER_02: Look, you know, I I think it's important that, you know, the national team from now on is constantly seeking a manager, you know, of the highest level.
• 39:47
  SPEAKER_02: I think we're at the point now where you know our players, even even if the players weren't playing, you know, where they're playing.
• 39:54
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's important, again, the public, the understanding that we continue to strive for the best.
• 40:00
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, some of the things I saw from Pushatino in terms of the mentality of the group, in terms of how he kind of went in and kind of redefined some of the benchmarks and things that are important to the to the inner group and and and to the to the program as a whole.
• 40:15
  SPEAKER_02: And I think, Brad, these are some of the things that you you've come to understand too.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_02: You know, playing in Europe, you know, there was there was a different sense, I think, of accountability of for the crest and how we have to play the game.
• 40:26
  SPEAKER_02: How do we approach the game and opponents that I loved?
• 40:28
  SPEAKER_02: And I think you just can't go back from.
• 40:30
  SPEAKER_02: And I think it's really important to constantly sink a manager of that kind of uh clout.
• 40:36
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's very important.
• 40:37
  SPEAKER_02: And I'm excited for Pochettino.
• 40:39
  SPEAKER_02: I think it's gonna be a challenge for him as well.
• 40:41
  SPEAKER_02: Like I think he did well coming in, but I think now there's got to be another level.
• 40:44
  SPEAKER_02: And I think he understands that as well.
• 40:46
  SPEAKER_02: It's not just, you know, we're we're happy to be here.
• 40:49
  SPEAKER_02: It's now now how far can you take this now?
• 40:51
  SPEAKER_02: How many new talents can we identify from the youth, right?
• 40:55
  SPEAKER_02: That's also important to have some young blood in the team.
• 40:58
  SPEAKER_02: So I'm excited.
• 40:59
  SPEAKER_02: I and I think this has to be the way going forward now.
• 41:02
  SPEAKER_02: Um, you we have to be seeking managers at the highest level.
• 41:04
  SPEAKER_05: I I'm right there with you, man.
• 41:06
  SPEAKER_05: I'm excited for for him and the group, and and I I think the the sky's the limit for sure.
• 41:11
  SPEAKER_05: Um and and yeah, I mean, now they're gonna get a real taste of of obviously the qualification process as well and and what that entails and how that looks.
• 41:20
  SPEAKER_05: Um, but yeah, I I think it's it's all about taking that next step.
• 41:24
  SPEAKER_05: Obviously, Joe's you're you're you're wearing the shirt, but I I need to talk about a little bit Sogility.
• 41:29
  SPEAKER_05: Talk talk me through this this this other venture that you started um because we've heard you talk about giving back to the game.
• 41:37
  SPEAKER_05: We've heard you talk about communities, being an inspiration to players on the field, off the field.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_05: You're doing so much, but but but talk us through um the the shirt you're wearing and and what it means.
• 41:50
  SPEAKER_02: Yeah, so you know, for me, you know, I and again, as you know, Brad, you know, when you get to this transition, you know, there's there's a ton of stuff, people pulling you in different directions.
• 41:58
  SPEAKER_02: And, you know, I always had an affinity with working with young players.
• 42:02
  SPEAKER_02: Even when I was, you know, an older statesman and all the clubs I played for, for whatever odd reason, I always bonded well with the young players and always wanted to give them advice and spend time around them.
• 42:12
  SPEAKER_02: And so, you know, it was no different kind of when I was getting towards the end, I thought to myself, well, I I really enjoy this.
• 42:19
  SPEAKER_02: So, how can I make this an everyday thing?
• 42:22
  SPEAKER_02: And I was really lucky enough to come across Sogility.
• 42:25
  SPEAKER_02: Um, I appro I I joined the group about three and a half, four years ago now.
• 42:29
  SPEAKER_02: And at the time, we had one facility.
• 42:31
  SPEAKER_02: So Sogility is a tech-infused soccer training facility where we call ourselves a Switzerland, where we like to work with every youth team in the area to provide extra training, right?
• 42:43
  SPEAKER_02: For players that A, you know, want to continue to improve and get to a higher level, or even players that don't have any soccer experience that want to kind of introduce themselves to the game.
• 42:53
  SPEAKER_02: And that for me was really cool because I think part of growing the game is, you know, making each community understand the game better, you know, uh, taking the sting out of it.
• 43:02
  SPEAKER_02: And so Sugility for me gave me that opportunity to work with elite players and work with players that never played soccer.
• 43:09
  SPEAKER_02: Obviously, there's a learning curve there because you know, I'm always in this intense mode when it comes to the game.
