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Claudio Reyna
He’s probably
the most talented American player of his generation — and maybe
ever. He’s also the captain of the U.S. Men’s National
Team, a team he hopes to lead to the World Cup next summer. As a
professional he has found success first in Germany and now in Scotland
where he commands the midfield for Rangers. Who is he? Claudio Reyna.
One of the most
decorated players in college soccer history, Claudio Reyna helped
lead the University of Virginia to three straight NCAA titles (’91,
’92 and ’93). He also won the Missouri Athletic Club's
Player of the Year Award in both 1992 and 1993 and was a three-time
first-team All-American. In high school Claudio was twice named
Parade Magazine National Player of the Year at St. Benedict's Prep
High School in Newark, NJ (1989 & 1990).
A member of
U.S. youth national teams since he was in high school, Claudio was
selected to represent the country at the 1992 Olympics. On January
15, 1994, in a game against Norway, he earned his first senior cap.
Claudio’s international career since has been nothing but stellar
and includes another Olympics in 1996 and two World Cups (’94
and ’98). He now has more than 80 caps and has served as the
captain of the national team for the past two years.
In August of
1994, Claudio signed a pro contract with Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen
at the age of 21. He gained valuable experience with that club and
eventually broke into the starting lineup. Claudio’s professional
career really took off when he was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg, however.
At that club he became the first American ever to captain a team
in Europe when he was named Wolfsburg's captain in the summer of
1998. In the spring of 1999, Claudio was transferred to Glasgow
Rangers. He started Rangers final six games of 1999, helping the
team to a Scottish Premiership crown. Now in his eighth season of
professional soccer in Europe, Claudio has established himself as
a veteran leader and key contributor in the midfield for Rangers.
Versatile as well as durable, he regularly fills in as a defender
for the club.
In 1997 Claudio
married Danielle Egan, a soccer star in her own right who played
for UNC and won 20 caps with the women’s national team. The
couple had their first child in the spring of 1999.
Eurosport’s
Chris Holaday recently had the chance to talk with Claudio from
his home in Glasgow. We learned some interesting things and thought
you might like to get to know this great American player even better!
When you
were growing up, what were your favorite teams (any sport)?
In football
I liked the Dallas Cowboys. It was the Yankees in baseball and the
Boston Celtics in basketball. There wasn’t much pro soccer
around, but I guess I liked the Cosmos when I was really young.
Do you have
a favorite movie or book?
I like the movie
Goodfellas. It’s always been one of my favorites I think. I’ve
read several good books lately but I can’t think of one particular
favorite one.
What is the
one vegetable you hated as a kid?
Spinach.
What is your
favorite candy or snack food?
A good chocolate
chip cookie. If I was going to choose one thing that would be it.
A nice homemade chocolate chip cookie.
What was
your favorite subject in school?
Probably math.
I was pretty good at that.
What is the
best thing about living in Scotland?
I don’t
know that there is one best thing. In general I just really enjoy
learning the different culture. It’s great living somewhere
different like this and just experiencing it.
What about
the worst thing about living Scotland?
The weather.
That’s an easy question.
Have you
tried traditional Scottish delicacies like haggis?
I tried it and
that was it. That was the first and last time I’m having it.
It’s pretty horrible. It even looks bad so you can imagine
what it tastes like.
Where is
the most interesting place you have traveled to play soccer?
I’ve been
a lot of places. When I was with the U-17 team we went to Israel.
We went to the West Bank and to all of Jerusalem. It was amazing
just in terms of history and learning things, especially with the
things going on there now. After that I would put every other third
world country together in one boat. It just makes you realize how
lucky you are to live in America. It’s pretty strange just
to realize that there is such a thing as a third world level. Whether
it’s in Central America or Africa they are all similar and
to name just one would be disrespecting a lot of countries. They
were all interesting and very eye-opening.
Do you usually
get much time for sightseeing when you travel?
With the national
team a bit more than with club teams. With club teams you are usually
just in and out. We just go to the hotel and maybe for safety reasons
we just hang out until the game and then leave when it’s over.
With the national team we usually are usually at the game location
for a week. If it’s a friendly and not a World Cup qualifier
then we get to see some things, which is nice. But overall, we don’t
really get to see much.
Have you
been to Japan or Korea?
No, Hong Kong
is the closest I’ve been. Hopefully next summer I’ll get
to see those places.
