June 24, 2025 • 34 mins
It’s September 2024. The national sports press has gathered at Snapdragon Stadium for the unveiling of San Diego FC’s first-ever head coach — Mikey Varas.
As he prepares to face the media and the fans, we delve into the club’s hiring process and hear from those behind the decision to bring Mikey to America’s Finest City.
Coming off a tumultuous two-week stint as interim USMNT coach, we find out why they believe he’s the right man for the job — despite his lack of top-tier experience...
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
It's ten am on September seventeenth, twenty twenty four, a beautiful,
bright fall morning in southern California, but deep within the
bowels of San Diego Have Sea's snap Dragon Stadium. Inside
a glass walled conference room, the air is heavy, the
atmosphere charged with anticipation. Journalists hurry to take their seats.
(00:28):
No pads are opened, tape recorders are primed and ready.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Thanks everybody for coming today, and it was again another
historical announcement. Feels like just a few weeks ago that
we were all here and not sure. Another to do
list item checked off.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Tyler Heaps San Diego Have Sea's youthful sporting director looks
pretty pleased, and so he should be. His search is over.
The club is about to unveil its first ever head coach.
Despite the time pressure, the race to get everything ready,
this was one decision they took their time over.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
We have a luxury as an expansion team where we
can take our time to hire a head coach and
ensure that we get this correct. And I think we
are very happy with what that process was.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
We started with a.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Very long list.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
We have a luxury at right to dream in our
network in football, to really look at everybody that we
knew from a coaching standpoint and a philosophy standpoint.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Going through its contacts and connections. Tyler and his team
sifted through resumes and held numerous interviews. They were after
something very specific. This project needs more than just a leader,
more than just a winner. They need a builder.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
We also are building a culture here in San Diego
out at Singing Hills, and we need to ensure that
first and foremost was a place where people want to be.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
So which legend of the game did they land on
some exotic overseas star, maybe a famous X pro who
will inspire the troops, or a grizzled MLS veteran to
steady the nerves. Apparently none of the above, And I think.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
That and his skill set will will be a massive
piece for us here in San Diego as we look
to do the future and starting in twenty twenty five.
So with that, Mikey, Welcome to the club.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Entered Mikey bias. If you've never heard of him, that's okay.
He probably wouldn't blame you either. Not much older than Tyler,
Mikey is also a rookie, that's right, as DFC will
be his first ever head coach role for a pro
men's team. Medays when Right to Dreams say they played young,
(02:46):
they weren't kidding. In February twenty twenty five, San Diego
e FC became the thirtieth team to enter Major League Soccer,
now the largest professional league on the planet. But this
is more than just another football club. At least that's
the hope of the club's co owners. Under the leadership
of Sir Mohammed Mansour, Right to Dream is an organization
(03:07):
promising to rock American soccer to its foundations with a
revolutionary approach to coaching and youth development. Anchoring the project
in the local community is the Sequon Band of the
Kumgai Nation, the first ever Native American owners in men's
pro sports, and as the only MLS club officially sanctioned
(03:28):
to recruit out of Mexican I mean, this thing could
really fly, that is, if everything goes to plan. This
episode sees the arrival of sdfc's first ever head coach,
Mike E. Vadis. So, who is he, what is his philosophy?
And how on earth did he land what might be
(03:49):
the best job in the league at his first attempt
captured in the final months before the twenty twenty five
season kicks off. This series follows sdfc's race to field
their first ever team. I'm Adrian Garcia Markis and this
is behind the Flow, the origin story of San Diego FC.
(04:14):
Back in September twenty twenty four, if you had heard
the name Mikey Badas, it might have been for the
wrong reason. The truth is he has had one previous
taste of first team men's football, the biggest job in
the country, in fact, a two game stint as interim
US men's national team manager, not an easy gig, but
(04:35):
after overseeing the us is first home lost to Canada
in almost seventy years, it was his post match press
conference that captured the.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Headlines mentalities on the players. Sorry and they know it.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
They know it.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
You know, we speak the truth to each other.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I love those.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Guys, but they know that mentality to fight and to
run into sacrifice. I can't do that for them.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Mikey was just saying how it is, but it didn't
go down too well on social media. Then again, what
does it felt like?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
He threw the players under the bus a little bit there,
not to say they didn't need to hear that, yes
he did.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Like it's not my fault, Yes it is your fault.
