1. Executive Overview: Core Theses & Key Revelations
The contemporary landscape of American soccer stands at a pivotal junction, defined by an unprecedented influx of technical talent, structural shifts in player development, and evolving career trajectories across international borders. In an authoritative broadcast of the U.S. Soccer Podcast, hosted by FIFA Women's World Cup champion Megan Klingenberg, 23-year-old attacking midfielder Paxten Aaronson offered an uncommonly candid, analytical window into the mechanics of modern elite player development. Having navigated the journey from the Philadelphia Union's pioneering YSC Academy to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, Eredivisie loans at Vitesse Arnhem and FC Utrecht, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and now a high-profile return to Major League Soccer with the Colorado Rapids, Aaronson embodies the complex, multi-stage paradigm of the modern North American footballer.
This masterclass feature essay synthesizes the foundational themes, structural insights, and strategic implications surfaced during the conversation. Far from a standard athlete Q&A, the discussion illuminated five central analytical theses that reframe our understanding of talent cultivation, career management, and national team building in the build-up to the 2026 and 2030 FIFA World Cup cycles:
- The Strategic Repatriation Paradigm: Aaronson's move to the Colorado Rapids represents a deliberate shift away from the passive accumulation of rotational minutes in European squad depth charts toward assuming primary playmaker status ("being the man") in a high-usage domestic environment. This decision highlights a growing recognition among elite young players that tactical agency and high-pressure burden are essential components of ultimate athletic maturity.
- The Institutional Moat of Integrated Academies: The Philadelphia Union’s YSC Academy model—combining rigorous private academics, mandatory double-session daily training, and immersive residency houses—has established an unmatched domestic pipeline. It proves that environmental density and holistic lifestyle management produce higher player velocity than traditional club models.
- The Multi-Cycle Continuity Dividend: Klingenberg’s analysis of Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term commitment through 2030 underlines the decisive competitive advantage of managerial longevity. Extended timelines allow national team managers to move beyond temporary tournament fixes, embedding complex tactical frameworks, cross-line positional chemistry, and deep talent identification.
- The Irreplicable Knockout Crucible: While domestic leagues and age-group international tournaments provide necessary foundation blocks, true elite status is tested exclusively within the pressure-cooker of senior international single-elimination fixtures. Preparing players for this threshold requires high-stress club opportunities paired with intrinsic psychological stability.
- The Performance Calculus of Intrinsic Joy: Both Klingenberg and Aaronson articulate a high-performance framework wherein elite execution is not a byproduct of external pressure, but rather the natural outcome of intrinsic enjoyment, emotional equilibrium, and cognitive clarity under stress.
By dissecting these core revelations, this essay establishes a comprehensive analytical framework for evaluating the modern American player pipeline, the tactical demands of the central attacking midfielder, and the systemic evolution of U.S. soccer performance infrastructure.
2. Context & Background: The Landscape Leading to This Conversation
To fully appreciate the significance of Paxten Aaronson's reflections, one must evaluate the macroeconomic and tactical environment governing North American soccer in the present era. The sport in the United States has transitioned away from the era of fragmented youth clubs and collegiate drafting toward a highly globalized, capital-intensive ecosystem. Within this landscape, the Philadelphia Union home-grown pathway has emerged as the premier developmental benchmark, consistently exporting top-tier talent to European top-flight leagues and national team rosters.
Paxten Aaronson, born in 2003 in Medford, New Jersey, entered the Union Academy in 2016 at age 12. Following in the footsteps of his older brother Brenden Aaronson—now an established international playing in the English Premier League and EFL Championship—Paxten represented the secondary wave of Union academy products who benefited from a fully realized developmental infrastructure. Aaronson's youth trajectory reached an initial peak at the 2022 CONCACAF U-20 Championship, where he delivered a dominant individual performance, capturing both the Golden Boot as top scorer and the Golden Ball as the tournament's outstanding player while leading the United States to title victory.
That breakout performance catalyzed a marquee transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt in January 2023 for a multi-million-dollar fee. However, as is frequently the case for young central playmakers adapting to top-five European leagues, securing consistent starter minutes presented a formidable hurdle. Subsequent loan spells in the Dutch Eredivisie with Vitesse Arnhem and FC Utrecht provided vital competitive exposure, yet highlighted the recurring dilemma faced by modern talent: balancing the prestige of European squad membership against the developmental necessity of 3,000 annual competitive minutes in a central leadership role.
Concurrently, Major League Soccer has evolved structurally. The league is no longer merely a retirement destination for aging European stars nor strictly a selling league for teenage prospects. It has transformed into a highly competitive, fast-paced environment capable of offering young returning players substantial tactical responsibility, high physical intensity, and a visible platform for national team selection. The Colorado Rapids, operating under a comprehensive sporting rebuild led by head coach Chris Armas, identified Aaronson as the ideal central offensive hub to orchestrate their attacking transition scheme.
On the international front, the United States Men’s National Team (USMNT) has entered a transformational era marked by the appointment of elite international tactician Mauricio Pochettino. With the U.S. co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the long-term commitment of Pochettino through the 2030 cycle signals an intentional departure from short-term managerial turnarounds. For players like Aaronson, who represented the U.S. at the 2024 Paris Olympics and earned initial senior caps, establishing himself as an elite MLS number 10 is directly intertwined with his ambition to secure a permanent place in Pochettino's World Cup roster.
Host Megan Klingenberg brings an indispensable analytical perspective to this narrative. As a 2015 World Cup winner, 2016 Olympian, and long-time anchor of the Portland Thorns, Klingenberg possesses firsthand knowledge of what separates talented prospects from elite champions capable of deciding knockout fixtures on the world stage. Her dialogue with Aaronson bridges generational and gender divides in the sport, uncovering universal truths regarding athlete psychology, institutional support systems, and the relentless pursuit of competitive excellence.
3. Deep-Dive Thematic Breakdown
3.1 The Philly Union Blueprint: Institutionalizing Elite Player Development
The Philadelphia Union Academy, operating in tandem with YSC Academy in Wayne, Pennsylvania, has rewritten the manual for youth player development in North American sport. Traditional American youth soccer historically suffered from structural fragmentation: players trained two to three times per week with local club teams, traveled vast distances for weekend showcases, and pursued high school athletics that prioritized short-term physical results over long-term technical mastery. The Union blueprint replaced this model with an integrated, European-style residency and academic academy framework.
Central to this blueprint is the deliberate elevation of training density and lifestyle alignment. As Aaronson noted, academy players receive two field training sessions per day integrated seamlessly around their academic coursework at YSC Academy. This double-session structure doubles the cumulative touches, tactical whiteboard hours, and physical conditioning reps relative to standard youth development programs. By the time a player reaches age 17, their cumulative training volume mirrors that of elite academy products in Ajax, Benfica, or Borussia Dortmund.
