Austin's Soccer Pod

Not only known for being quick on the field (seriously, he was recently clocked running a speed that would make him the fastest player in Bundesliga history), the Round Rock native recently signed with Hannover 96 in the German league's second division. The Round Rock native sits down with Chris Bils to talk about the future, his journey with soccer (so far) and how he has continued training during the pandemic.

When looking for a right-hand man to be an assistant coach for Austin FC, Josh Wolff turned to his former Kansas City Wizards teammate Davy Arnaud. Which begs the question: Why isn't Jimmy Conrad on the staff. We asked him that and gained insight on what a Wolff, Arnaud partnership looks like up close. MUSIC — "Molly" by Midcentury: http://www.midcenturyband.com/

Austin FC finally has a player! Rodney Redes is a 20-year-old winger from Club Guaraní in Paraguay. To find out more about him, we called up Paraguayan-American soccer journalist Roberto Rojas. He talks about Redes' rise from humble beginnings, the role he thinks Redes will play for an MLS expansion team, and why so many young Paraguayans are making their way to the United States. Follow Roberto Rojas on Twitter — @RobertoRojas97 Read more about Rodney Redes — https://www.statesman.com/sports/20200706/austin-fc-signs-paraguayan-rodney-redes-as-franchisersquos-first-player

Have you ever been playing a game of pickup, whether it's indoor or outdoor and notice that one person who is like, REALLY good? Have you ever wanted to ask about why they're not playing in a pro league? Or know more about thier story? Well, Michelle Sanchez approached Jacob Powell, who she noticed was an outstanding talent and interviewed him over the phone. Find out his story, and connections to Austin's soccer community.

This week, Chris Bils speaks with Christian Lavers, the President of the Elite Clubs National League, Christian Lavers about U.S. Soccer's decision to shut down the Development Academy.

We put together this episode spearately to follow along with #socialdistancing. This week, Michelle talked with Bethany Cyrtmus who was playing in the third highest division team CFF Maritim in Spain. Hear her story about leaving the country in the midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic, and its impact on soccer in Spain.

This week, we sit down with Roberto Silva, the General Manager of Austin Bold FC. We highlight the USL team's inaugural season, preview the upcoming season, run down his career so far and even talk about some of his personal life. We also talk about the upcoming game between two Liga MX teams that will be held at COTA between Monterrey and Pachuca on March 28. Also hear our take on the jersey sponsorship between Austin FC and YETI, and hear our guesses for a possible future stadium sponsorship.

On this week's episode, Chris speaks to Khiry Shelton, who plays for the MLS team, Sporting KC. We talk about his journey with the game and how he got to where he is today, his time in Germany and his local tie! He went to Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park (Leander ISD). We also talk about how Austin FC's stadium construction is looking, and talk about some recent hires they made.

This week, we sit down with Senior Writer for Sports Illustrated, Grant Wahl. You may know him from Twitter and all of his work, but we specifically chat with him on the story behind breaking the news of Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez getting signed by LA Galaxy. He also has a book out! It's called, "Masters of Modern Soccer: How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game". You can find it here: https://www.amazon.com/Masters-Modern-Soccer-Worlds-Twenty-First-Century/dp/0307408612/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Michelle Sanchez sat down with FutMexNation's Amelia Lopez to talk about her career and perspective on all things soccer. They also touch on their perspective regarding access to watching LigaMX and LigaMX Feminil.

This week we sit down with Phil West - whose been writing about soccer since the test of time (MLS, Daily Dot, prosoccerusa.com, to name a few). He's also a professor at UTSA and a published author! You can find his books, "I Believe That We Will Win: The Path to a U.S. Men's World Cup Victory" and "The United States of Soccer: Major League Soccer and the Rise of American Fandom" by clicking here: https://www.amazon.com/Believe-That-We-Will-Win/dp/1468315196 and here: https://www.amazon.com/United-States-Soccer-American-Fandom/dp/1468315544/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+united+states+of+soccer&qid=1577122667&s=books&sr=1-1

We talk about a whole lot this episode: the announcement of Austin FC's new training facility, eMLS coming SXSW and of course, Claudio Reyna named Austin FC's new and first ever Sporting Director. We also sit down with Austin FC's Vice President of public relations and broadcast. Listen to his story of coming to the states, his experience with Manchester United and a little "breaking news" of his own in his personal life.