Your job is to motivate. That's it.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I'm not saying that Varus isn't necessarily going to be bad,
but it's a it's a big risk.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Welcome to the big leagues, Mikey, where everyone's a critic
and every word is scrutinized. Back at snap Dragon State,
San Diego's new coach is about to take the stage.
Let's hope this one goes down better.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
And most importantly, I want to thank the people of
San Diego, of the communities in San Diego for intrust
to me and such an important project. What I can
say is I will give everything to this project and
to the people of the entire region to make sure
that we make you film pride and not only for
(06:02):
your community, for the team. The project is greater than
just a sport. It's about impacting not only the players
and the people involved, the fans, but the entire community
and ultimately trying to impact humanity in a really positive way.
And so, as a coach who has worked at every level,
(06:28):
what excites me the most being part of something much
much bigger than me by myself.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Mikey comes across as humble and thoughtful. The assembled journalists
make notes and not approvingly. Next, he gives some insight
into his coaching philosophy.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
One thing that I know that I have strong convictions
about is you can play with young players. You can
play a proactive, entertaining style of play, and you can
do that and win. And it takes a certain amount
of work, dedication and conviction, and it takes some time.
But all of those things are possible, and we should
not limit ourselves to to any status quo.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
After fielding a few questions in English, Mikey turns his
attention to the second row of reporters, the Spanish speaking press.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Miki insala, when is e larrada porqueunico.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Native Spanish speaking? Another box check, and with that the
club brings the press conference to a close. Hey, that
went pretty well. Outside the conference room, we caught up
with Mark Ziegler, a local sports reporter. He too was
(07:49):
impressed in his view that early misstep in the Post
Canada pressor is all just part of the learning curve.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
My primary vid is Cairo Stia State Basketball and one
of the hallmarks of Steve Fisher and Brian Dutcher. As
Senda say basketball coaches, they never ever throw flayers in
with us. They never criticize players in any way, shape
or form.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
I'm sure he didn't attend it that way.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
That's the way it came across, and I was not
surprised that the criticism that was leveled again, and I
think he'll learn from that.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
As it turns out, Mikey has no issue taking life
lessons either. In fact, he makes a point of it.
But he also knows it's not the media or the
pundits whose opinions matter most.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
So I don't really follow the news. I'm not on
social media. I focus on the day to day interactions
I have with people, you know, and ultimately I know
the relationships I have with every single player and the
relationships they have with me. I know that they got
(09:01):
my back, they know that I got their back. Ultimately,
everything is a learning lesson too, and when you're a
young coach and you're in front of the media, you
have to understand how to navigate specific situations. And that's great.
I think there's no problem in that. I'm far from perfect,
you know, but one of my biggest strengths is I
(09:22):
have a growth mindset and I adapt very quickly to
learning lessons that life may may provide for me. But
the most important thing that I know is the relationships
that I've built with players are over time, every single day.
How I treat them with respect, how I show them
(09:43):
that I believe in them, how I show them that
I care about them, how I really try to help
them get better, not only as individual players, but also
help them in their personal lives. Because I really do
value them way beyond the football pitch, and that's that's
the most important thing to me.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
National MLS journalist Charles Bowen has been on the beat
a long time and is an expert on US youth suck.
To him, signing mikey Baas to lead this team is
a clear sign of intent.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
This is a hot shot, young rising figure in the
North American game.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
His reputation began to.
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Grow when he was a member of the SC Dallas Academy.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Now that is.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Probably the most prolific academy in MLS in terms of
just the number of players is produced for the first team,
but more so the sheer volume of transfer revenue it's
brought in This is his first role as a number one,
top flight, first team level, so there will inevitably be
a learning curve for him. I do think it's evocative
(10:49):
of the culture that San Diego SI wants to build
and that Right to Dream are already sort of guided
by in that their coach is a young prospect with
high upside, and they they surely would see potential to
develop him into something greater than he is today in
the same way that they believe he can do that
with his players.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Back at Snapdragon and the press conference, Mark Ziegler provides
some more local press reaction. Having learnt a little more
this morning, does he think MLS can be an instant
success after a thirty year wait team.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
So, I think that's you know, that's sart of my
first thought is that it's overdue given the market. My
second thought is it's a really tricky market. I mean,
anyone who's lived here understand San Diego sports is unlike
anywhere in the country. It's not a situation where you
can just show up and say we're here and you're
going to sell tickets. That people are to common support you.