Furthermore, the institutional framework incorporates a dedicated residency house model. Managing up to a dozen out-of-region teenage prospects under the supervision of a dedicated house guardian ("house mom"), the Union residency fosters peer-to-peer accountability, shared discipline, and independence at an exceptionally young age. Moving into this environment at age 15 or 16 forces young athletes to master domestic self-sufficiency, nutritional discipline, and emotional maturity long before signing their first professional contracts.
The sporting returns of this model are demonstrably evident in the caliber of talent produced. Beyond Brenden and Paxten Aaronson, the Union pipeline has produced international defender Mark McKenzie (Toulouse/Genk), central defender Auston Trusty (Celtic/Sheffield United), standout MLS goalkeeper Matt Freese (NYCFC), and high-profile prodigy Cavan Sullivan (contracted to Manchester City). The academy functions not merely as a local training center, but as a specialized high-performance talent incubator.
| Developmental Metric |
Philadelphia Union YSC Model |
Standard MLS Next / Regional Club |
Traditional US High School / Club |
| Daily Training Density |
2 Sessions / Day (Integrated Academic Schedule) |
1 Session / Day (After-School Schedule) |
3-4 Sessions / Week (Evening Club Schedule) |
| Academic Alignment |
Bespoke Private Curriculum (YSC Academy) |
Standard Public/Private High School |
Un-aligned Standard Schooling |
| Lifestyle Infrastructure |
Supervised Residency House & Nutrition |
Commuter / Family Transportation |
Pure Commuter Model |
| First-Team Pathway Velocity |
Direct MLS NEXT Pro to Homegrown Roster |
Variable First-Team Access |
College Soccer / Draft Dependency |
| Global Transfer Readiness |
High (Early European Technical Exposure) |
Moderate |
Low (Delayed Professional Onboarding) |
3.2 The Psychology of the Centered #10: Rebuilding via the Colorado Rapids
The modern attacking midfielder (#10) occupies the most demanding tactical and mental territory on the pitch. Positioned within the central half-spaces between the opponent's midfield and defensive lines, the number 10 must process complex spatial information under intense physical pressure. They are tasked with breaking low blocks, delivering final-third key passes, executing progressive carries, and pressing high during defensive transitions. However, technical proficiency alone is insufficient; the position requires an aggressive, commanding psychological disposition.
Aaronson’s transfer to the Colorado Rapids highlights an intentional career recalibration. In Western Europe, young foreign midfielders are frequently cast as tactical subordinates—instructed to preserve possession, adhere strictly to system boundaries, and avoid high-risk maneuvers that might lead to central turnovers. Over time, this passive role can dilute a playmaker's creative courage. When the Rapids presented Aaronson with the opportunity to become the central pillar of their offensive rebuild, it aligned directly with his need to unlock his dormant leadership capacity.
In accepting the role of "the man," Aaronson explicitly sought out environmental pressure. In sports psychology, there is a fundamental distinction between evaluative anxiety (fear of failure under external judgment) and competitive agency (embracing high stakes as a vehicle for self-actualization). Aaronson's realization—that the final frontier in his technical evolution was embracing the burden of match-deciding responsibility—reflects an advanced psychological posture. Taking penalty kicks, demanding the ball in congested central zones down a goal, and driving team tempo require a personality that actively craves decision-making authority.
Tactically, Chris Armas’s setup at Colorado provides the ideal canvas for this evolution. Operating within a high-tempo 4-2-3-1 formation, the Rapids rely on Aaronson to link defensive ball recoveries directly to vertical counter-attacks. His recent experiences in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup—notably navigating high-stress single-elimination fixtures against St. Louis CITY SC—have provided immediate practical tests of this tactical maturity. Following previous league encounters where early red cards forced Colorado into extended low-block defensive spells, Aaronson demonstrated tactical adaptability, balancing defensive discipline with central ball preservation under adverse numerical conditions.
3.3 European Overseas Crucible vs. Club-Country Friction
The transition from domestic youth academy darling to European professional represents a jarring culture shock that extends far beyond tactical boardrooms. Aaronson’s time at Eintracht Frankfurt and subsequent loan stints in the Netherlands exposed him to the unvarnished realities of global professional football: language barriers, intense local media scrutiny, hyper-competitive squad depth, and basic lifestyle adjustments.
A poignant detail from Aaronson’s reflection on his experience at the 2024 Paris Olympics underscores the unglamorous reality of young pro life abroad. Residing in a dense student-style Olympic village complex in central Paris during summer heatwaves without air conditioning, Aaronson resorted to purchasing four floor fans for his apartment to achieve basic physiological rest. This practical problem-solving mirrors the broader off-pitch self-reliance required of young expatriate athletes who must adapt rapidly to unfamiliar environmental conditions without structural hand-holding.
Furthermore, the conversation illuminated the systemic friction between club commitments and youth international duty. Aaronson recounted the delicate dilemma surrounding his eligibility for the FIFA U-20 World Cup versus remaining with Eintracht Frankfurt for the DFB-Pokal (German Cup) Final. Under FIFA regulations, clubs are not mandatory signatories for youth international release outside official FIFA windows, creating intense tug-of-war scenarios where players are caught between national federation expectations and employer demands.
In navigating these structural tensions, Aaronson noted that the most valuable lessons acquired abroad are never taught in a classroom: multicultural communication, emotional flexibility, and navigating locker rooms composed of diverse nationalities, languages, and career motivations. Managing these interpersonal dynamics fosters an adaptive resilience that directly elevates on-pitch performance.
To sustain elite performance amidst these stressors, high-level athletes must master the management of off-pitch recovery. Aaronson drew a vital distinction between passive downtime and active free time. While free time permits unconstrained leisure, downtime during dense fixture schedules demands energy preservation. Aaronson’s recovery regimen combines targeted physiological interventions (Normatec pneumatic compression boots, red-light therapy, contrast baths) with low-impact cognitive offloading, such as structured gaming sessions with teammates like Jack McGlynn and low-intensity hikes in the Colorado mountains.
3.4 Mauricio Pochettino & The 2030 Horizon: Structural National Team Continuity
A major focal point of Megan Klingenberg’s commentary centered on the structural governance of the USMNT following the appointment of Mauricio Pochettino, committed through the 2030 World Cup cycle. In global football, national team coaching appointments are notoriously volatile, frequently governed by short-term two-year contracts tied strictly to immediate tournament outcomes. This short-termism often breeds pragmatic, low-risk tactical systems and volatile roster turnover.
Klingenberg articulated how securing a world-class manager for a multi-year cycle fundamentally alters team development. A six-year horizon provides the technical staff with the requisite temporal runway to accomplish four critical structural objectives:
- Inter-Line Chemistry Alignment: Building intricate positional understandings between defensive, midfield, and attacking units requires hundreds of shared tactical hours that cannot be condensed into emergency pre-tournament camps.
- Tactical Systemization: Establishing sophisticated pressing triggers, positional rotation patterns, and build-up mechanics that match the complexity of top-tier European club teams.
