Episodes
Sunday Oct 20, 2024
Sunday Oct 20, 2024
Big thank you to Jeciel Cedeño for hopping on this episode of the Against All Odds Podcast! Be sure to follow Jeciel below: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jecielcedeno/?hl=en
Timestamps:
0:00-8:33 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions
8:33-30:00 - Playing Street Football in Guayaquil, Ecuador
30:00-38:28 - Moving to New Jersey, but Struggling to Find a Team
38:28-47:20 - Bouncing Around Different Youth Teams in New Jersey
47:20-52:57 - Moving Back to Ecuador to Join a Football Academy
52:57-1:02:52 - Signing an Academy Contract with NY Red Bulls 2
1:02:52-1:09:18 - Facing Rejection by NY Red Bulls 2
1:09:18-1:34:41 - Entering the Real World. Working 9 to 5 Jobs to Get By...
1:34:41-1:44:40 - Signing His First Professional Contract with Hartford Athletic
1:44:40-1:50:50 - Being Traded Twice in Two Years (Hartford to Oakland, Oakland to Detroit)
1:50:50-1:56:52 - Final Three Questions
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Sunday Sep 29, 2024
Big thanks to Victor Bezerra for hopping on this week's episode! Vic's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vbezerra7/?hl=en
Timestamps:
0:00-11:04 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions
11:04-25:06 - Growing Up in Downtown Chicago
25:06-33:09 - Training with Bastian Schweinsteiger and Chicago Fire as a Teenager
33:09-40:04 - Taking a Gap Year to just Train with Chicago Fire First Team
40:04-1:04:57 - Attending Indiana University and Transitioning to College Soccer
1:04:57-1:18:17 - Signing a Homegrown Contract with Chicago Fire
1:18:17-1:28:45 - Heading out on Loan to Detroit City FC
1:28:45-1:40:25 - Final Questions and Outro
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
Climbing Up Every Level of the US Pyramid | Michael Bryant's Path to Pro
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
Sunday Aug 11, 2024
Big thanks to Michael for hopping on this episode of the podcast! You can follow Michael on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/mbryant12/?hl=en
Timestamps:
0:00-10:45 - Rapid Fire Questions
10:45-24:53 - Growing up in Portola Hills, California
24:53-39:23 - Playing D3 at Elmira College in New York
39:23-50:45 - Transferring to Northwest Nazarene
50:45-1:13:31 - Dropping out of College and playing for Orange County FC (NPSL)
1:13:31-1:20:47 - Signing First Professional Contract with Cal United Strikers in NISA
1:20:47-1:53:43 - Climbing up to the USL Championship and signing with Detroit City FC
1:53:43-1:58:01 - Final Questions
Sunday Jul 14, 2024
Sunday Jul 14, 2024
Big thanks to Brett Levis for hopping on today's podcast!
Be sure to follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/brettlevis/?hl=en
Timestamps: 0:00-9:52 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions
9:52-34:24 - Growing up in Saskatoon
34:24-37:57 - Playing at the University of Saskatoon
37:57-50:57 - Signing with the Vancouver Whitecaps
50:57-1:00:33 - Tearing his ACL in his MLS Debut
1:00:33-1:09:21 - Rebounding from Injury and Returning to play with the Whitecaps
1:09:21-1:34:27 - Playing for Valour FC in the Canadian Premier League
1:34:27-1:43:32 - Signing to Play at FC Tulsa, then Traded to Detroit City FC
1:43:32-1:56:20 - Finding his Rhythm at Detroit City FC
1:56:20-2:05:58 - Final Few Questions and Outro
Sunday Jun 30, 2024
Sunday Jun 30, 2024
Big thanks to Murph for hopping on this episode of the podcast! Follow him below:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvmurph14/
Twitter: https://x.com/jvmurph_14?s=21&t=d-DEeWcblanHdLjyKyZvpg
Timestamps:
0:00-10:22 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions
10:22-22:51 - Developing as a Youth Player in New Jersey
22:51-29:19 - Getting Called up to the US Youth National Team
29:19-36:20 - Trialing with West Brom, Man U, and Sheffield Wednesday
36:20-45:37 - Specifics of Murph’s trial with Manchester United
45:37-1:05:21 - Signing his First Professional Contract with Sheffield Wednesday
1:05:21-1:10:44 - Leaving Sheffield Wednesday to Play for LAFC in the MLS
1:31:41-1:21:50 - Dropping down to play with Arbroath in the Scottish Championship
1:26:05-1:31:35 - Training back at home during Covid then Signing with RGV Toros
1:31:35-1:39:21 - Leaving RGV to sign with the new USLC expansion team, Monterey Bay FC
1:39:21-1:46:12 - Signing to play at Detroit City FC
1:46:12-1:59:10 - Final Questions and Outro
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
Sunday Jun 09, 2024
Big thanks to Ryan Williams for coming on this week's podcast!