(11:47):
San Diego sports fans a little relationship phobic and.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
There's some trust issues.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
But you know, time will tell.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Well. Time is one thing that is in very short supply.
Its DFC. So, who is coached by us? Really? And
(12:16):
how did he get the job? Let's ask the man himself.
It seems the forty one year old California native is
already feeling right at home here in San Diego.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
So born and raised in the Bay Area, so San Francisco,
moved up and down the peninsula. My father's Chilean and
my mother's Americans, So I'm a dual national bilingual kid
from a culturally diverse family. Grew up in the cultural
diversity of the Bay Area too, which was a major
(12:48):
major strength to my upbringing.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
It was from his visits to Chile, the land of
his father, that young Mikey first fell in love with
a beautiful game at age four, he caught the bug.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
When I first started playing.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You know, I actually.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Wasn't like one of the very good kids like when
I was like an four and five years old. My
dad would coach and I think he was frustrated because
I didn't show this like crazy interest. You know. Well,
they took we did a family trip to Chile, and
the way my mom describes it was, you know, I
got there and I like kind of liked the sport.
(13:25):
And as soon as I got to my aunt's house,
aunt my uncle's house, my cousin Joselo said, hey, you
want to come out and kick the ball with me,
And basically I walked out that apartment and then she
didn't see me for like the next week and a half,
and all I did was just play out in the
streets with my cousin.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
As little Mikey hit his teens, he was playing seriously
and hoping to go pro, attending summer camps back in Chile.
He kept devouring that South American football culture.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
So I did three or four summers in a row
playing with youthah Vision of New York City al Catoliga.
But during one of those trips, my uncle took me
to a qualifier and we watched but wai against Chile
Marcelo Salas bum Samorano at the time, who are obviously
legendary players pouring rain. We hadn't qualified for the last
(14:19):
World Cup due to suspension and four zero game.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
But it wasn't the action on the pitch that captured
young Mikey's attention. It was what was happening in the
stands all around.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Him, just watching the fans jumping up and down for
ninety minutes, like how much passion. I think that was
definitely a watershed moment for me, where it was already
a big part of my life, but that was the
moment that I was completely obsessed and in love with
the game and it was all is. Not only was
(15:01):
that going to be my game, but it was going
to be my life.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Mikey gave it everything to make it as a pro,
even having trials back in Cheeleh with Santiago Wanderers, but
when it didn't work out, he wasn't about to just
walk away. He simply switched tracks.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Got into coaching really young and basically almost right out
of college. Yeah, coached every age group there is, so
I've coached boys and girls from five year olds all
the way to adults. That's been an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Mikey quickly sort up through the youth soccer ranks. He
coached at academy level in Sacramento, then got a move
to MLS club FC Dallas from Texas. He was recruited
by the US Soccer Federation, which already saw him as
one of the brightest young coaching talents in the country.
He kept on climbing the ranks, coaching the national under
(15:55):
twenty side to a Gonkakav Championship and a Youth twenty
World Cup quarterfinal before stepping up for his short stint
as interim coach to the US men's national team in
the summer of twenty twenty four. Here's journalist Charles Baum again.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
So, I think you had the sense that Mikey was
going places and his brand thus far again is developing
young talent, playing an assertive, pressing oriented, typically ball dominant
style of play that sort of meshes with what Greg
Bearrehalter has tried to bring to the national team and
what in general many figures in and around US soccer
(16:34):
want the American game to be perceived as, which is
more technical, more skillful, closer to the global norms, and
able to stand toe for toe with top teams around
the world at international level.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So varres is.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
He's a first year MLS coach. I think he knows
the league, but he will he will encounter some difficult
challenges along the way, but it's very much in keeping
with the culture.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
San Diego FC Sporting director Tyler Hips, as a former
US Soccer Federation man himself obviously knew of Mikey's reputation.
It wasn't long before official conversations began.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I was approached by the club. I think the club
reached out to US Soccer just to find out who
were some up and coming younger coaches with a good
profile for the project. And my name came up. And
when I was asked if I'd be interested, I said absolutely.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I think Mikey is being a little bit modest here.
When an organization like Right to Dream is hiring, there's
not too many candidates that fit the bill.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
When we were hirving on new head coach and then
we did interviews with several people, and these interviews was
primarily done by Tyler mess and myself.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That's Fleming Patterson group technical director. He Tyler and Right
to Dreams Head of football Matt Davidson knew right away
Mikey was someone they work with.