- Broad-Spectrum Talent Identification: Moving beyond established veterans to systematically integrate multiple waves of youth talent (such as the 2003-2006 birthplace cohorts) without the immediate panic of job insecurity.
- Psychological Stability: Eliminating squad anxiety regarding shifting managerial philosophies, allowing players to focus on long-term role mastery rather than constant self-preservation.
For young playmakers like Paxten Aaronson, this structural continuity provides a clear, transparent pathway. Rather than adapting to shifting tactical paradigms every eighteen months, players can benchmark their development against a stable tactical philosophy, knowing that long-term domestic dominance will be evaluated fairly by a national coaching staff equipped with a multi-year vision.
3.5 The Knockout Crucible: Defining the Prospect-to-Performer Threshold
One of the most profound analytical queries posed by Klingenberg during the broadcast addressed the exact threshold at which a promising young talent transitions into a trusted international knockout performer: At what point does a prospect earn total trust for a World Cup knockout match?
Klingenberg’s conclusion— echoed forcefully by Aaronson—is that no simulated environment, domestic league fixture, or age-group tournament can replicate the psychological crucible of a senior World Cup knockout match. In single-elimination international football, the cognitive load is magnified exponentially. Millions of viewers, absolute media saturation, the cumulative weight of national expectation, and zero margin for error create an environment where technical flaws and mental hesitations are instantly exposed.
Domestic competitions like the NWSL Playoffs, MLS Cup, or domestic cup finals serve as vital stepping stones, offering players initial exposure to high-consequence environments. However, thriving in the ultimate international crucible requires an internal psychological transformation. A player must transcend the fear of making a match-losing mistake and operate from a posture of absolute competitive composure.
This reality underpins the performance philosophy embraced by both interview participants: "Joy equals success." Far from a simplistic motivational cliché, this principle represents a sophisticated neurological strategy. When an athlete approaches high-stakes fixtures with genuine enthusiasm and enjoyment rather than defensive anxiety, executive function improves, spatial awareness expands, and fine motor skills remain fluid under stress. Unlocking this state of intrinsic enjoyment amidst maximum external pressure is the defining hallmark of the world-class performer.
4. Speaker Perspectives & Analytical Contrast
The dialogue between Megan Klingenberg and Paxten Aaronson provided a fascinating contrast in perspective, combining the seasoned wisdom of a decorated World Cup veteran with the active ambition of an ascending international playmaker. Dissecting their respective viewpoints highlights both shared athletic paradigms and distinct generational experiences.
Megan Klingenberg operates from the analytical vantage point of a retired champion who has scaled the absolute pinnacle of international football. Her line of questioning reflects a systemic, macro-level focus. When discussing managerial continuity, she evaluates organizational dynamics, long-term talent pipelines, and institutional advantages. When exploring player development, she focuses on mental resilience, environmental pressure, and the unyielding demands of World Cup knockout football. Her style is incisive, authoritative, and intentionally challenging, pushing her guest to look beyond basic athletic routines into the deeper psychological motivations governing elite performance.
Paxten Aaronson presents the perspective of an active participant navigating the modern, hyper-globalized player ecosystem. His responses are grounded in pragmatic, day-to-day athletic realities: managing daily double-session training, adjusting to foreign locker rooms, negotiating release tensions between clubs and federations, and coping with the physical toll of dense fixture schedules. Aaronson speaks with an unpretentious, highly focused clarity, stripped of performance artifice. He acknowledges his developmental areas openly—specifically identifying the need to internalize high-pressure leadership as the final missing element in his game.
A compelling sub-narrative surfaced during the discussion of family dynamics and sibling rivalries. Both host and guest grew up in highly competitive households with younger brothers who played soccer at an elite level (Megan with her brother Drew; Paxten with his brother Brenden). Their shared memories of fierce backyard battles, parental intervention, and emotional outbursts underscore the critical role that domestic competition plays in shaping elite athletic instincts. Aaronson’s humorous anecdote regarding defeating his brother Brenden in a high-stakes golf round on Brenden's wedding morning revealed the persistent, lighthearted competitive edge that drives elite athletic families.
Despite their different career stages, Klingenberg and Aaronson exhibited complete alignment on the primary driver of athletic longevity: intrinsic joy. Both firmly rejected the notion that elite performance can be sustained exclusively through external pressure, fear of failure, or commercial incentives. They agreed that sustainable, top-tier execution is fundamentally rooted in a deep love for the craft, camaraderie with teammates, and the freedom to express oneself creatively on the pitch.
5. Strategic & Industry Implications
The insights generated from this podcast episode extend far beyond individual player biography, offering broad strategic implications for club executives, academy directors, national team selectors, and sports media analysts across the global football industry.
First, Aaronson's trajectory validates the emerging concept of Strategic Domestic Repatriation. For decades, the dominant narrative surrounding American player development dictated that any return from Europe to Major League Soccer represented a career failure or regression. Today, that dogma is obsolete. As European squad sizes expand and managerial tenure shrinks, young playmakers often find themselves stranded in loan carousels or limited to late-substitute appearances. Returning to MLS to anchor an offense—executing 3,000 high-stress minutes per season as a designated starter—provides a superior platform for technical growth and national team visibility than sitting on a European bench. MLS clubs that position themselves as strategic destinations for high-upside returning talent can acquire elite domestic playmakers while driving immediate competitive results.
Second, the success of the Philadelphia Union YSC model provides an unequivocal financial and sporting case for Full-Scale Youth Academy Integration. MLS franchises that rely on traditional commuter club models or basic after-school training will inevitably lag behind organizations that invest in bespoke private schooling, high-density double-session training, and residential care. The Union's ability to generate tens of millions of dollars in transfer revenue (Brenden Aaronson, Paxten Aaronson, Mark McKenzie) while maintaining a competitive first-team roster proves that integrated academy infrastructure functions as a powerful economic moat.
Third, from a national team roster construction perspective, Mauricio Pochettino’s long-term appointment forces a re-evaluation of how the USMNT player pool should be managed. With a confirmed horizon through 2030, the USMNT technical staff can implement rigorous quantitative tracking metrics across both domestic and European leagues. Rather than favoring players based solely on league prestige, selection criteria can prioritize tactical fit, current usage rates, physical pressing outputs, and central decision-making authority.
6. Looking Ahead: Unresolved Questions & Next Milestones
As Paxten Aaronson enters the next critical phase of his career with the Colorado Rapids and the USMNT, several key performance metrics and structural milestones will dictate his ultimate trajectory towards the 2026 and 2030 World Cup cycles.
From an individual analytics perspective, Aaronson's progress as a premier MLS number 10 will be evaluated through specific quantitative indicators over the coming seasons:
- Expected Assists (xA) & Key Passes per 90: Establishing himself in the top 5th percentile of MLS playmakers for expected assist generation and open-play chance creation.
- Progressive Carries & Central Turnovers: Maintaining high progressive carry volume through half-spaces while reducing central possession losses under high-density defensive pressing.