Timestamps:
0:00-11:16 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions
11:16-35:58 - Struggling with his small stature in English Academies
35:58-48:18 - Starting to lift weights and joining Chester City
48:18-1:05:16 - First Contracts and Training with the First Team of Chester City
1:05:15-1:21:16 - Semi-Pro stints with Colwyn Bay, Llandudno, and Rhyl in Wales 2nd Tier
1:21:16-1:40:39 - Signing a Professional Contract with Morecambe FC in League Two
1:40:39-1:47:06 - Jumping up to play Championship Football with Brentford FC
1:47:06-1:55:38 - Walking Away from Brentford to play for Inverness in Scotland
1:55:38-2:02:33 - A Random Text leading to an Opportunity with Ottawa Fury in Canada
2:02:33-2:07:38 - Flying Across the World to Play in the Brazilian Serie B
2:07:38-2:19:33 - Back home with Tranmere Rovers then back to the USL with Hartford Athletic
2:19:33-2:36:24 - Signing to play in Sweden with AFC Eskilstuna in the Superettan in Sweden
2:36:24-2:43:56 - Once again returning to the USLC with Detroit City FC
2:43:56-2:53:42 - Final Questions for Ryan and Outro
Sunday May 26, 2024
Rejected by D1 and D2 Schools | Connor Rutz’s Path to Pro
Sunday May 26, 2024
Sunday May 26, 2024
Big thanks to Rutzy for hopping on the podcast! Give him a follow here: https://www.instagram.com/connorrutz/?hl=en
Timestamps 0:00-14:37 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions
14:37-31:44 - Youth Soccer in Michigan
31:44-43:25 - Attempting to Play D1 or D2 College Soccer Despite Poor Grades
43:35-50:44 - Spending Two Years at a Junior College
50:44-1:00:08 - Grinding out Two Years at a D2 Program
1:00:08-1:21:23 - Attending Professional Trials and Combines
1:21:23-1:41:41 - Settling in with Detroit City
1:41:41-1:47:39 - Last Few Questions of the Pod
Sunday May 05, 2024
Training 50+ Hours a Week in Costa Rica | Daniel Espeleta's Path to Pro
Sunday May 05, 2024
Sunday May 05, 2024
Big thanks to Daniel for hopping on this week's podcast! You can check his Instagram out here: https://www.instagram.com/danielespeleta/?hl=en
Timestamps:
0:00-8:21 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions
8:21-36:45 - Bouncing around as a child in Georgia, Costa Rica, and Washington
36:45-43:39 - Moving Back to Costa Rica and Playing for C.S. Urugauy de Coronado
43:39-57:06 - Meniscus Injury and Deciding to Play Collegiately in the States
57:06-1:16:43 - Four Years of College Soccer at Creighton University
1:16:43-1:31:30 - Professional Trials at Sporting KC, Union Omaha, LA Force, and Albion SC
1:31:30-1:38:36 Moving Back to Costa Rica and Signing with Municipal Grecia
1:38:36-1:50:12 - Leaving to Go on Trial with Detroit City FC
1:50:12-1:56:43 - Final Questions and Outro
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Leaving Home at 16 to Sign with Chivas | Carlos Saldaña’s Path to Pro
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Sunday Apr 28, 2024
Timestamps
0:00-7:34 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions
7:34-30:05 - Family, Youth Footy, and Becoming a Goalkeeper
30:05-40:20 - Rebelling Against Parents, Skipping College, to Trial with Xolos and Chivas
40:20-47:24 - Signing first Professional Contract with Chivas
47:24-52:45 - Getting Rocks Thrown at Him in the Third Division of Mexico
52:45-1:08:33 - Invited to Train with the First Team of Chivas
1:08:33-1:17:07 - Loaned out again to Tepa then Training in Isolation Due to Covid
1:17:07-1:25:42 - Signing his Release from Chivas to return to play in the States
1:25:42-1:30:11 - Going on Trial with Sacramento Republic
1:30:11-1:45:01 - Stepping Away from Football and Considering Retirement
1:45:01-1:56:40 - Getting Offered a Professional Contract by Sacramento Republic
1:56:40-2:01:29 - Leaving Sacramento to Sign with Detroit City FC
2:01:29-2:15:27 - Final Questions and Outro
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Sunday Apr 14, 2024
Big thanks to Ben Morris for coming on the podcast!
Timestamps:
0:00-7:44 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions
7:44-20:28 - Growing up in Colchester and Ipswich Town Academy
20:28-27:27 - Earning a Scholarship with Ipswich Town’s Academy
27:27-39:09 - Signing First Professional Contract with Ipswich Town
39:09-50:16 - First Team Debut and Life at Ipswich
50:16-57:57 - ACL Tear…
57:57-1:02:00 - Tearing his ACL again…
1:02:00-1:10:44 - Going on Loan to Sweden
1:10:44-1:28:37 - Taking a Chance and Signing to Play for Detroit City FC in America
1:28:37-1:35:57 - Final Questions and Outro