In the middle of the hectic Premier League Mornings Live fan fest weekend, Chris sat down with NBC Sports analyst Kyle Martino to talk about the work he's done off camera, creating more places to play soccer in urban areas. The interview tied nicely with some news last week about one new soccer facility in East Austin and some older ones that are getting updates, with help from Austin FC. The whole crew is back to talk about our own experiences with pick-up soccer growing up and some final thoughts on the inaugural Austin Bold season. Over Under Initiative: https://overunderinitiative.com/ The Goalpher in action: https://vimeo.com/313925973

Yael Averbuch, the executive director of the NWSL Players Association and founder of Techne Futbol, talks with Michelle in this week's episode. They discuss Averbuch's playing career in the NWSL and her diagnosis that led her to retire, her leadership of the NWSL Players Association, the future of the women's league and how she founded Techne Futbol, a soccer training app, to provide weekly futbol drills rooted in the fundamentals. For more info: https://www.technefutbol.com Michelle, Chris and Luis also discuss the Bold's dramatic playoff match in Phoenix that ended in penalties, and they shared their thoughts on the inaugural season, NBC Sports Premier League Mornings Live Fan Fest weekend stories, and the MLS Cup playoffs!

We're covering a lot of ground this week as we shift to putting out a show every 2 weeks. With Michelle out, Chris and Luis start the first segment by talking about the tragic death of Austin Bold forward Promise Isaac. then break down the Bold's 1-1 draw at El Paso Locomotive FC (5:55). Our interview (19:35) is with Kris Tyrpak, the Austin Bold forward and Dripping Springs native who's made his homecoming in 2019 with eight goals and counting. Our last segment (48:35) is all about MLS. Chris and Luis take a look at the MLS allocation list — one of the ways Austin FC could acquire players between now and 2021: https://www.mlssoccer.com/allocation. Then we share our picks for the MLS Cup Playoffs (1:00:30). Which opening-round matches are ripe for upset? Who are we taking to win it all? Listen to our picks and then make your own by joining our Bracket Challenge group: https://bracket.mlssoccer.com/#league/standings/1768?code=FJ7EAE6Z Music by Midcentury: http://www.midcenturyband.com/

We all know the soccer community in Austin is growing. But many have told us in the past -- there is not enough space to simply play. We sit down with Christie Ciccarello, the founder of the non-profit, BuildSoccer, which is working to build a $5 million soccer complex in South Austin. We also highlight Austin FC's U-14 Academy team's big win over the Houston Dynamo, discuss the Texas Longhorns kickoff to SEC conference play and more.

Take a look (or listen) through the lens of Matt Braford and his journey with photography. He's captured the images of Austin's USL team, Austin Bold FC, on and off the pitch all season long. Also, set your alarm clocks and get the coffee brewin' because we have some big news for you! NBC Sports is bringing the "Premier League Mornings Live" fan festival to Austin in October.

Nobody in Austin soccer has a resumé like Angela Kelly. From playing in college with Mia Hamm and Kristine Lilly, to representing Canada in the 1995 Women's World Cup, to two decades coaching, we touch it all with the head coach of the Texas Longhorns. Hear her thoughts on the 2019 season, Austin FC coming to town and the potential for NWSL to build on what Texas has done for women's soccer in the region. We also recap the groundbreaking of Austin FC's stadium and discuss the chances for Austin Bold as they enter the tail end of the regular season. (*Near the end, Chris incorrectly reported the score of the Austin FC Academy match. The U-14s lost 4-2 to FC Dallas after trailing 3-0 at halftime. Noah Calvillo and Misael Rangel scored the goals for Austin FC.) Music — http://www.midcenturyband.com/

This week we welcome one of Upper Ninety's head coach Pepe Rangel. The California native talks about his soccer experience in Austin, how he ended up playing for Campbell University, and most importantly, how you can participate in the #DareToCreate event fundraiser that will take place at Native Bar & Kitchen’s Grand Ballroom on Saturday, October 19 from 5-8 p.m. To find out more or become a volunteer, visit https://www.upperninety.org/dare-to-create. We also prepare and briefly discuss Austin FC’s stadium groundbreaking event on Monday, the Bold’s on-the-road tie against Colorado Springs Switchbacks, USA vs Mexico friendly match which is never really a “friendly”, and Texas Women’s Soccer team! Music: "Molly" by MidCentury — www.midcenturyband.com/ Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and leave us a rating and review wherever you listen. You can also email us at austinsoccerpod@gmail.com.

