He’s a household name in the MLS and a championship winning hero for TFC, but who is the real Jozy Alitodre, and how did he get where he is today? In this exclusive episode, Stevie sits down with one of Team USA’s greatest ever players to talk about a life in the beautiful game.
Episode Notes: Playing footy in the park at eight years of age, the chance encounter with Austrian coach Joseph Schultz that prompted an ambitious prediction and opened the door to a career in the game.
The foundational years at IMG academy, with a national intake of only 40 players, and what it was like to come through the ranks alongside the likes of Freddie Adu and Micheal Bradley.
How Jozy turned down several academic scholarships to sign his first professional contract with the Metro Stars, and how the club was transformed under the ownership of Red Bull.
The huge challenge and culture shock of his 10 million dollar move to Spain, and how at just 18 years old he ‘didn’t know he had the power to choose where [he] wanted to go’.
Thriving in the fast paced, fluid football of the Dutch league, and then struggling back in his second spell in the EPL, with off field issues taking their toll on the pitch.
How joining TFC was about the lofty vision of the club, and how ‘that’ goal in the 2017 playoff final was the vision brought to life.
Main photo: Tagwa Moyo
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