Against All Odds

Door Dash to Scoring a Brace Against the Columbus Crew | Maxi Rodriguez's Path to Pro

Timestamps:

0:00-17:00 - Introduction and Rapid Fire Questions

17:00-28:00 - Growing up in San Antonio Texas idolizing Tim Duncan

28:00-33:45 - Joining an Academy and Dreaming out Playing Pro Footy

33:45-54:50 - Playing Collegiate Soccer at Charlotte 49ers

54:50-1:04:32 - Signing First Pro Contract with San Antonio FC

1:04:32-1:16:55 - Leaving San Antonio FC for Richmond Kickers

1:16:55-1:28:01 - A Year without a Club… (Contractless in 2020)

1:28:01-1:42:58 -Heading to Detroit City FC

1:42:58- - The Best Moment of Maxi’s Career

Making Your MLS Debut as a Teenager | Alex Villanueva's Path to Pro

Big thanks to Alex Villanueva for hopping on the podcast for this episode!

 

0:00-3:47 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions

3:47-12:44 - Early life in USA and Germany

12:44-41:54 - Playing in Mainz 05’s Academy System

41:54-52:48 - Transition to the US and Real Salt Lake Academy

52:48-58:50 - Sounders FC Academy and called into a USYNT camp

58:50-1:03:54 - Professional Debut with Tacoma Defiance

1:03:54-1:14:24 - MLS Debut at 19

1:14:24-1:20:35 - Orange County SC and Detroit City FC

1:20:35-1:31:36 - Highest and Lowest Moments as a Pro

"At 18 I Thought My Professional Career was over..." | Steve Carroll's Path to Pro

Big thanks to Steve Carroll for hopping on the pod!

Follow Steve HERE: https://www.instagram.com/stevo_c28/?hl=en

Timestamps:

0:00-0:39 - Intro

0:39-9:23 - Kinda Rapid Fire Questions

9:23-29:46 - Youth Football in Cork, Ireland

29:46-55:21 - College Soccer in Tennessee and Michigan

55:21-1:20:25 - NPSL to NPSL Founders Cup to NISA to USLC with Detroit City

1:20:25- Final Questions

Playing Professionally on 3 Different Continents | Elvis Amoh’s Path to Pro Football

Thanks so much to Elvis Amoh for hopping on the Podcast! Reach out and follow Elvis here: https://www.instagram.com/elvisamoh_takyi23/

 

Timestamps:

0:00-7:55 - Early Life in Italy and Ghana

7:55-14:47 - Joining First Academy Team

14:47-17:47 - Getting Cut from High School Team

17:47-25:13 - Balancing University with Pro Football

25:13-38:33 - Signing with Asante Kotoko in the Ghanaian Premier League

38:33-41:47 - First years in the Ghanian Premier League

41:47-47:02 - Trials with DC United and US teams

47:02-50:14 - Dealing with Rejection from Trials Mentally

50:14-54:10 - Opportunities abroad in Cyprus and Czech Republic

54:10-57:51 - Differences in Style of Play between Czech Republic, USA, and Ghana

57:51-1:02:01 - Signing in the USA with Loudon United

1:02:01-1:06:12 - Moving to RGV after two years with Loudon

1:06:12-1:11:03 - Moving again to sign with Colorado Springs Switchbacks

1:11:03-1:15:09 - Signing with Hartford Athletic

1:15:09-1:16:10 - Best Moment of Elvis’ Career

1:16:10-1:18:09 - Worst Moment of Elvis’ Career

1:18:09-1:20:53 - What Advice Would You Give Your Younger Self?

Starting a Career from an Open Try-Out | Conor McGlynn’s Path to Pro

Matt Sheldon sits down with Hartford Athletic Teammate, Conor McGlynn to discuss his journey to the professional game all stemming from a paid open try-out.

Timestamps:

0:00-1:14 - Intro

1:14-6:01 - Family Life (Brother Currently Playing in MLS)

6:01-9:06 - The Importance of Extra Training at Youth and Pro Level

9:06-11:07 - Playing in a Youth Academy

11:07-12:48 - "You turn into a different player when you're unconfident"

12:48-16:26 - Getting Picked on in High School

16:26-20:05 - What Did Your Extra Training Look Like in High School?

20:05-22:05 - Getting Recruited to Play D1 Soccer at Sienna

22:05-30:05 - Losing Confidence while Playing in College

30:05-37:00 - College Soccer vs Straight to the Pro Game

37:00-42:17 - Red Bulls Combine, Hartford Open Try-Out, and Preseason

42:17-51:09 - Taking College Classes while in Preseason

51:09-52:00 - Signing First Professional Contract

52:00-55:20- Covid cancels season 24 hours before Professional Debut

55:20-58:27 - Training with Brother in NY during Pandemic

58:27-1:01:37 - Professional Debut and Playing Against Brother

1:01:37-1:03:04 - Favorite Goals Conor's Scored

1:03:04-1:06:59 - Returning to Hartford for next three seasons

1:06:59-1:09:09 - All-time Greatest Moment of Conor's Career?