Speaker 8 (18:01):
Mikey was the candidate that stood out for many ways.
Of course, his personality, his character is fantastic. He's a
genuine good human being with great values. Of course, he's
an inexperienced head coach at a club first team level.
That's just to look at the CV, but he's actually
(18:22):
a very experienced coach. And we also like coaches with
us that has been with the academy because that means
they have a focus on player development, so that's a
big plus.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
After a round of informal talks, a few candidates were
invited to present to the Right to Dream Committee. Once again,
Mikey impressed. Here's Fleming Patterson again.
Speaker 7 (18:44):
In his already thirteen minutes into his presentation, I had
a strong sense that he would definitely be a top
candidate because he was very clear in his way of working,
in his way of doing things. So he showed a
high degree of security and clarity, and that's always so
(19:09):
important for players that they have a coach that is
clear and also it seems like a very good communicator.
And then he showed this openness that it has a
very open mindset and also asked some very good questions
to why we're doing this and this. He had some
(19:32):
very very good reflections after our first meeting, So already
after the first interview, I had a strong sense that
he would be a top candidate.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
But Mikey's charm offensive didn't stop. When the interview ended,
he kept thinking about how his San Diego side might look.
We'll get into it more another time, but central to
the interview process, central to everything I write a dream
is the group's style of play, literally a group handbook
of how to play football, the Right to dreamway. No
(20:05):
matter whether a player is in Ghana, Egypt, Denmark or
right here in San Diego, it's the playbook that guides them. Clearly,
that's not going to work for every coach. And to
be fair, when Mike you read it, he had some
ideas of his own too.
Speaker 8 (20:21):
And then of course what we saw when Mikey that
the more we talked details on the interview, the more
he got excited and the more he got into it.
And Mikey was also a guy that For example, in
one of the interviews we did, I challenged him on
defensive transitions of what we're hear in our playbook called
attacking balance, which basically means how do you position yourself
(20:44):
when you have the ball attacking and you might lose it?
What's your strategy and when you lose it? And I
challenged some of the clips that Mikey she had with us.
And next day when I woke up, he sent me
like twelve WhatsApp messages and clips videos and wanted to
discuss more. There was a very that's exactly how we
(21:05):
want to work. We want people that have self motivated
and in general brings more to the table.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
After his what's Up initiative came the second interview and
by this time it was Mikey's job to lose rookie
or not.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
And after our second interview with with Mikey and then
Tyler Mas and me, there was no doubt that Mikey
was the main We think it's a benefit to have
like younger people compared to a very experienced coach that
has his or her own ways of doing things. Then
(21:43):
we think like a little younger, younger coach and this
olden mindset. This is a huge benefit for Right to
Dream and it fits Right to Dream perfectly.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
As a former coach himself, Fleming will be a mentor
to Mikey. In the coming weeks and months there gonna
be working very closely together on how to build an
SDFC team that works with the Right to Dream model.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
The more focus on clubs and performance, where I have
more focus on academies, potential pipelines, but obviously also on
the technical football pad. So I will be closer to
Mikey and is already pretty close to him because mike
is also that that kind of person that is curious,
(22:31):
wants to learn new things, wants to see things. So
Mikey and me we already have a very very good relationship,
but also our collaboration in terms of football is great.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Exactly how the right to Dream style of play is
going to work in MLS is something Mikey and Fleming
are going to have to figure out. But for now,
Mikey has a pretty clear picture of the fundamentals that
will anchor his team.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
We're completely aligned in terms of our football philosophy. The
style of play is always founded on this brave and
relentless fighting team spirit. This is the foundation. Of course,
we want to play really nice football, but a fighting
spirit is the number one ingredient, is the first ingredient
that we're together and that every time we step on
(23:19):
the field, the fans can see clearly we give everything
for them and for each other. Then, when it comes
to specifically the footballing, we want to control the flow
of the game and we want to do that by
playing the game on our terms. So we go after
the game and we have a conviction to build up
(23:40):
with being dynamic, being purposeful, being vertical, and being creative.
And at the same time, we want to press as
high as possible, and we want to press as early
as possible. The most important thing, in my opinion, is
you'll see a proactive team that wants to control the game,
that wants to go after the game and be proactive
rather than reactive.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I don't know about you, but all of that sounds
pretty good to me. Of course, at this point, match
day one is months away, and as Mike Tyson famously said,
everyone's got a plan until they get hit in the face.
