professional soccer

Dispatch sports columnist Michael speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode recap the Crew’s latest two game winning streak, provide injury updates, and look ahead to Saturday’s game against D.C. United.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode we discuss the Crew’s most recent match against the New York Red Bulls and are joined special guest Randy Kilbride to talk about all things Columbus soccer.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode we discuss the Crew’s latest 1-1 draw against Toronto FC, how this team has looked on the field this season and share other news and updates regarding the Columbus Crew.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speak with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the newest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode we recap the latest 2-0 victory over D.C. United, talk about the Crew’s performance so far after two games in this season, and provide an update on what we can expect to see going forward with this soccer team.

Columbus Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson and Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we preview Saturday’s home opener against D.C. United and discuss some in game change that will occur at Lower.com Field for this season.

Columbus Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we discuss how the Crew starts their season against the Philadelphia Union tomorrow night, talk about the Crew’s lineup, and discuss head coach Wilfried Nancy. Finally, we preview what we can expect to see in tomorrow’s matchup against Philly.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we prove updates from the Crew’s first week of training camp, talk about the news assistant coaches, and run through what we know about the roster so far.

Crew president and general manager Tim Bezbatchenko speaks to the media on Tuesday December 6, 2022, in Columbus, Ohio. During this news conference the club announces Wilfried Nancy as new head coach of the Columbus Crew.

Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Bailey Johnson and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the newest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we talk about how the Crew has fired head coach Caleb Porter, speculate who might replace him as head coach, and what is next for the Columbus Crew.

#13 Giovanni MontesDeOca: The Path to Playing Pro Soccer, Family, Discipline in All High-Achievers

Giovanni MontesDeOca is a professional footballer/ soccer player for Union Omaha of United States Soccer League (USL), League One. Gio was drafted into the Major League Soccer (MLS) 2021 Draft by his hometown club, FC Dallas — where he played in their academy at the highest level of youth soccer — and completed a life-long dream of making it to the pinnacle of American futbol. Gio — born into a family of soccer — served as team captain of the University of North Carolina men’s soccer team at the Division 1 NCAA level, previously played at the prestigious soccer program at Jesuit College Preparatory High School (Texas UIL 6A State Champions 2010 & 2017) before going on to play FC Dallas Youth Academy, and grew up playing for his family’s independent club, Wizard’s FC.

Connect with Gio:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giovannimontesdeoca

IG: https://instagram.com/giovannimdo10?igshid=NTlmMWMyMzg=

Topics discussed:

• The path to pro soccer — from the competitive youth level, high school, academy, D1 NCAA, onto the MLS & it’s minor league professional teams in the USL
• Importance of support systems allowing one to achieve success
• Discipline, grit, passion for success in any human endeavor
• Overcoming and persevering through injury
• The crossroads every athlete comes to when deciding whether to hang up the cleats; athlete identity
• Much more, enjoy!

Columbus Dispatch sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter on the latest edition of the Speakeasy podcast. During this episode we discuss the Crew’s recent struggles on their home field, look back on the latest 2-2 draw against Atlanta United, and look ahead to the upcoming match against FC Cincinnati on Saturday August 27, 2022. Finally, we talk about the recent death of Jamey Rootes, the first president and general manager of the Columbus Crew and former general manager of the Houston Texans.

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers, and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode discuss the Crew’s recent 2-0 victory over FC Cincinnati, how the players have connected to look like a potential playoff team, and what lies ahead on the schedule for the Crew.

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers on the latest episode of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we talk about the Crew’s recent performance and the goal that player Cucho Hernandez scored in his first game. Finally, we look ahead to the Crew's upcoming match against FC Cincinnati.

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers, and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode discuss the recent acquisition of player Cucho Hernandez, what this addition means for the team, and mention where things currently sit with the Columbus Crew. Finally, we talk what’s next for Columbus Crew and talk a look at the current MLS standings.

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers, and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode we recap where the Columbus Crew currently sit in the MLS standings, talk about their recent performance on the field, and mention their search for a new striker.

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers, and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this episode we recap where the Crew sit in the current MLS standings and discuss if this team is turning the season around.

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers, and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we talk about the Crew traded player Gyasi Zardes, the recent performance we’ve seen from the team, and how they are lacking the ability to score goals this season. Finally, we discuss head coach Caleb Porter and our current thoughts regarding him.

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers, and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we talk about how former Crew player Federico Higuaín signed a one-day contract so he could retire in black and gold. Next, we discuss last Saturday’s United States women's national soccer team and the recent game they play at Lower.com Field. Finally, we mention Crew’s recent performance and where they current sit in standings 5 matches into this season.

Xavi Acosta is a Membership Service Executive at Austin FC of Major League Soccer. He’s a current graduate student of Sport Management at UT Austin, where he also graduated at age 19 with his bachelor’s degree in Sport Management. He holds multiple tactical certifications in the soccer/ fútbol operations space from FC Barcelona’s Innovation Hub University as well as Nacsport. Xavi is not only a good friend of the show, but an awesome teammate on the soccer pitch and a great person well on his way to accomplishing his dreams at an early stage in his career and life.
 

TRANSCRIPT/ TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 - Introduction

2:34 - How Xavi graduated college at age 19

7:03 - What Xavi learned in sports management studies that help in his role at Austin FC now

10:45 - Austin FC anticipation before 1st season

16:28 - Structure of MLS expansion & operations vs European models of promotion/ relegation, talk on Liga MX & soccer politics

20:25 - Xavi’s favorite soccer teams & coach across MX, Europe, South America

31:37 - Xavi’s recommendations for people trying to break into the sports/ soccer industry

41:15 - How Xavi feels living out his childhood dream of working in pro soccer

• “There’s a difference between having a goal and having a dream”

44:41 - What is soccer ops and how does one transition into this side of the industry?

49:10 - Impact working within his passion has on his work ethic

52:50 - How Xavi got into the Masters of Science in Sports Management program at UT and what it’s like

58:18 - Who’s the soccer GOAT

1:05:36 - 3 things someone working in sports ops has to have to succeed

Recorded Feb. 2021

Sports columnist Michael Arace speaks with Columbus Crew beat reporter Jacob Myers, and staff photographer Kyle Robertson on the latest edition of the Soccer Speakeasy podcast. During this edition we provide an update on the Crew just 3 matches into the season, speculate if we think the club would be willing to trade player Gyasi Zardes right now, and look ahead to what is coming up for the Crew.