1:09:09-1:09:58 - All-time Greatest Moment on the field?

1:09:58-1:12:50 - Worst Moment of Conor's Career?

1:12:50-1:16:02 - What Advice Would You Give Younger Conor?

1:16:02-1:18:25- Life After Football?

”I Didn’t Play Until My Senior Year” | Tulu’s Path to Pro Football

Timestamps:

0:00-1:54 - Introduction

1:54-4:25 - First Few Years (Born in Israel to living in Togo)

4:25-9:05 - Why Tulu Didn’t See His Mom for 10 Years

9:05-13:54 - Playing for an Organized Team for the First Time at 13

13:54-18:23 - “I Didn’t Play High School Soccer until My Senior Year”

18:23-22:37 - Working at Rite Aid and Training Individually

22:37-28:32 - Developing for Two Years at a Community College

28:32-32:23 - Transferring to a D3 School

32:23-37:36 - Dropping Out After One Semester to Play Professionally

37:36-43:55 - One Way Plane Ticket to the Czech Republic

43:55-47:27 - Living with 6 Guys in a 2 Bedroom Apartment Playing PDL

47:27-51:14 - North Carolina FC Preseason Invite and then Back to Sweden

51:14-53:24 - Special Guest Babou Calling In

53:24-55:15 - Did Tulu Make the Right Decision Passing on a USL Preseason invite for Sweden?

55:15-59:19 - Training in the Lower Leagues of Germany

59:19-1:10:45 - Signing First Professional Contract with Tulsa

1:10:45-1:12:29 - “I was sh*tting my f*cking pants on my pro debut”

1:12:29-1:16:09 - Tulu’s Mental State After Three Years of Bouncing Around

1:16:90-1:20:55 - Signing with Hartford Athletic

1:20:55-1:23:04 - Finding Success with Hartford and First Pro Goal

1:23:04-1:28:11 - How Tulu Helped Matt Sign at Hartford

1:28:11-1:34:13 - One Thing Tulu Wants to Say to Everyone Listening about the Mental Side of the Game

1:34:13-1:36:54 What were the Absolute Best and Worst Moments of Your Career?

1:36:54-1:41:08 - What Advice Would Tulu Give to His Younger Self?

Why It’s Been so Hard to Get a Contract this Offseason

In this episode of the Against All Odds Podcast, Matt and Mimi sit down to give a full update on their situation with Mimi's pregnancy, Matt's search for a team, their plan for after the baby comes, and what is stressing them out. 

 

Timestamps

0:00-1:03 - Why Haven’t I Been Uploading Podcasts

1:03-3:56 - How Mimi Feels at 39 Weeks Pregnant

3:56-5:44 - My Struggle to Find a Contract For Next Season

5:44-7:28 - Will Mimi Miss the Excitement of Moving Every Year?

7:28-11:04 - Misconceptions I Had of Signing a Contract

11:04-12:06 - Matt Struggling to Pick Up All Mimi’s Work Right Now

12:06-14:09 - What we are most excited about for the baby

14:09-15:44 - The most nervous I’ve ever been for a trial

15:44-17:03 - Why we want our baby to come on Friday the 13th

17:03-17:48 - What age are we most excited about for our daughter?

17:48-19:29 - Will our daughter become a footballer?

19:29-22:32 - Our LAST child-free date night

22:32-27:38 - The main thing that’s stressing Matt out…

27:38-30:23 - Is Mimi nervous about the pain of childbirth?

30:23-32:22 - Baby interrupting Matt’s sleep schedule during Preseason?

32:22-34:36 - When would be the best time to have a child as a footballer? 

34:36-36:05 - Mimi or Matt? Who wanted a kid first and why?

36:05-39:06 - Overthinking vs Underthinking

39:06-40:36 - Why most people are age don’t have kids nowadays

40:36-41:28 - Envisioning our future

41:28-44:28 - “I didn’t expect my career to go as well as it is…”

44:28-45:24 - Outro

Non-League to Champions League Qualifier in 6 Months! | Chatting with Robbie Crawford

Timestamps:

0:00-2:28 - Robbie’s Roots

2:28-7:45 - Entry into Rangers FC

7:45-10:19 - Weekly Schedule as a Kid

10:19-12:20 - Process of Signing First Pro Contract

12:20-15:51 - Extra Individual Training Outside Team Training?