• 43:15
  SPEAKER_02: But now I have the opportunity to really go to a grassroots level and understand, you know, why players fall out of the game, things that they they feel like they can't speak about, but they want to work on.
• 43:25
  SPEAKER_02: And so for us, it was great to kind of create a place where players come in and there's no pressure, right?
• 43:31
  SPEAKER_02: You're able to work on whatever it is that you lack in that moment, whether it be heading, dribbling, uh cognitive, whether it be you know, decision making, and you're able to work at it in an individual setting, take your learnings and bring them back to the group setting in your team.
• 43:45
  SPEAKER_02: And we've had a ton of kids, you know, uh, you know, come to us and say, hey, you know, being able to work with you guys on my first touch and not be able uh to have the pressure kind of doing that in the group setting really helped me kind of gain more confidence.
• 43:58
  SPEAKER_02: And that for us is what we're looking for.
• 44:00
  SPEAKER_02: do because I think everybody has to play a part in kind of this pyramid on how we develop players and and this for us was a great opportunity so I I'm really excited at our growth and uh you know I'm really excited for the future of of what we're trying to build.
• 44:13
  SPEAKER_02: I'd love to hear that man Joes you're you're doing you're doing so much uh in your post playing career um you know you're inspiring so many helping so many you know when you think of the game itself what what does the game mean to you Brad it means everything um you know it means everything you know sometimes I'm I'm I'm you know I'm just home or whatever and I get emotional because I'm like you know I'm you know I'm going to this event or I'm going to this and all of that came from soccer you know what I mean all of that came from you know the the sacrifice and being able to have the careers we had so I'm just so grateful because I I firmly believe that all the things that I'm able to do now you know wouldn't have been possible if I didn't pick up a soccer ball.
• 44:59
  SPEAKER_02: And it's crazy to say but it it it just shows you just how amazing sport can be not only for players at the elite level but also people that you know just love and want to work within sport.
• 45:11
  SPEAKER_02: You know I I often tell people in my experience post-career I'm a firm believer there's nothing that touches everybody other than sport.
• 45:20
  SPEAKER_02: You know what I mean?
• 45:21
  SPEAKER_02: And and you know when you go to a game you'll walk into a suite you'll walk into your seats and you'll see doctors nurses tech you know maintenance you'll see people from all walks of life that come to sporting events.
• 45:34
  SPEAKER_02: And I think that's so, so beautiful and I'm just so grateful.
• 45:37
  SPEAKER_05: Well Joes we're we're grateful for you man because you are doing so much off the field uh I could argue more so than what you did on the field.
• 45:46
  SPEAKER_05: And that's that's really hard to do because you are so good on the field for so many years.
• 45:52
  SPEAKER_05: But we are grateful for you man.
• 45:53
  SPEAKER_05: You are an inspiration to the next generation you continue to change the landscape for the better each and every day.
• 46:02
  SPEAKER_05: And listen all five stripes listen in next time Josie's in Atlanta welcome him with open arms showing some love this guy is the man Josie thanks for jumping on the podcast with us we appreciate you always you're always welcome back um and we wish you nothing but the best man no thanks for having me and to all the five stripes be sure to check out SoJilli Fayetteville we got a location down by where you where you guys are at would love to have you and uh Brad thanks for having me on love it love it Joe's Joe man Josie what an unbelievable guest man he he I mean listen I'm lucky right because I've I've seen him off camera I've seen him um you know in the in the locker room on the field off the field uh in hotels um but being able to to listen to him chat in and all the things that he's doing post playing uh tall tell us stories about uh his playing days and you know being a pioneer as a young American going to Villa Real such a such a great dude such a great guest that's the thing for me is I don't think people realize what a trendsetter he was for the future of Americans not just abroad but in the international game too right like you talk about your time of the premiership crossing paths with him which by the way Bragg was in clean sheet against Josie when he was with Sunderland that did not get in the show but let that get in there.
• 47:21
  SPEAKER_03: Seven state performance from the brick wall right here it's just crazy his goal catalog to hearing him talking about what did he say shielded off Gerard Piquet dinked it past Iker Casillus and bro's out here talking as if this is nothing like it's another afternoon in international football insane.
• 47:38
  SPEAKER_03: So to have him here insane bro world class world class legend of a guy.
