SJ INTERVIEW WITH KELLY GRAY – MLS CUP CHAMPION

in MLS SJ Interviews by Itai — July 21, 2010 at 5:50 am | 4 comments

After your junior season at the University of Portland, you signed a Project-40 contract with MLS and were selected in the first round of the 2002 SuperDraft.  What was the hardest part of transitioning from the college level to the pro level?

The hardest part of transitioning from the college game to the pro game was definitely the length of the season.  In college, the season only lasts 3 months.  In the MLS, preseason alone is almost 3 months long.  Then, there is an 8 month season to play.

How did your extensive play at the U.S. youth national team level prepare you for your career as a professional soccer player?

Playing for the youth national teams really helped me prepare for life as a pro.  I also think that my college coach, the late Clive Charles, made the biggest difference in preparing me for the pro game.  He taught me that I had to put in extra training when everyone else was resting.  I took this mentality with me to the U-20′s and it helped me to step up my game to the professional level.  I was also blessed to have a youth national team filled with some of the most talented players of our generation.  Players like Oguchi Onyewu, Kyle Martino, Conor Casey, Kyle Beckerman, Chris Wingert, Alecko Eskandarian, Landon Donovan, DaMarcus Beasley, Edson Buddle, Bobby Convey, Brad Davis, Logan Pause, and Nate Jaqua who all helped me develop my game so that I could be successful at the professional level.

What has been the highlight of your MLS career?

There have been a few highlights of my professional career.  The first was a winning the supporters shield and open cup with the Chicago fire in 2003.  The second was winning the supporters shield in 2005 with the San Jose Earthquakes.  The third was winning the 2006 MLS Cup with the Houston Dynamo.

You offer training camps to kids at the youth level.  What impact does working with a professional athlete have on the kids?  Where can they get info on soccer camps and private training sessions?

I think that kids are the most important part of development of soccer in the United States.  I currently coach for a club called MVLA  and do private training for all age groups in the club.  For me, this is the biggest contribution that any player can give to the game.  When I was growing up, I was coached by former professional player Paul Bravo.  That made all the difference in me choosing to play soccer over other sports.  To be taught by someone who has been there and done it, really validates all of the work that you put in.

You own a clothing company called Adesso and have a website called goalrepublic.com.  How did this all get started?

I started a website called thetotalfootballer.com which is a lifestyle site for true footballers.  People can find everything from fashion, WAGS, and music to workouts and player blogs.  I also started a soccer social network called Goal Republic which is a place for people to connect and chat with others who share their ideals about the beautiful game.  I am also working with some amazing people to develop a website where people can find pick-up games anywhere in the world.  The beta version can be found at wannagoal.com.

Words to live by?

Always have fun.  If you aren’t having fun, it probably isn’t worth doing.