- Goal Contribution Density: Converting attacking presence into double-digit cumulative goals and assists across all competitions per season.
- Defensive Transition Pressing Outputs: Sustaining high-intensity defensive pressures and ball recoveries in the opposition third, fulfilling the physical requirements of modern pressing schemes.
On the team level, Aaronson's immediate target revolves around delivering tangible silverware for the Colorado Rapids. A successful run in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup and deep MLS Cup Playoff pushes will serve as the empirical proof of his ability to lead a club through single-elimination knockout pressure.
Ultimately, the broader question remains: Can the North American soccer system systematically replicate the Philly Union blueprint across all major metropolitan regions? If MLS organizations commit the necessary capital to build fully integrated academic and residential academies, the United States will consistently generate playmakers of Aaronson’s technical caliber. As the countdown to 2026 accelerates, Paxten Aaronson stands as a prime test case for whether domestic tactical leadership can forge an international star ready to shine in the ultimate World Cup knockout crucible.
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At the end of the day I was living with 11 of my teammates and there was one house mom So I give the house mom full credit for that. The biggest I think culture shock for me Just not having that AC to just blast at night. I ended up buying like four fans for my apartment So I could just have some sort of coolness It was like a huge college campus, but in the center of Paris So it was cool seeing how everybody operated But yeah, the people who I would definitely would have wanted to meet like when I saw the opening ceremony And saw everybody on the boat with like LeBron and all the all the basketball stars I was like, oh, that's a little bit of a stab. I wish I could be there What's the biggest thing that you have learned that you could never learn in the classroom? That's a great question the rap is proposed the idea of Yeah me coming in and yeah kind of a transition mode for the club, but a little bit of a rebuild And kind of taking on that role of the pressure and trying to be the man It was something that just instantly connected with me because I knew getting the best version of myself That's kind of like the last thing in my game that I had to unlock that personality of Give me that pressure. I'm I'm willing and able to perform in the biggest moments What does it feel like to walk out on the pitch in front of a hundred thousand people? Yeah, it's a real feeling to be honest. It just feels like out-of-body experience What advice would you give the young players trying to make it big time like you? Hello, and welcome to the US soccer podcast. I'm your host Megan Klingenberg at today I'm talking with Paxton Aaronson. Thanks for being here Paxton Thank you for having me and appreciate it Okay on the show I love to give my guests an intro. They would be hyped to get are you ready? Yeah Okay, here we go at just 23 years old You would think that there wouldn't be too much to hype up, but you would be wrong when most kids are just getting their driver's license You signed your first professional contract with the Philadelphia Union While leading the USA to the 2022 U20 conca-caf championship trophy you earned the golden boot and the golden ball You competed in the 2024 parasol Olympics and now you're a key piece of the Colorado rapid success and a promising young talent for the US Men's national team welcome to the show Paxton. How are you doing? I'm doing very good. That was a great that was a great hype up in So yeah, I appreciate that you're good. Yeah. Oh, thank you. Yes. I mean, I'm just starting. So let's keep that rolling I do think we got to start with family because you know, this is the very beginning This is you know a lot of times why we start playing and I have a little brother named Drew He also played and sometimes I think about how he has never known life without me I'm sure he loves that I frame it like that But your brother Brendan has known you for your entire life. What do you think he would say about you? How would he describe you? Yeah, he would describe me as I would say the annoying little brother, but in a good way I think I always nagged him pushed him in the right direction Maybe there are some days where he didn't really feel like training We're just going out to kick it around and I was always there like come on come on. Let's go do it So it was definitely a great relationship to have and then on the flip side for me having an older brother that also Love doing the same stuff that I did it just made it so much easier and yeah our childhood memories were just full of competing But in a good way Okay, so I mentioned that my brother Drew also played soccer and he was actually like much more talented than me growing up And I think it's because he was always playing with me and my friends and we're five years older But I do remember that we had some seriously like seriously big blowouts in the backyard one in particular was bad I think he like spit on me and I punched him Does that sound familiar or were you and Brandon much more civilized? I mean we're civilized for the most part, but I think every Yeah, sibling relationship has outbursts of a little bit of madness There's definitely a few occasions where yeah, we ended up fighting each other and punching each other and I feel like Yeah, it's not a true competitiveness of siblings if it doesn't end like that every once in a while and my dad would always Break it up, but I feel like deep down. He loved and enjoyed it just because he knew how much it meant to the both of us Was Brandon a player that you looked up to growing up or was there other players that inspired you to want to go pro? I mean Obviously having him firsthand kind of doing the same pathway that I did in terms of going through the photo If you can academy and then seeing him turn out into the first team and then make his move to Europe But honestly, I don't think I really Looked up into him into that sense because I didn't not that I didn't think but I just didn't know At the time how capable he was of doing that just because it was a new thing Becoming a homegrown it wasn't as common as it as it is now his kind of generation was the first to go Every step of the way through the academy and then onto the first team. So then once he did it. I was like Wow like why can't I do the same thing like I can also follow in his footsteps And then watching him in the professional level is really when he became that big inspiration seeing him at the highest level But yeah at a young age. I always really enjoyed multiple players Steven Gerard, Lionel Messi, Mohdrich those were like my three go-to players Those are some pretty good picks. Yeah I would definitely say so I know that you mentioned you were watching him play at the highest level and the highest level is walk up And we got to see your brother play on home soil this past summer I'm sure that was incredibly emotional and and your family was so proud What were you feeling watching him play in this Passamers World Cup? Yeah, like you said it was a moment for the whole family of yeah just so much Effort that he put in but my entire family my mother father even grandparents driving him And it was just always in the back of his mind and everybody's mind to be able to play for your country and a home world cup So then seeing him to be able to live him his dreams in that. It was just a super proud moment Yeah, that's that's really the only way to put it just I'm sure my mom cried tears of joy But yeah, just just super proud and it was a surreal moment seeing him do that because I know how hard he's worked for that and he deserves every bit of it So last thing about you your brother and your family because I want to dig into you and your career But I'm sure you got to attend his wedding I want to ask how that how that went and if you got any good Good stories to share Yeah, no the wedding went amazingly I know it's perfectly planned because as you can imagine Professional footballer soccer players schedules are just all over the place. So you really have no idea If it's going to be an off day, I think the wedding day had to already change two times and then it ended up getting sticky Because he had to leave The training camp for two days and then he had a friendly game the next day after the wedding So it was just total carnage, but luckily he was able to make it there in one piece Enjoy his wedding wasn't able to enjoy as much as maybe some other people because he had to report to training the next day But I definitely still enjoyed it It was it was a great great event just seeing you know how weddings are seeing so many family members that maybe you don't get to see friends Having everybody together sharing the the love of two people who have been together for such a long time I'm known his wife now Malena for such a long time. So seeing them Yeah kind of develop as a couple and then yeah, it was just a full circle moment and I'm very happy for the both of them But there was no Actually, yeah, there