But whatever happens on the pitch, Tyler heaps his confident
the whole organization is pulling together and most importantly, they're
(24:25):
in it for the long run.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I think we would all be naive to think that
we're in support not to win, and I think we
have an ownership group that values that tremendously. I think
we need to be successful. We need to be successful
in the year one and well beyond. So it's about
building it and setting it up for long term success.
And that also correlates with our hire and Mikey, I
think we probably could have maybe got somebody that would
(24:49):
have had us a bit more experience on day one,
but we need to make sure that obviously we're aligned
and we are planning for success well beyond twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
For his part, Mikey can't wait to get going. There's
a lot to do and a lot for him to learn,
but he knows the owners in management are investing in
him as a person as well as a coach. He
also appreciates the responsibility they have in being able to
write the first chapter in sdpc's history.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
I think they found somebody who's very open minded and
growth minded in terms of wanting to improve, knowing that
I'm not a finished product yet, and also that I
want to be part of something way bigger than just
what I bring to the table.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
You know.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
I know that I'll play an important part in this project,
but there's going to be so many other people who
also play important parts in this and ultimately I want
to be a small part of a big story versus
a big part of a small story.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
So far, so good for coach badas he met the
right to dream bosses and impress them. He got the job,
and now he's past the press conference and his first
media duties with Flying Colors. But after leaving Snapdragon, thoughts
turn to his next interview. Tomorrow, He's due to meet
the most important stakeholders of all the fans at the
(26:26):
Courtyard Bar Downtown. The club's hosting a fan of bit.
This includes meeting the supporter groups hoping to become the
official SDFC Supporter Union. Remember those guys we met in
episode one, the ones nearly trading punches outside the bar, Yeah,
those getther. When Tyler and Mikey arrive at the open
air events space, they find the beer flowing and the
(26:49):
San Diego faithful in full voice. You can hear them
from around the block. The place is packed with people
singing in chain flags and SDFC banners are rippling overhead.
First time is a Q and A giving fans a
chance to put Tyler and Mikey to the test.
Speaker 9 (27:10):
So give it off as we welcome them to the stage.
The first ever sporting director Tyler Heaps and the first
ever head coach in sd FC history, Mikey Baris.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
When the cheering dice down, Tyler kicks things on This
is also his first chance to speak directly with the fans.
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Thank you guys all for coming.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I appreciate every one of you.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Had a chance to meet a lot of you over
the last coming weeks. But thank you for making me
feel at home in San Diego. I appreciate that, all right.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Next up is Mikey, and I'll tell you what he
knows how to get a crowd of San Diegan's on
his side.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Early on, specifically, I have the fortune to say that
I met my wife in San Diego.
Speaker 10 (28:06):
I met her on Pacific Beach. She's my wife is Gringa,
but in her heart she's Latina and her cooking is amazing.
But and she's just amazing.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
But I met her in Pacific Beach. Her family is
from South Mission Beach. They're all from here originally. So
I have a really really close connection to San Diego.
It's always been the home that I never lived in,
and now I get to have the pleasure living here.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
After the Q and A Tighter and Mikey take the
time to shake hands, going fan by fan, they even
get some suggestions for new players signings. There's a long
way to go, but Tyler is confident they've got the
guy to captain this ship.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
First and foremost, I'm excited. I think you hear Mikey talking.
Speaker 11 (28:58):
He has so much passion about the sport, about how
aligned we are, I think for this project. And so
I think, first and foremost, extremely happy to get our
candidate that we think can be a very good head
coach here. And then it's another employee that we were
trying to hire, all these different employees to work with,
and I think it's another one that will bring a
lot of energy and passion to this project.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Just as Tyler and Mikey are about to call it
a night, the pair of them get their reward for
a hard day's work, acceptance and appreciation from the fans.
It's a moment for them both the chance get going
again louder and loud. Soon Mikey and Tyler are swept
(29:41):
into the mob and are jumping up and down with them,
both smiling and soaked in beard spared. It feels like
something special, maybe Brown, Okay, where's my song? Save Mikey.