15:51-17:26 - First Time Training with Rangers FC’s First Team

17:26-19:38 - Best Player Robbie’s Played With?

19:38-22:06 - Debut with Rangers FC

22:06-26:40 - How to Calm Nerves Before Big Games

26:40-27:48 - Did You Ever Have an “I Made It” Moment?

27:48-30:42 - How Robbie Handled a 5 Year Contract and the Money That Came With It

30:42-31:51 - Favorite Goal Robbie’s Every Scored?

32:33-36:38 - Typical Day in the Life at Rangers FC?

36:38-39:23 - Robbie’s Loan Spells

39:23-44:47 - Dealing with Negative Criticism as a Pro

44:47-45:58 - Has Robbie’s Versatility Helped or Hurt His Career More?

45:58-48:50 - Robbie’s Departure from Rangers FC

48:50-50:39 - Free Agency, Trials in England, Signing with 2nd Tier Scottish Club

50:39-50:55 - Robbie’s Drop Down to Non-League Football

50:55-53:34 - Heading Abroad to Play in Iceland

53:54-55:47 - Non-League to Champions League Qualifier in 6 Months

55:47-57:26 - Differences Between Rangers FC and FH in Iceland

57:26-58:26 - Declining a Two Year Contract at FH to Explore Other Opportunities

58:26-1:02:35 - Robbie’s Move to IFK in Finland

1:02:25-1:05:21 - Life Playing Footy in Finland

1:05:21-1:09:52 - Declining ANOTHER Contract this time at IFK in Finland

1:09:52-1:12:17 - Signing with the Charleston Battery

1:12:17-1:13:59 - Training with Hibernian FC in Offseason Before 2nd year with Battery

1:13:59-1:15:24 - The Most Stressful Offseason and Signing with Monterey Bay FC 

1:18:10-1:21:41 - Engagement, Wife’s Pregnancy, and Marriage ALL While in Season

1:21:41-1:22:47 - Robbie’s Return to Charleston Battery

1:22:47-1:25:40 - Mindset Shift with a Kid on the Way?

1:25:40-1:29:38 - Robbie’s One Piece of Advice for Everyone Watching at Home

1:29:38-1:30:21 - Outro 

What Do You Wish You Did More of as a Teenage Footballer? | A Chat with Joe Schmidt and Mauro Cichero

In today's episode, Matt sits down with Charleston Battery teammates, Joe Schmidt and Mauro Cichero to talk about their careers and thoughts on a variety of topics! 

 

Timestamps:

0:00-5:01 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions

5:01-7:06 - Joe’s Current Injured Ankle Situation

7:06-10:39 - Is College Soccer a Good Route?

10:39-12:05 - How Joe Was Recruited by Indiana University

12:05-14:23 - How Mauro Was Recruited by SMU

14:23-15:31 - How Joe Signed his First Pro Contract

15:31-17:19 - How Mauro Signed his First Pro Contract

17:19-20:00 - Misconceptions of Playing Pro Football

20:00-21:30 - Girlfriends and Professional Careers?

21:30-24:48 - What is the Most Stressful Aspect of Being a USL Player?

24:48-26:17 - Best thing about Being a USL Player?

26:17-29:06 - Biggest Lesson Learned as a Pro Footballer

29:06-33:24 - Mauro’s Experience Playing in Spain

33:24-35:17 - Aging in Professional Football, Our Experience

35:17-39:45 - Offseason Plans

39:45-40:42 - How I Accidentally Stole Mauro’s Number

40:42-41:43 - Mauro’s Prank on Joe on Day 1 of Preseason

41:43-47:20 - Would You Still Play in the USL if you Won $10,000,000

47:20-50:32 - What Small Change Have you Made, That’s Had a Big Impact?

50:32-59:21 - What Do you Wish you Did More of as a Teenager?

59:21-1:00:56 - Weightlifting and College Soccer

1:00:56-1:06:01 - Best Player You’ve Played With/Against?

1:06:01-1:11:35 - Moment Where You Felt Like You “Made It?”

1:11:35-1:15:40 - Overthinking and Playing Your Best Footy

1:15:40-1:18:45 - Should You Focus on One Position or Become Versatile?

1:18:45-1:23:59 - What Do You Want to Do After Playing?

1:23:59-1:26:50 - Are You Looking Forward to Stability After Your Career?

1:26:50-1:32:19 - One Piece of Advice for People Watching this Video

Signing a Professional Contract with Liverpool FC | Matteo Ritaccio’s Path to Pro

In the first episode of 2022, Matt sits down with Charleston Battery teammate, Matteo Ritaccio to discuss the young footballer's path to signing his first professional contract with Liverpool FC and his subsequent loan out to Charleston. Sit down, relax, and listen to Matteo's story!