was a good story. We played golf in the morning him me him and all the groomsmen And it came down to the final hole it was me and my pairing and him and his pairing to win the day And I of course outshot him it came down to me and him just like back Just like back when we were younger came down to me and him and I ended up beating him on his wedding day So that was the highlight of the day for me beating him and golf on dude you beat him on his own wedding day You couldn't put him any slack. No, it was it was amazing to be honest I love that and you're right It is so special to get all of your favorite people all of your loved ones in one place That's that's definitely my favorite part of a wedding Yeah, 100% seeing all those people together just sharing it Yeah, everybody's in their element happy Yeah, the vibes are just really good in that energy Yeah, just fluctuates throughout everything All right, let's get back to you. Let's talk about your career and it started at a really young age You left home right before you turned 13 to join the Philly Union Academy and That was in 2016. How did it feel leaving home at such a young age? Yeah, it was obviously a little bit different Um, I was used to playing with my father Like he was my coach from such a young age and Yeah, then I had to go venture off into Will you go into the academy where it's always like the best of the best players You're not just like the star on your local town team. So then you have to venture off Um, so it was it was definitely a little bit of an adjustment at first, but I got lucky that The union in itself the coaching staff and then higher up through the ranks the school and just everybody in there was so good at managing Yeah, your kids at the time so good at managing kids and the onboarding process like you said I lived a decent bit away. So at first it was hard My parents had to make the drive every single day and then eventually when I was 15 or 16 I would stay in the Residency house like two to three times a week just to kind of break Break it up and help my parents not drive as much But yeah, I look back and it was great memories the the friendships that I made In the academy I still hold to this day at the end of the day. I was living with 11 of my teammates And there was one house mom. So I give the house mom full credit for that I don't know. I don't know how she did it at times. I hope she's getting paid really well Yeah, she's still doing it. So she must be Her husband also helped was was in and out but it was mainly her who was who was in every single day Driving cooking meal. So yeah, I can't thank her enough for that I can only imagine this dress. I was on her shoulders But like I said, they did a great job of managing it And then also having my family behind me to support me and that transition was great Now this happens a lot in Europe But you don't see this type of academy so much in the email MLS even now I think Philly arguably has one of the best homegrown programs in the MLS And the pipeline has produced guys who've gone on to play in world cups in champions leagues Think mark McKenzie also entrustee Matt freeze the air intons And even the young phenom cabin Sullivan Paxton you graduated from the system what makes Philly so good at developing talent Yeah, that's a great question. I think like you said they deserve to be held in that realm of top academies and the players and numbers speak for it with Who and what they've produced. I think the number one thing Why first they can attract good players because it's a great talent pool they have Yeah, East Coast. I think produces great players. So they have the likes of New Jersey Pennsylvania, New York In the close regions, but then they do a great job of recruiting for outside I think the biggest and best thing they offer Is one the school and the facility You're you're getting two trainings a day with your team. You're getting better Yeah, sometimes I was training 10 to 12 times a week. So You just know you're gonna get better in that circumstance But they also do a really good job the woman who runs the school is new hot and she's just she's like a mother figure to all So I think when she's doing these meetings with the families Yeah, you're not just gonna send your kid away to Something that you don't know about so the school and the people in The Philadelphia Academy do a very good job of yeah, just making it feel like a home because Every parent would would have a hard time sending their young child away to a place that's unfamiliar So they definitely have to obtain a lot of trust And I think everybody in the entire club does a really good job of just making it have that kind of home feeling Now all those kids I'm sure They're in that program because they want to be where you are now. They want to be a pro player They want to play in Europe. They want to play in world cups in in champions league in big tournaments What advice would you give the young players trying to make it big time like you Yeah, the number one thing I would give like in terms of advice would be For me it was always just you have to believe in your ability and believe in yourself It was never a straight path for me. It's still I'm sure throughout the rest of my career I'll never be a straight path But I always stuck to believing in myself and believing my ability through the ups and downs I was lucky enough to have a great support system and a great backbone But even if you don't have that I think you have to have the ability within yourself to Yeah Just believe that no matter what obstacles are thrown at you that you you will get to the to the end go on your end path That was the number one staple I had in my mind that no no matter what was kind of thrown at me I knew Whatever happens happens it happens for a reason and yeah, it's all a part of the process as to where I am now and yeah I'm grateful enough to be where I'm stood now But there was definitely obstacles along the way where I thought yeah, maybe it might not work out When I was my U-14s year I wasn't even making the the top team in the Philly Academy I was thinking of maybe going to a lower team like a pda or FC Delco Yeah, so even for me who was who is a top player and now a professional It was still very difficult for me. So I'm sure other kids deal with the same issues Now it's a very different life You're talking about going to school with all these guys living in a house with a house mom and going away from your family Most kids that were 16 years old are deciding where they want to go to college and taking their drivers license But you were signing a contract for Philly Union. Did it feel like you were missing out on prom and and other things like that Yeah, definitely at times Like I said, I was definitely lucky enough because the kids I lived with were coming from Florida Virginia like New York so they couldn't do the drive So I was lucky enough that I kind of got the best of both worlds So on the weekends I would go back home Friday night high school football games I would attend to all of them and I was just super fortunate enough to maintain my same high school buddies Throughout the entire process so on the weekends I would just yeah three days out of the week after my game I would be hanging out them there would be parties on the Saturday like any high school would and yeah I was lucky enough that I close kept in close tabs with all of them so I kind of kept my social life The same whereas yeah, I had to Kind of see some other kids that were moving at such a young age where they didn't even get to go to middle school And all they knew was their soccer friends and Yeah, it made me feel a little bit sad for them Just because they never got to experience the real high school middle school life So I was definitely lucky enough to have the best of both worlds And when I did see some Yeah, kids not getting to have that it definitely was a little bit sad And one of the cool things I think about the Philly Union Academy is how beholden they are to playing the kids that are coming up through that pipeline They play so many of the recruits of the Academy kids in their first team And that means you get to play with legends like Ali Bedoya who's a great friend to this podcast What was it like playing with you know legends like him? Yeah, do I has a great guy he is actually one of the first guys I texted when I beat Brendan on this wedding day So that's pretty funny, but uh No, I think that's also what makes The club so special is they have those guys and you see maybe some clubs who move on from players like that because they're old of age and Yeah, not saying it's true, but maybe you can't produce the same Metrics as he used to so I give full credit that they still place their trust in Ali because he is such a Important piece of the locker room, but there's multiple different guys that had that um and like you said instilling the trust in the young players Is something that not all teams across the world, but uh not all MLS teams do So I think it's just a brand of belief and they've made that kind of a staple and to be fair It's worked for them when you look at the outcome of yeah selling young players to Europe But also in the moment helping uh the team succeed and the younger players