Speaker 10 (30:02):
Saven for Mikel sav itr.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Mikey. It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Thank you guys all for coming.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
I appreciate every one of you. Back at SDFC headquarters
(30:27):
a few days later, Mikey is getting to work or
thinking about it. Honestly, it's hard for him to know
where to start.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
It's been as challenging as planned for it. That way,
So you know, when you start a club, you know
it's going to be daunting, but once you're in it,
you just realize how much work there is. We're standing
up an entire organization from scratch. There's clubs that have
been working for hundreds of years and still don't got
it right.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
On January eleven, twenty twenty five, less than five months
from this moment, San Diego's first squad, we'll report for
training at the club's new soccer complex at Singing Hills
in Alcohol. Right now, Mikey only has a handful of
players and the training ground covered in construction tape.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
I'm confident that we're doing all the right things, but
Rome wasn't built in a day. It's the cliche that
just makes a lot of sense here. At times, it
feels like we're working hour after hour and you kind
of get the sense that you're swimming in the ocean
and you can't see where the land is right it's
(31:35):
just more work on top of more work. But what
we do know is we have faith that we're doing
all the right things, and we know we're making progress,
even if we can't see the land ahead of us yet.
And there will come a time when more players are
in the building, more staffs in the building, and we
start to see that horizon and we start to see
that land, and we'll know that it was all those
(31:58):
strides kind of in the midst of just an unwavering
wave of work that got us to that point. We
know we're very confident in that.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
And Mikey isn't doing it alone. The office around him
is filling up every day with new members of staff,
all dedicated to doing their bit to launch the club.
And upstairs in the boardroom they've got the full backing
of the top man.
Speaker 12 (32:27):
Tyler ran a really exhaustive process along with the Right
to Dream group.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
This is Tom Penn, CEO of San Diego FC.
Speaker 12 (32:37):
People talk about what it's like to be a head
coach and having to make snap decisions under pressure that
have consequences, and you have to react to what's happening.
You know, sometimes you just see it. You just see
people that have it in them, and I believe he's
going to be a very successful head coach in Major
League Soccer.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
It may be Mikey and Tyler's first time launching an
MLS club, but it ain't. He was the mastermind behind
Major League Soccer's first ever billion dollar franchise. He brought
his team championship, gold, broke points and gold records, and
built a sporting dynasty in record time. The name of
his club LAFC. That might bother some around here, but
(33:18):
I tell you, if he can make lightning strike twice,
San Diego is gonna love him next time. On Behind
the Flow, we revealed the story of how a British
Egyptian billionaire philanthropist, a revolutionary global football organization, and a
(33:39):
Native American tribe came together to bring Major League Soccer
to San Diego. What exactly does it take to win
a franchise bid? And who'd pay half a billion dollars
to do it? Behind the Flow is a message heard production.
I'm your host, Adrian Garciamaricas the series. Forducer is McAllister Bexon,
(34:02):
Mark Kendrick is the assistant producer, and Rebecca Ware is
the field producer. Jake Warren and Sandra Ferrari are the
executive producers. James Cox and Gago Diaz are the production coordinators.
The sound editor is Lizzie Andrews and music composition is
by Tom Bill
It's ten am on September seventeenth, twenty twenty four, a beautiful,
bright fall morning in southern California, but deep within the
bowels of San Diego Have Sea's snap Dragon Stadium. Inside
a glass walled conference room, the air is heavy, the
atmosphere charged with anticipation. Journalists hurry to take their seats.
(00:28):
No pads are opened, tape recorders are primed and ready.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
Thanks everybody for coming today, and it was again another
historical announcement. Feels like just a few weeks ago that
we were all here and not sure. Another to do
list item checked off.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
Tyler Heaps San Diego Have Sea's youthful sporting director looks
pretty pleased, and so he should be. His search is over.
The club is about to unveil its first ever head coach.
Despite the time pressure, the race to get everything ready,
this was one decision they took their time over.
Speaker 2 (01:06):
We have a luxury as an expansion team where we
can take our time to hire a head coach and
ensure that we get this correct. And I think we
are very happy with what that process was.
Speaker 3 (01:19):
We started with a.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Very long list.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
We have a luxury at right to dream in our
network in football, to really look at everybody that we
knew from a coaching standpoint and a philosophy standpoint.
Speaker 1 (01:30):
Going through its contacts and connections. Tyler and his team
sifted through resumes and held numerous interviews. They were after
something very specific. This project needs more than just a leader,
more than just a winner. They need a builder.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
We also are building a culture here in San Diego
out at Singing Hills, and we need to ensure that
first and foremost was a place where people want to be.
Speaker 1 (01:55):
So which legend of the game did they land on
some exotic overseas star, maybe a famous X pro who
will inspire the troops, or a grizzled MLS veteran to
steady the nerves. Apparently none of the above, And I think.