If you had
not become a professional soccer player, what would you be doing
now?
I honestly have
no idea. Maybe I would be doing something in New York City. A lot
of my friends from home work on Wall Street so maybe something like
that. That’s something I’m glad I didn’t have to
worry about.
How did playing
in the club system in New Jersey and then in college at Virginia
prepare you for a professional career?
The system we
have in America is not as good as it is in South America or Europe
but I think I was lucky because I grew up constantly playing soccer.
I played year round, which is important, and also against good players,
whether it was in New Jersey with my club team or in college. When
I started joining the youth national team it really helped because
the competition was better. I was always traveling and playing abroad.
I was lucky enough to constantly be able to improve and learn as
a player.
I think some
sort of youth system that is geared toward creating professional
players really needs to be put in place. As it is now kids have
to be lucky and get some sort of break and then have the natural
talent to make it rather than develop like they do in other countries.
Hopefully it will be the aim of the next generation to try to start
doing that.
Your wife
Danielle played for the UNC women's team. Has she considered the
WUSA?
She hasn’t
played in several years but who knows? She said that living in Europe
she has learned so much of the game just from watching the games
that I’ve played in. Even though she hasn’t played she
has learned so much living over here. But playing again is not something
she’s desperate to do. Right now she’s very happy to be
a mom and live here in Scotland.
What position
do you think your son will play?
He’s only
two so it’s hard to say. At the moment he is kind of finding
it hard to pick between six or seven different sports. He likes
to play everything. Maybe I’ll get him a set of golf clubs;
that seems to be the thing every dad is saying these days. I think
the longer we are over here he will definitely want to be a soccer
player when he gets older. Up front scoring goals is where I’d
put him.
What advice
would you give a young American player aspiring to a professional
career?
Kind of what
I said before, it’s really important to play a lot. The important
thing at a young age is just to play. Coaches need to make sure
they don’t get too particular with drills and things like that
because at a young age, even up to 14 or 15, kids just need to go
out and play. That’s why in other countries that are great
in soccer - whether it’s Argentina, Brazil, France, and so
on - their kids are just out playing all of the time. That’s
why they are so skillful because it’s just natural for them.
Then the older they get things start getting more structured for
them. Basically, what I’m saying is that they should just go
out and play even if it’s pick-up games. In America they play
pick-up basketball and the talented players we have in that sport
grew up just playing in the street or wherever they could find.
That’s probably the best thing, just to play. Whether it’s
three on three, ten on ten, or whatever, I think they are really
going to improve and learn how to play the game.
Is Bruce
Arena very different as a coach now than he was at UVA?
I think so.
Like a player gaining experience it’s the same thing with coaches.
He’s learned a lot more. He took the step from college to the
pros and did that well. He was successful and now he’s doing
that with the national team. He has learned a lot, about the game
and dealing with players. Dealing with professional players is a
lot different. It’s not easy and he’s done it quickly.
He gets very involved in his job; he’s always watching games
and studying players. He really enjoys it. I think he’s definitely
a better coach now than he was at the college level.
What is it
like playing in a Rangers vs. Celtic game and being part of such
a huge rivalry?
It’s an
incredible atmosphere to play in. The game means so much to both
sets of supporters. For me personally it’s the most fun game
in which to play and probably looking back on my career it will
be hard to say that I played in something else as spectacular as
that. The noise level, the crowd, the pace of the game, and just
the excitement surrounding the game — it’s just something
impossible to compare with anything in American sports. Every time
we play there is a lot on the line because we are the two best teams
in Scotland. Everyone is watching, all over the world and all over
Great Britain, so we are really up for those games. In the locker
room it has to be the easiest team talk for both coaches because
both teams are so motivated.
Tell us what
you like about your Fila boots.
The newest ones
are great. The first time I put them on they were a great fit. The
shoe really wraps around my foot and is so comfortable. It’s
probably the most comfortable shoe I can ever remember wearing.
It’s great for all kinds of surfaces. I’ve played in them
on dry hard fields and I’ve gotten away with wearing them even
on really wet and soft fields because of the way they grip. I really
like the blade style of cleats and they seem to be better on my
feet as well. It takes the impact better. I’m really excited
about them and plan on wearing them for quite a while.
Go
to the Owen Interview
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to the Irwin Interview
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to the Guti Interview
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to the Diego Serna Interview
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