on the field helping the union win So it's it's a recipe for both ways of of good in terms for the player and for the better of the club Because you signed this contract when you were 16 years old that essentially means that you forego call it Like you didn't go to college. Yeah, and what's interesting is that my girlfriend Ingrid also didn't go to college She's had a really cool life so far and college just kind of didn't fit into her journey kind of like you She built her entire life through hands-on experience and and doing her own learning Which is also kind of like you so I wanted to know what's the biggest thing that you have learned that you could never learn in the classroom That's a great question The biggest thing That I've learned that they just don't teach in the classroom. It's not one specific thing But I just think the the multi-culture or lorism and how to interact with so many different people I think Obviously it helped going to Europe at such a young age, but I'm just naturally around order older people. So yeah You just have to mature that much quicker and I saw that when I would go hang out with my high school buddies Versus I would be 17 at a gala event for the union and I would be able to hold a proper conversation talk about whatever with Say the owner of the union where I I had doubt in my high school buddies To be able to do that But yeah, I think that was the number one thing Moving away to Europe at I was 18 at the time living alone in a whole different World with a hope new language being spoke. I had to mature quick. I had to pick up on things quick and You can try to teach all these things in in the classroom But until you're really thrown into it and you just have to adapt. It's never going to be the same So that's the number one thing that I'm super grateful and fortunate for because I saw myself at such a young age grow From all those experiences and just dealing with so many different cultures so many different backgrounds in a locker room people staff You just yeah, you learn how to treat and respect everybody for who they are I love that that's actually a really cool answer and I'm so glad I asked that question because I didn't know where it would go And this is a very very insightful and mature answer which you're proving so thank you. I appreciate it I'm so glad you did bring up Europe and and Frankfurt because I do want to talk about that I played a broad too and in Sweden for two years and I'll and we'll get there because it is weird Going abroad as an American for the first time you grow up you understand one culture you speak one language you Like there's a lot of different people in the United States a lot of diversity which I appreciate But then when you go broad, it's just like totally up ends your world and trying to figure out stuff as easy as Like the movies or the the supermarket here which we don't even think about it's crazy Yeah, 100% 100% So you did come up through the Philly Academy system and likewise you also came up through the youth national team And in 2022 you went to the ConquerCalf U20 championship where I mentioned you won the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot which is very impressive by the way Um, yes, of course International tournaments are so different from club season What was it like playing in your first big international competition? Yeah, it was amazing um, it also gave me a platform to to shine and like you said, it's kind of just different from the club Uh, aspect of it and also it's just always nice representing your country the group of guys especially that youth national team I grew up with most of those guys playing and then to be able to show that togetherness That you have and to be able to put that on a platform in terms of yeah We ended up qualifying for the Olympics and the U20 World Cup within that Little tournament and cycle so to be able to prove to everybody your country But also the rest of the world how together and how good of a team we were It was one of the most together groups I've ever been a part of and all of those players all of those yeah kids that I grew up with I still text and talk to to this day and then personally for me it was just a great Yeah, great tournament to kind of put myself out there after that tournament It's when I really started getting interest from a lot of European club. So it definitely helped um Me kind of skyrocket my trajectory as well as in the union I wasn't starting and playing every game. I think that was my rookie season So then once I had that tournament it really was like okay He's a he's a bit of the real deal and then the European club started to come in So I was very fortunate for that personally, but as well as with the success of the team There's a weird wrinkle though because you helped the team qualify you won the golden boot and the golden ball But then you weren't released to participate in that U20 World Cup. What was that like for you? Yeah, it was very difficult to be honest um because It was my first season at Frankfurt and we had reached the German Cup Final against Leibzig in Berlin And I was being told it's like one of the biggest Yeah, I mean it was like experiencing it was absolutely incredible But it was like this predicament of Yeah, at the end it wasn't really up to me, but I was either gonna go represent the U20s in the World Cup It was a team that I felt so close to and Mikey Vargas was the coach at the time and I Still adore him to this day. I think he's a top coach, but we had such a special connection So then yeah, not being released for it Of course, I understood Frankfurt side of it. It was also a big deal It's not like I was wasn't getting released to just play in some normal Bundesliga game So I understood both sides, but it definitely hurt not being able to Represent my country, but also fight alongside with the guys that yeah We we earned the right to play in the U20 World Cup And not be able to go out there and try to help them win it all But then on the flip side, I also got a really good experience with the German Cup Final It's still probably the game that I'll remember for the rest of my life I think it was like 100,000 people in the on the big stadium in Berlin where they used to host the Olympic games So a lot of history there and it was just yeah Fans through the roof Grandparents got to come to that game. So there's a lot of little special things Tied to that game. So it was a little bittersweet feeling of course not being able to help my help my friends But then also yeah, I can't I can't be too upset with with the flip side of it What does it feel like to walk out on the pitch in front of a hundred thousand people Yeah, it's a surreal feeling to be honest It just feels like out of body experience like all you do not even Some games, you know, I take preseason games for example You have to really get yourself up for it. These kind of games you don't even think about it The adrenaline the motivation is just rushing through your veins Yeah, you're just willing to give everything for the team and the fans Well luckily though You you missed the the U20 World Cup, but luckily you got to go to the Olympics and it was a lot due to to that great run that you had in the con half championship But the Olympics is kind of like a whole nother level when it comes to pressure How did it feel walking into a tournament of that magnitude? Yeah, it was like I said again, it was definitely a surreal feeling Especially how it panned out for us getting the first game against France and Marseille When you talk about iconic stadiums, I think that's one of them. So Playing into the host country in that stadium I think it holds 80,000 and then also having the USA on our jersey being able to represent everybody My family and just everybody in the country was just an amazing feeling And the Olympics I'm so grateful and fortunate for because it's another one of those memories that I'll hold on to for the rest of my life Now did you get to walk in the opening or closing ceremonies? No, unfortunately not because For soccer we had a new city for each game Whereas the rest of the sports is I mean apart from a couple other ones But it was solely based in Paris so like our first game was in Marseille and then the walking Or the opening ceremony was in Paris Like 12 hours after and then we had a game in two days in Leone So it just would not have worked out sadly Yeah, that's such a bummer. I only got to walk in one And it was the closing ceremony is because our team got to the final Yeah, and then you know, we got to walk afterwards And so we were cruising around London we were going or sorry we were cruising around England London was the Olympics and we were going all over the country So we didn't get to London until the final match Yeah, we didn't we didn't stay in the Olympic Village Until those that last week Now let me just say it was wild in there um, I'm not sure I can tell those stories on this podcast Maybe after this recording, but I didn't want to know were there any cool athletes that you got to meet From other countries or was there anybody that you were really looking forward to meeting that maybe you didn't Yeah, we actually when we did have our game in Paris it was against Morocco for