Perry Van der Beck was one of the first rising young stars in American soccer. Drafted out of high school by the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in 1978, Perry joined a team that would go on to play in the Soccer Bowl -- the NASL's championship game -- his first two years.
Perry quickly emerged as a key talent for US Soccer, specifically approaching the 1980 Olympic Games. As a key part of the US Men's Olympic team, he experienced the frustration of missing out on an opportunity to play for his country when the US boycotted the games. He joined Founding Futbol to talk about his journey to the NASL from high school, as well as his time as part of the National Team and Team America. Perry also provided insight on the challenging times that American soccer faced in the 1980s.
Founding Futbol is a year-long exploration of the critical moments that have led to soccer's emerging popularity in America. Extra Time is an additional weekly episode that shares reactions and reflections from the chapters, and brings additional guests into the fold.
Visit our website for more information: FoundingFutbol.com. Email us at kent@foundingfutbol.com
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Host: Kent Malmros
Guest: Perry Van der Beck (Former USMNT Player)
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