Aspire in the World Fellows Book - 2025

50 51 11TH ASPIRE ACADEMY GLOBAL SUMMIT ASPIRE IN THE WORLD FELLOWS Everything has to be clear—how you want to play, what you expect on and off the pitch, and the environment you want to create. We are all unique, yet we all want to win and create something meaningful. Clarity about player profiles helps maximize the chance of achieving what you want, even knowing you might fall short. Sometimes we want to do things that are not logical or coherent, so the first step is to step back and clarify the vision: where we want to go and how we plan to get there, understanding adversity will come. I try to train my eyes to see solutions rather than problems. Clarity brings structure, and structure creates freedom. Within that framework, players can express themselves. For me, they cannot be separated. For example, if you and I played together but you didn’t sleep well, you may not perform, even though we trained the same all week. Players deal with pressure, family issues, or evenpositive things they struggle to handle. I need to know that. Ifplayerswant todowell—and I believe 99% do—I will challenge and support them depending on what they need at the moment. It’s not just about knowing them; it’s about choosing the right moment to speak, to stay silent, or to guide them. Leadership is hard to define because it requires different tools depending on the person and the context. Clarity of vision is crucial, but so is vulnerability. I don’t know everything, and that’s important to acknowledge. For me, it’s not about technicality; it’s about attitude. A 17-year-old might lose the ball, but if he competes no matter what, that’s what I look for. If he’s here, he already has qualities. Talent matters, but resilience, mental stamina, and consistency make the difference. When a young player competes in any situation, I value that highly. You’ve said you look at the person before the athlete. That’s easier said than done. Do you have coaching methods that help you implement that? Where would you rank understanding the human being compared to technical or tactical aspects? When coaching a 17-year-old entering the professional world and a 30-year-old veteran, how do you approach those situations? STAR CHAT It’s taught day by day. I don’t talkmuch about winning because if we don’t win, we’re out. What matters is how and what you do every day. Every day is a competition—compete with joy. When my kids were young, they cried when they lost. That competitive instinct came naturally. Self-doubt is a killer. If players believe in themselves, they try more, and by trying more they improve and increase their chances of success. If you’re afraid to make mistakes, you won’t try. Coaches and parents have to balance correcting errors with encouraging effort. Sometimes the work is on the pitch, sometimes off it, but we must help players become aware of this dynamic. Creativityrequires structure. Structure is the foundation that allows players to be creative and free. Freedom, for me, is about relationships between players. I might have the ball, but the most important player is the one off the ball. How do we connect two, three, four players who read the game the same way at the same moment? When that happens, the rest follows. Structure doesn’t mean staying fixed in your position. I love players who move, who create uncertainty for opponents. I call it “runningtogether”— that’s the essence of structure for me. I was happy to win because we all seek success. But winning is not my focus; improvement is. When we won the MLS Cup in 2023, it wasn’t difficult to challenge the players because our standard is to become a better version of ourselves. You compete with yourself to grow. You may struggle with your right foot or with defensive positioning, can you improve that? Results and trophies are outcomes; I cannot control them. I can control the desire to improve. If you focus only on weaknesses, you ignore what you already do well. Balance is key. I believe in provoking luck—luck favors people who try. Is mentality something you can teach? At your level, everyone is technically good. But mentality is often what separates players. You often talk about freedomwithin structure. Too much structure made me a worse player—how do you help players find that balance? You’ve won the MLS Cup, Leagues Cup, and you’ve done it with your own philosophy. But how hard is it to recreate hunger in your players?