• 47:42
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah love it absolutely we got news for you guys number one Brad the cadence of this podcast is shifting up it is yep we're going to go uh every other week uh as well as we've got our social channels now so check us out at the goose show three use three use spell them out three don't forget that check us out you guys can go back you can see previous guests uh we've got uh a team in the control room working hard clipping clipping socials putting everything out there for us appreciate you guys uh big love and uh yeah so check it out um and we're excited about where this is going in the future so uh it's gonna be fun so I'm gonna get stuck into another Home Depot mailbag just like a Home Depot delivery always on time guys we're gonna switch it up because Brad I got a couple of questions for you after the banger and a half that we had with Josie today because he was talking a lot about just the brotherhood of the US MNT.
• 48:35
  SPEAKER_03: It made me think who was your roommate on the road and what were some of those good times that Josie was talking about that you can tell us that are show friendly right here.
• 48:42
  SPEAKER_05: No for sure for sure um the in the early days you know uh a previous guest of ours Sasha Kleshin uh him and I were were roommates obviously teammates at Chiefs USA uh and we kind of were in the national team setup um at the same time and um you know we were we were roommates and until probably 2010 and um and then after that uh it was the one and only Michael Bradley who just happens to be coming to town this weekend with obviously the New York Red Bulls as they play Atlanta United here at Mercedes-Benz Stadium um and so yeah Michael Bradley was then we were roommates for the next I'd say seven eight years long time yeah wild man and and it's like when you're in these camps especially like the the summer camps right which are longer than the the standard seven ten days um you know you you get to know their families obviously his wife Amanda his kids uh he was in europe and he's he's doing his thing bouncing around um and and it's more than just a a teammate relationship it's a friendship it's a it's a brotherhood it's a bond like Josie was talking about and and for me those are the best memories um you know I I think back to you know just whether it's you're going to dinners you're going to get a coffee uh you're constantly with these guys and and you know it's like your second family and you've got to make sure that you have that relationship um to be able to to have that strength and and even a stronger relationship than if if you didn't right on the field because that that's going to help that bond continue to grow.
• 50:22
  SPEAKER_05: And so uh I was very fortunate to to be able to to call Michael my roommate uh but but also a really good friend to to this day.
• 50:30
  SPEAKER_05: Did Sash have a mustache in that era by the way?
• 50:33
  SPEAKER_05: Did you hear like I'm sure he did he's he's he's always had always had that I mean I I'm not quite sure how to describe it.
• 50:42
  SPEAKER_04: But yes he's he's had that mustache would you ever go for something like that bro by the way I see a little definition coming in there I don't not so much up here you know I'm waiting for that to come in maybe down here a little bit there's a picture circulating out there.
• 50:55
  SPEAKER_05: No it's a hey there's a there is a picture there's only a fit it's locked away in here it's locked away in here get that genie out the bottle fans do your work please find this thing listen there's only a few people that have access to that photo it is wild uh I'm just gonna say I'm missing a tooth and I've got a three month beard and apparently it only comes in this it only comes in under here.
• 51:21
  SPEAKER_03: You told me this story okay don't worry for another day we got a lot more backs down the way it's coming.
• 51:28
  SPEAKER_03: Jonesy also talked about all that he does away from the game sagility to giving back to the future generation of that soccer pyramid here in the States and it made me think ever since I've known you as a five stripe you've done so much in Atlanta with the unified team getting out and about all over the city what are some things that you've been involved in that you would say you're most proud of in your time not just as five stripe but what you do to this day?
• 51:48
  SPEAKER_05: Yeah um I I think it's it's so important to be able to give back to the community.
• 51:52
  SPEAKER_05: You know Josie talked about the the privilege of being a professional footballer and and traveling the world and living living your dream and and and I felt the same way uh continue to feel that way uh and we were so lucky and fortunate to have the platform that we that we have right and and so whether that is um you know doing work with Ronald McDonald Charity House whether it's um you know with with homeless shelters here in Atlanta whether it's the unified team like you mentioned you know just there's there's so many causes children's healthcare of Atlanta and and paying visits to to kids in the hospital and just trying to put a smile on their faces.
• 52:30
  SPEAKER_05: There's so much that you can do as an individual and and when you're a professional athlete to be able to utilize that platform for good that's something that that I'm constantly trying to to do and and maximize as best I can.
• 52:44
  SPEAKER_05: I I still connected to my high school back in back in the suburbs of Chicago and and when we're back there trying to make visits there um you know we work with uh there's a gentleman that puts on a a lot of these high school showcases back in Chicago and just going and and being present and and showing kids hey if you're in the suburbs of of Chicago of the state of Illinois listen the the dream is possible you can certainly play at the highest level I am a a walking testament to that and so um just trying to be that inspiration for kids um just to to show them that if you work hard and you put your mind something anything's possible.
• 53:25
  SPEAKER_03: That's been another edition of the Home Depot mailbag questions delivered by the Home Depot always on time