This week, we take you inside a hidden gem of the Austin soccer community as Dave Brett Wasser welcomes us into his “Tomb of Soccer History.” Wasser has been collecting recordings of soccer matches since the early 1990s, and had the most complete collection of NASL and U.S. men’s and women’s national team matches in the world. Also, Chris is back from Ohio and he shares the Austin moments that happened during the Hell is Real match between Columbus and Cincinnati. We’ve also got updates on the Austin Bold lifting their first trophy in franchise history (Copa Tejas!) and how the Texas Longhorns fared in Colorado. "Molly" by MidCentury — http://www.midcenturyband.com/

Ever wonder how much soccer field space there is in Austin for rec soccer? We talk to Founder and CEO of Austin Sports and Social Club Marc Tucci! This co-ed sports league started in 2005, after Marc noticed the absence of RecSports, he touches on his love for soccer, and its future in Austin. To find out more or become a member, visit austinssc.com. Listen to our reactions regarding Austin FC's new ownership which seems an, "Alright, Alright, Alright" move. The new names include, Matthew McConaughey, Eddie Margain, Marius Haas, and Bryan Sheffield. We also break down Bold FC's loss against OKC Energy over the weekend. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and leave us a rating and review wherever you listen. You can also email us at austinsoccerpod@gmail.com.

On this week’s episode we interviewed Ismail Elfath, who is one of only four FIFA international referees from the U.S. and has lived in Austin since 2001. Elfath was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the annual Austin Soccer Foundation awards gala. He told us his story of moving to the U.S. for college from his home country of Morocco, the chance encounter began his referee career, and the major role he played in developing the Video Assistant Referee system now in use around the world.

Meet the Austin family that was at the heart of one of this summer's great soccer stories. Sade Adamolekun played in the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Pan American Games for Jamaica, and her mother Michelle Adamolekun is the founder and president of the Reggae Girlz Foundation. We caught up with both of them to talk about their experiences in France and what's being done to ensure the buzz around women's soccer in Jamaica stays long past the World Cup. Also, we discuss Austin Bold's 2-2 draw with New Mexico United and provide an update on the progress with the Austin FC "experience center." Learn more about the Reggae Girlz Foundation: https://reggaegirlzfoundation.com/support/ Follow Sade: https://www.instagram.com/olufolasade_adamolekun/ Music — "Molly" by MidCentury: http://www.midcenturyband.com/

Austin FC has its first head coach! We hope to get Josh Wolff on the podcast soon. For now, we catch up with another Josh — the founder and president of Austin Anthem, Josh Babetski. We start by giving our reactions to the Wolff hire, then move on to discussing the first supporters group for Austin FC with the person who created it. Austin Anthem has come a long way since it began as MLS in Austin way back in 2013. Babetski tells us all about that growth, and how the organization has become much more than a place for soccer fans. To find out more or become a member, visit https://austinanthem.org/. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and leave us a rating and review wherever you listen. You can also email us at austinsoccerpod@gmail.com.

Investigative journalist Jessica Luther sits down with Michelle to discuss her trip to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, her life as a journalist, her role as a co-host for Burn It All Down and more. Burn It All Down podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/burn-it-all-down/id1235386795?mt=2

There's been nothing official yet, but The Athletic reported on July 8 that Josh Wolff is "widely expected" to become the first Austin FC head coach. Chris caught up with Sam Stejskal to discuss Wolff, as well as how other MLS front offices are viewing what's been happening in the Texas capital. After the interview, we gave some of our own thoughts on the Wolff rumblings, then dove into Austin Bold's 3-2 win over Orange County SC that was capped by a stoppage-time stunner from Kris Tyrpak. Here's the link to The Athletic report from Stejskal and Paul Tenorio: https://theathletic.com/1067820/2019/07/08/sources-josh-wolff-expected-to-become-austin-fcs-inaugural-head-coach/ MidCentury: http://www.midcenturyband.com/

