He was the best American soccer player when America could care less about soccer.

Today, the most talented 21 year old American player – we know that guy. He is probably quite famous, rich and playing at a massive club. This was not the case in 1989 for John Harkes.

But his ability could not be overlooked, and as such he was able to play at levels no American ever had before: the Prem, FA Cup, Wembley.

He would star in two World Cups, and with his teammates and friends, were so successful that the US National Team will never again be as irrelevant as it was when John was coming up.

He was a key member to the initial launch of the MLS – and while more lucrative opportunities lay elsewhere – as a US Player, who never really had ‘a league of their own’ he, along with his colleagues, wanted to leave one for those players that came after.

I loved my chat with John – smiled the entire time - Give us a listen and I hope you enjoy our conversation.

EP: 16 – the great John Harkes

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This is a really sad one for me – Andreas Brehme tragically passed away this week – at the age of 63 in his home town of Munich.

If you do not know of Andi, he is a true legend of German football - having scored one of the biggest goals in that nation’s history to win the World Cup in 1990 in Italy.

But I will always remember and have love for Andi as he was the first guest I ever reached out to that actually said ‘yes’ to my interview request. I was lucky with my timing in that he was working on his memoir at the time. I am sure he thought: ‘sure, I will sit with this silly American as I have been reliving memories for my book – why not do it for a podcast – whatever the hell that is’.

‘Come to Munich’ he said – ‘and I will get you interviews with a lot of my friends’. Not knowing if it would entirely work out, we did go – and he was good on his word and secured us 12 sits with German internationals all over the country.

As a player, Andi also spent time with Inter Milan and is a sort of legend in northern Italy – ‘Come to Milan’ he said – ‘and I will get you interviews with my Italian friends.’ We did go - and he connected us with 7 Italian internationals who only sat with us as it was a favor to Andi.

He said once that we would do another podcast one day – ‘I was your first one, you were my first one – but you come back and I will be your 100th episode, and we will see how far you have come’

I would have loved for that to have happened. But I guess this will have to do.

So I hope you enjoy my talk with this great and funny man. And if this is your introduction to his career and life – I truly hope I do it justice here.

Andi Brehme – SoccerPod #15 – Thank you Andi!

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Ray played 15 years for Arsenal. And he was there for the arrival of the great Arsene Wegner – and he would go on to bring some of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League - Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Patrick Viera to name a few.

In the 97-98 campaign, Ray was playing exceptionally well – maybe the best year of his career – and it was only natural that the national team – coached by that Tottenham legend – Glenn Hoddle - would give him a look.

Coach Arsene himself lobbied the coach that there is no better winger in all of England.

Glenn Hoddle was a believe in: ‘faith healing’ – and the team had an appointed faith healer – a woman named Eileen Drewery.

As Ray was on trial with the Three Lions, he had pulled his calf. And coach Hoddle sent him to see Miss Eileen for 'treatment'. Eileen sat him in the chair, walked round to his back and began rubbing Ray’s scalp. Ray being Ray goes, 'Allright Love, take a little off the the sides and the back, but leave the length on the top’ (this is a slight paraphrase, but you get the gyst)

Unbeknownst to him, Ray had deeply offended Mr Hoddle with this, and would miss out on playing in the 98 World Cup as a result.

But his smile was big as he recalled this story – as was mine – and it was a real joy to hear him tell me so many others – I hope you enjoy them as well - here on the soccerPod #14.

Enjoy!

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