Speaker 2 (02:10):
That and his skill set will will be a massive
piece for us here in San Diego as we look
to do the future and starting in twenty twenty five.
So with that, Mikey, Welcome to the club.
Speaker 1 (02:25):
Entered Mikey bias. If you've never heard of him, that's okay.
He probably wouldn't blame you either. Not much older than Tyler,
Mikey is also a rookie, that's right, as DFC will
be his first ever head coach role for a pro
men's team. Medays when Right to Dreams say they played young,
(02:46):
they weren't kidding. In February twenty twenty five, San Diego
e FC became the thirtieth team to enter Major League Soccer,
now the largest professional league on the planet. But this
is more than just another football club. At least that's
the hope of the club's co owners. Under the leadership
of Sir Mohammed Mansour, Right to Dream is an organization
(03:07):
promising to rock American soccer to its foundations with a
revolutionary approach to coaching and youth development. Anchoring the project
in the local community is the Sequon Band of the
Kumgai Nation, the first ever Native American owners in men's
pro sports, and as the only MLS club officially sanctioned
(03:28):
to recruit out of Mexican I mean, this thing could
really fly, that is, if everything goes to plan. This
episode sees the arrival of sdfc's first ever head coach,
Mike E. Vadis. So, who is he, what is his philosophy?
And how on earth did he land what might be
(03:49):
the best job in the league at his first attempt
captured in the final months before the twenty twenty five
season kicks off. This series follows sdfc's race to field
their first ever team. I'm Adrian Garcia Markis and this
is behind the Flow, the origin story of San Diego FC.
(04:14):
Back in September twenty twenty four, if you had heard
the name Mikey Badas, it might have been for the
wrong reason. The truth is he has had one previous
taste of first team men's football, the biggest job in
the country, in fact, a two game stint as interim
US men's national team manager, not an easy gig, but
(04:35):
after overseeing the us is first home lost to Canada
in almost seventy years, it was his post match press
conference that captured the.
Speaker 4 (04:45):
Headlines mentalities on the players. Sorry and they know it.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
They know it.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
You know, we speak the truth to each other.
Speaker 1 (04:52):
I love those.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Guys, but they know that mentality to fight and to
run into sacrifice. I can't do that for them.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Mikey was just saying how it is, but it didn't
go down too well on social media. Then again, what
does it felt like?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
He threw the players under the bus a little bit there,
not to say they didn't need to hear that, yes
he did.
Speaker 1 (05:11):
Like it's not my fault, Yes it is your fault.
Your job is to motivate. That's it.
Speaker 4 (05:16):
I'm not saying that Varus isn't necessarily going to be bad,
but it's a it's a big risk.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Welcome to the big leagues, Mikey, where everyone's a critic
and every word is scrutinized. Back at snap Dragon State,
San Diego's new coach is about to take the stage.
Let's hope this one goes down better.
Speaker 4 (05:41):
And most importantly, I want to thank the people of
San Diego, of the communities in San Diego for intrust
to me and such an important project. What I can
say is I will give everything to this project and
to the people of the entire region to make sure
that we make you film pride and not only for
(06:02):
your community, for the team. The project is greater than
just a sport. It's about impacting not only the players
and the people involved, the fans, but the entire community
and ultimately trying to impact humanity in a really positive way.
And so, as a coach who has worked at every level,
(06:28):
what excites me the most being part of something much
much bigger than me by myself.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Mikey comes across as humble and thoughtful. The assembled journalists
make notes and not approvingly. Next, he gives some insight
into his coaching philosophy.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
One thing that I know that I have strong convictions
about is you can play with young players. You can
play a proactive, entertaining style of play, and you can
do that and win. And it takes a certain amount
of work, dedication and conviction, and it takes some time.
But all of those things are possible, and we should
not limit ourselves to to any status quo.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
After fielding a few questions in English, Mikey turns his
attention to the second row of reporters, the Spanish speaking press.
Speaker 4 (07:20):
Miki insala, when is e larrada porqueunico.
Speaker 1 (07:28):
Native Spanish speaking? Another box check, and with that the
club brings the press conference to a close. Hey, that
went pretty well. Outside the conference room, we caught up
with Mark Ziegler, a local sports reporter. He too was
(07:49):
impressed in his view that early misstep in the Post
Canada pressor is all just part of the learning curve.