It's our fourth episode, and the U.S. Women's National Team has four stars on its shirt! This week's interview is with Kaitlin Swarts, the founder and CEO of Upper Ninety. She tells us about how she developed the soccer and educational program that is based in East Austin, and how it is changing the lives of students in the underserved communities of East Austin. Then we recap the FC Austin Elite match at Bold Stadium, and talk about the USWNT triumph and our takeaways from the 2019 Women's World Cup.

This week we talk with FC Austin Elite forward/defender Bethany Cyrtmus ahead of the team’s match at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 6 against the San Antonio Athenians at Bold Stadium. Admission is free, so there’s no excuse for missing it. Bethany shares her story of being transgender and chasing the dream of playing professional soccer. She covers a lot of topics, from her transition at 28 years old to how playing pickup soccer in Chicago sparked an interest in playing at the highest level (11:40), and all the steps that led her to United Women’s Soccer and FC Austin Elite. She also delves deep into the topic of competitive advantage (22:45) and her own experiences with hormones affecting performance (40:05), and using public bathrooms (50:10). Around the 21-minute mark, Bethany mentions U.S. Soccer’s inclusion policy, which you can find at this link (Policy 601-5, Section 6 and Bylaw 105, Section 3): https://www.ussoccer.com/governance/bylaws Here are just a few of the many organizations helping the LGBTQIA+ community in Central Texas: Out Youth offers youth programs and services: https://www.outyouth.org/ The Trevor Project offers crisis intervention and suicide prevention: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ The Kind Clinic is a full-service sexual health and wellness clinic: https://kindclinic.org/ Planned Parenthood provides a range of health care services and education: http://ppgreatertx.org PFLAG offers free support groups to families and friends: https://pflagaustin.org/ Waterloo Counseling Center offers affordable mental health counseling: https://www.waterloocounseling.org/ AIDS Services of Austin provides direct-care services and HIV prevention education: https://www.asaustin.org/

On the second episode of Austin's Soccer Pod, we sit down with Austin Bold FC midfielder Sonny Guadarrama. Born and raised in Cedar Park, Guadarrama played 11 seasons in Mexico with Santos Laguna, Mérida, Atlante, Necaxa and Dorados before returning home in 2016. He tells stories of his battles with brother Willy in the "indoor facility" built by their dad, his feelings on the split in the Austin soccer community and his continued support for Austin FC, what it's like to play for Miguel Herrera and much, much more. (P.S. Sorry about the audio levels. We're working on it!) Music: "Molly" by Midcentury: http://www.midcenturyband.com/ Twitter: @AustinSoccerPod Facebook: Austin's Soccer Pod

On the first episode of Austin's Soccer Pod, we talk with Austin FC Chairman and CEO Anthony Precourt. Topics include his team's MLS record-breaking season ticket deposit campaign, the search for a coach and general manager, recruiting Chicharito, favorite Austin hangouts, Matthew McConaughey, Gregg Berhalter, his interest in an NWSL franchise and more. We also break down Austin Bold FC's 3-2 loss to the Houston Dynamo in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, chat a little Women's World Cup and wish a happy Father's Day to our Soccer Dads.

Could Javier "Chicharito" Hernández be the first player signed by Austin FC? We asked that question to the team's chairman and CEO, Anthony Precourt. This is a sneak peek at our first episode that will come out later this week, including the full 30-minute interview with Precourt. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and Google Play. Thanks for listening!

Chris Bils, Michelle Sanchez and Luis de Leon have been covering the exciting growth of soccer in Austin, Texas. Now they're teaming up on a podcast that will cover Austin FC, Austin Bold FC, the Texas Longhorns and more, featuring interviews with influential people at all levels of the sport in Central Texas. Music by Midcentury: http://www.midcenturyband.com/ Twitter: @AustinSoccerPod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinsoccerpod Instagram: @austinsoccerpod