the knockout game So we were in the Olympic we didn't stay in the Olympic Village But everybody on the team just wanted to say we were able to go there so we made it like a team trip to the Olympic Village And yeah, it was it was crazy just seeing how everybody kind of prepped and operated It was like a huge college campus, but in the center of Paris So it was cool seeing how everybody operated But yeah, the people who I would definitely would have wanted to meet like when I saw the opening ceremony And saw everybody on the boat with like LeBron and all the all the basketball stars I was like, oh, that's a little bit of a stab. I wish I could be there Did you get McDonald's or anything? I was like housing McDonald's when I was there No, not in the village. We just in the food court. We ate. Yeah, I don't know We just got a bunch of random stuff. It was decent. Yeah, it's pretty decent But I was like going I was getting like hamburgers. This was after by the way. Yeah hamburgers fries like all the Mcflurry's I went wild. I don't know what happened, but it was crazy in there Yeah, you have to reward yourself for for a good Olympics. Yeah, exactly Okay, so let's get back to to Frankfort We talked about a little bit earlier but when I signed with my first club of abroad in Sweden, Tirissa I had a little bit of a difficult time adjusting to the culture For example, I think for the first two or three weeks when I went to the supermarket I only bought fruits and veggies and it's It's because they're the only items that I could identify by sight Until I got like you know my phone set up and could actually Google translate everything What was the biggest culture shock for you moving to Europe? The biggest culture shock. I mean supermarkets a great one constantly using Google translate on every little thing But the thing that was like the biggest pain in my butt was the no AC Because I was living in Frankfort and it was like I was it was I don't know if it was like a heat wave they say it's never like that hot But it was like 95 to 100 degrees I swear my first summer in Frankfort and made my girlfriend were like literally dying We would have to go sit in the car just to get AC So we would like be sitting on the couch sweating We would be cooking dinner sweating or when we would go walk into like a restaurant normally if it's a hot day You feel so relieved when you go into a restaurant in America because it's nice cool air Pumping all over you and then yeah, we're just walking into the restaurant That's even warmer than outside and you're just like I was like sweating eating my food It just was not enjoyable to be honest So I was the biggest I think culture shock for me just not having that AC to just blast at night I ended up buying like four fans for my apartment so I could just have some sort of coolness Yeah, I don't believe me and I also missed um like the ice cubes Oh, yeah, I had to buy ice machine off Amazon, right? It's like so refreshing having an ice cold glass of water or lemonade or like whatever and they just don't get it there Yeah, teach their own but like get some ice Yeah, and the other thing that was strange was the When I first went there I had to look for an apartment It was like the hotel beds, but every hotel we went on an away trip There was a split like in the middle of the bed So it was like two beds and they would combine it for one which made no sense like They must not like I don't know, but it's like yeah, you sleep here you sleep here like there's no If you have a partner, there's no cuddling going on because there's just a fine line right in the middle of the Yeah, you'll just like drop straight through I'll be like yeah, yeah, it's very interesting Now eventually you made the move back to the MLS after staying in Europe for a few years What made you want to return and play for the rapids? Yeah, I think the biggest thing was Obviously initial talks with the club Yeah, they did a good job. They did a good job of proposing me the picture of of what the rapids want to become and I think It was a point in my career. I was coming off the best season of my career And then every other club in Europe. I was just a role player to be honest And I would just like look up to other guys to make the difference And yeah, I just kind of wanted more for myself in terms of I knew I would never be able to step up and become the best version of myself unless I was really thrown into it So when the rapids proposed the idea of Yeah, me coming in and yeah kind of a transition mode for the club, but a little bit of a rebuild And kind of taking on that role of the pressure and trying to be the man It was something that just instantly connected with me because I knew Getting the best version of myself. That's kind of like the last thing in my game that I had to Unlock that personality of Give me that pressure. I'm Willing and able to perform in the biggest moments And I feel like the clubs in Europe. I was at it was just like I said I would rely on other guys which wasn't bad. I did a good job of that but Me being myself. I just wanted me to have that feeling of okay, I'm the guy like people are looking at me to perform And I think I was only ever going to get the best out of myself if I put myself in a situation to do that It makes a little sense. I mean you want to give yourself games You want to how how can you become the best version of yourself if you're not playing 90 minutes every match or if you're not The person that's being picked to take the penalty kick When the game's on the line and things like that. So it makes it makes total sense now in Denver There is another club there now, too Denver Summit. I was wondering have you been to a game yet? I have not been into a game actually when they played in my Ohio I think they set the record right unless it's been broken. Yeah Well that that could you know what you're testing my fact checking skills I don't know off the job of my head But I know they set the record when they when the game went on Yeah, so we'll just go for at that time they set the record there was a bunch of guys on my team Who ended up going and they said how amazing of a of a game and just atmosphere at my high? I haven't been to one yet Unfortunately, but yeah, what they've brought to just kind of the city of of more sports But in terms of women's soccer. It's always nice just having a little partnership of Another soccer team your fans can kind of converse with their fans and just share the love for the game Yeah, I do have like a few friends that I played with During my career are now on Denver. They're awesome. Please go see them I think you'd really enjoy it and tell them I said hi, please. Yeah, I won't for sure off to check it out Yeah, so I think one thing about Pro soccer that people might not really realize if you if you haven't lived it is that we actually have a lot of downtime Now that he's different from free time because you can't just do whatever you want like free times like you know You go hiking or you're part of your stuff like that, but it is true that um We have a lot of downtime like after practice. We have You know a lot more time than other careers to ourselves So I wanted to know what do you do with it? How do you spend it? Yeah, I think you made a great point in terms of it's downtime. It's not free time because I have like for example this week we've we have three games in a week So it's like these last two days It's been a very easy training session and I've gotten home at a decent time, but it's like I can't go out on a hike because that'll affect my body for the game on Saturday So it's like I'm trying to do everything to conserve my energy In the most for the game on the weekend So yeah, the things I like to do on my downtime feel like every pro athlete or a lot of them Like to do is I play a lot of video games with my friends But if we do have an off day actually especially since moving to Denver since the Yeah, nature scene and just kind of like the Outdoors are very popular me and my girlfriend going a lot of hikes close by and it's I just feel like I mean some some are a little bit tiring, but it's also just nice to connect and it's like a form of recovery being out in the mountains and Yeah, it's just nice to kind of take your mind off of things I take I think that's a great way for recovery and then the other thing is Yeah, we just watch some me and my girlfriend watch Netflix shows And most of the time I'm just recovering whether it's like red light boots That norm attacks some little like compulsory device on my feet So a lot of it's recovery both for the mind and the body What are you playing because I'm a gamer too? So I do you have any good recommendations for me Yeah, it depends kind of the month recently. I've been on the new NBA 2k I play Call of Duty with a lot of my friends as well Okay, these are not very relaxing games packs it. No, no, no, they're not at all like yeah My girlfriend is on here should be telling you like The whole apartment is a ruckus because I'm just like yelling and screaming But I swear there's nothing better than competing on the game with like your close friends against another four It's like 4v4s. I also like MLB the show. That's a relaxing game You just like sit in the