Against All Odds

"The CEO of the Club Told Me to Stop Playing Football..." | Darren Smith's Story

Big thank you to Darren Smith for coming on the podcast this week! You guys can follow him here: https://www.instagram.com/darrensmithofficial?igsh=MXJ4b3M4MGYwMjdpcQ==

 

Timestamps:

0:00-11:29 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions

11:29-31:35 - Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa and developing a love for track and soccer

31:25-54:28 - The Controversy behind Darren Signing his first professional contract

54:28-1:11:33 - Struggling to get minutes in the PSL and trying to find a coach that believes in him

1:11:33-1:18:34 - Being told to pursue a different career by the CEO of a professional football club

1:18:33-1:58:55 - Finding success on and off the field in Finland

1:58:55-2:13:38 - Playing in Morocco and then heading back to Finland

2:13:28-2:31:00 - Settling into Detroit and the USL as well as Three Final Questions

Cold Tubbing with David Beckham, Marking David Silva, and Winning an MLS Cup | The Jay Chapman Story

Big thanks to J-Boogie for coming on the podcast! You can follow him on instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/jaychaps/?hl=en

 

Timestamps: 0:00-8:19 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions

8:19-19:28 - Growing up in outside of Toronto

19:28-35:18 - Canada Youth National Team and Early Pro Trials

35:18-47:31 - Playing Collegiate Soccer at Michigan State

47:31-57:52 - Signing an MLS Homegrown Contract with Toronto FC

57:52-1:09:54 - Playing for Inter Miami FC

1:09:54-1:19:40 - Jay's experience with the Canadian National Team

1:19:40-1:33:48 - Signing to play overseas for Dundee FC

1:33:48-1:43:21 - Going 6 months as a Free Agent before Signing with Colorado Switchbacks

1:43:21-1:51:48 - Signing with Hartford Athletic and loaned out to Charleston Battery

1:51:48-2:03:47 - First impressions with Detroit City FC

2:03:47-2:10:16 - Final Questions and Outro

From Delivery Driver to Professional Footballer | Jeciel Cedeño's Path to Pro

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

Training with Bastian Schweinsteiger at Chicago Fire | Victor Bezerra's Path to Pro

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

Climbing Up Every Level of the US Pyramid | Michael Bryant's Path to Pro

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

The Extreme Highs and Lows of Professional Football | Brett Levis' Path to Pro

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

Competing with Marcus Rashford and McTominay at Manchester United | James Murphy's Path to Pro

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

Non-League to the Championship in Three Years | Ryan Williams’ Path to Pro Football

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

Rejected by D1 and D2 Schools | Connor Rutz’s Path to Pro

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

Training 50+ Hours a Week in Costa Rica | Daniel Espeleta's Path to Pro

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