pitcher's mound. They throw a pitch try to hit a home run if not okay The other game sometimes it's like I have to sit up in my chair. It's not really relaxing Yeah, okay, you I feel like you you guys I talked to Jack McLean about this as well He's doing Call of Duty and oh yeah, he's he's my number one teammate. Yeah, he's my number one teammate and call of duty So that's why this makes total sense. I'm doing stuff like cozy games where I'm farming and I'm like Mining for or to make like better Field equipment for myself and I'm playing Zelda in the Witcher Yeah, that those are definitely relaxing. No, if I'm playing with Jack. It's not relaxing because he's yelling at me 24-7 So oh my god, that's amazing. Well, tell Jack I said hi Um, so we are recording this before the open cup semi-final But this episode will be released on the 16th the day that you take on St. Louis Colorado Rapids has lost to them twice previously this season. What do you think needs to change to get the win? Yeah Got to give him credit. I think they're a good team. I think they're whatever 15-16 game on beaten run and the course of the season Showcase is that I think in the first two matchups uh Yeah, I think they were fair even bouts We ended getting a red card in both of them. So obviously it doesn't help help the case one zero both games one zero at home and one zero way But I really liked even after we got the red card how well it was kind of a tale of two different stories in the first game We got a red card, but we still were on the Front foot in terms of possession and attacking and then the second hat uh second game We got a red card early and then it was more just stick together defend for our lives but I think the Variables and the lessons we took from both of those games helped The team grow immensely Um, so I think it'll be yeah, it'll set up for a really good matchup against them and with everything to play for On Wednesday in the open cup So definitely need to get a little bit of revenge on them like you said since they've beaten us twice I think the open cup is such a special tournament. It's very unique There's really not much like it in other American sports and we did talk about the U-20 conquer half championship earlier They won but this would be your first trophy in your pro club career Well, yeah, what would winning the open cup mean to you? Yeah, it would mean everything for me. I think it's one of the reasons like we spoke about a few questions ago as to why I wanted to come back and yeah, it's always to help your club help your team when a trophy so to be able to do that with this group of guys Yeah, and my first full season would kind of be a dream start and like you said knockout games tournament matches Always just bring out a different feeling a different side of the game when it's all to play for and Living in those moments with your teammates and if you do end up winning it It's it's those little stories and those little games that you think about and you remember for the rest of your career Yeah, these moments are are something that you can't take for granted, but you're also just really excited for Yeah, good luck in the open cup. It'll be so fun to watch you and the team take on You know St. Louis and I'll be rooting for you and thank you so much for for talking to me This has been such a fun conversation. I want to end with one more question and it's a big one So here we go. What is your ultimate ambition as a player? Good question my ultimate and this is a question. I asked myself a lot So first and foremost my ultimate ambition as a player because like I said, I've been fortunate enough to play in multiple co-witchers played in a bunch of different leagues got to experience Germany got to experience in other ones But the yeah biggest goal of mine is to just get the best version of myself Enjoy My soccer is the number one thing. I just want to have fun constantly in whatever I'm doing And then I feel like those two go hand in hand if I'm having fun and enjoying myself. That's going to bring out the best version of myself So that's really the the biggest ambition Just having fun which which I do I love my job. I love the sport I play and then bring out the best version of myself Which will ultimately lead to all my other ambitions in terms of winning trophies with the Colorado Rapids Becoming one of the best number 10s midfielders in the entire MLS and then yeah the biggest one is playing in a World Cup for my national team I think that's obviously the biggest one I think for for anybody But I think it's it's the ripple effect of the skip of a rock you have to start it at some things and for me I believe that once I started unlock those the rest will follow Wise wise words from Paxton Aaronson I fully believe them. I think that whenever you're having fun It leads to success and it's not the other way around So thank you so much for talking with me. Thank you for coming on the show You have been such a delight and I'm wishing you all the best in your game In the open cup but also in your career Thank you so much. I appreciate you for having me. Yeah I Genuinely love that conversation with Paxton. I feel like he was wise beyond beyond his years Talking about what I talk about all the time joy equal success. So Keep falling that path Paxton. I cannot wait to keep watching your career because I kind of feel like the journey is the destination for you and so It'll be fun to watch that journey all right Time for our last segment and you all know what it is It's asked the pro-sponsored by O'Reilly auto parts and this is where you can ask me a question And I'll get back to you and answer it on the show. I love doing this. It's one of my favorite parts of the show So please sending your questions First one we got is from Dave in Atlanta And Dave wants to know pochettino is now committed through 2030 how much is having the same coach for a full four-year cycle changed the way players compete for roles and how a team develops I don't think it necessarily changes the way that the player is compete for roles But it does change the way that the team Develops certainly Dave. I mean you now have four years to create chemistry between lines between positions Between teammates you have four years to develop a tactical game plan You have four years to identify more talent. It's just An advantage like more time Really does add up to an advantage. So let's see what pochettino can do with that advantage I think this world cup showing was one of the very best that we've ever seen from a USA team They had belief they had the players that could do special things They had a great coaching stuff and now we just get more of that and with more of that We should expect and hope for a better showing All right, thank you Dave from Atlanta. We have one more question. This one's from Jen in Cyprus I don't know if that's like the country Cyprus or the tree or Somewhere within the United States, but Jen hopefully From Texas Thank you so much for your question Jen wants to know we're seeing so many young players get meaningful opportunities with the USW NT at what point does a young player go from being unpromising prospect is someone you trust in a World Cup knockout game You know what Jen? I think we're gonna find that out in the World Cup knockout game I don't think that there's anything in this world that is going to Replicate a World Cup knockout round game I mean to an extent you get that in the NW cell when you're playing in the finals when you're playing in the semi-finals And that's amazing But the World Cup's a whole different beast Millions hundreds of millions of people are watching you and it's something that you have been Working towards your entire life your dream is on the line We're gonna find out in that moment whether the players are able to step up to the plate or not now Of course there are things that you can do to prepare for it like I said playing in the NW cell playing in difficult matches ones with pressure Often playing against other great players Making sure that we're playing against the Spain's and we're playing against the Brazils in their countries as well Now we can do all of those things, but when the time comes Sometimes it's still not enough. So having a player Step up and seeing them shine in that moment is really special So I'm excited to see which ones do and I am certainly rooting for them All right, thank you Dave and thank you Jen there was we're excellent questions And I want to let you know that if you all my audience have a question for me for ask the pros Please drop our partners westwood one at DM on Instagram at westwood one sports Okay, I'll see you next week on the US soccer podcast do not forget to follow us so you never miss an episode and thanks for being here Start your day with a morning jolt of Drake's he told I'm a normal human being you play the NFL I don't want you back in college football then black and Abdullah I don't know if I could name a worse leader for a franchise Absolutely ridiculous and westwood one sports night caps it all off It's an important year for all parties involved self-awareness that might be the most underrated the skill set that a person can have Westwood one sports talk follow and listen on your favorite platform