Speaker 5 (07:57):
My primary vid is Cairo Stia State Basketball and one
of the hallmarks of Steve Fisher and Brian Dutcher. As
Senda say basketball coaches, they never ever throw flayers in
with us. They never criticize players in any way, shape
or form.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
I'm sure he didn't attend it that way.
Speaker 5 (08:15):
That's the way it came across, and I was not
surprised that the criticism that was leveled again, and I
think he'll learn from that.
Speaker 1 (08:28):
As it turns out, Mikey has no issue taking life
lessons either. In fact, he makes a point of it.
But he also knows it's not the media or the
pundits whose opinions matter most.
Speaker 4 (08:40):
So I don't really follow the news. I'm not on
social media. I focus on the day to day interactions
I have with people, you know, and ultimately I know
the relationships I have with every single player and the
relationships they have with me. I know that they got
(09:01):
my back, they know that I got their back. Ultimately,
everything is a learning lesson too, and when you're a
young coach and you're in front of the media, you
have to understand how to navigate specific situations. And that's great.
I think there's no problem in that. I'm far from perfect,
you know, but one of my biggest strengths is I
(09:22):
have a growth mindset and I adapt very quickly to
learning lessons that life may may provide for me. But
the most important thing that I know is the relationships
that I've built with players are over time, every single day.
How I treat them with respect, how I show them
(09:43):
that I believe in them, how I show them that
I care about them, how I really try to help
them get better, not only as individual players, but also
help them in their personal lives. Because I really do
value them way beyond the football pitch, and that's that's
the most important thing to me.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
National MLS journalist Charles Bowen has been on the beat
a long time and is an expert on US youth suck.
To him, signing mikey Baas to lead this team is
a clear sign of intent.
Speaker 6 (10:15):
This is a hot shot, young rising figure in the
North American game.
Speaker 1 (10:21):
His reputation began to.
Speaker 6 (10:22):
Grow when he was a member of the SC Dallas Academy.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Now that is.
Speaker 6 (10:28):
Probably the most prolific academy in MLS in terms of
just the number of players is produced for the first team,
but more so the sheer volume of transfer revenue it's
brought in This is his first role as a number one,
top flight, first team level, so there will inevitably be
a learning curve for him. I do think it's evocative
(10:49):
of the culture that San Diego SI wants to build
and that Right to Dream are already sort of guided
by in that their coach is a young prospect with
high upside, and they they surely would see potential to
develop him into something greater than he is today in
the same way that they believe he can do that
with his players.
Speaker 1 (11:11):
Back at Snapdragon and the press conference, Mark Ziegler provides
some more local press reaction. Having learnt a little more
this morning, does he think MLS can be an instant
success after a thirty year wait team.
Speaker 5 (11:24):
So, I think that's you know, that's sart of my
first thought is that it's overdue given the market. My
second thought is it's a really tricky market. I mean,
anyone who's lived here understand San Diego sports is unlike
anywhere in the country. It's not a situation where you
can just show up and say we're here and you're
going to sell tickets. That people are to common support you.
(11:47):
San Diego sports fans a little relationship phobic and.
Speaker 1 (11:51):
There's some trust issues.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
But you know, time will tell.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
Well. Time is one thing that is in very short supply.
Its DFC. So, who is coached by us? Really? And
(12:16):
how did he get the job? Let's ask the man himself.
It seems the forty one year old California native is
already feeling right at home here in San Diego.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
So born and raised in the Bay Area, so San Francisco,
moved up and down the peninsula. My father's Chilean and
my mother's Americans, So I'm a dual national bilingual kid
from a culturally diverse family. Grew up in the cultural
diversity of the Bay Area too, which was a major
(12:48):
major strength to my upbringing.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
It was from his visits to Chile, the land of
his father, that young Mikey first fell in love with
a beautiful game at age four, he caught the bug.
Speaker 4 (13:01):
When I first started playing.
Speaker 2 (13:02):
You know, I actually.
Speaker 4 (13:03):
Wasn't like one of the very good kids like when
I was like an four and five years old. My
dad would coach and I think he was frustrated because
I didn't show this like crazy interest. You know. Well,
they took we did a family trip to Chile, and
the way my mom describes it was, you know, I
got there and I like kind of liked the sport.
(13:25):
And as soon as I got to my aunt's house,
aunt my uncle's house, my cousin Joselo said, hey, you
want to come out and kick the ball with me,
And basically I walked out that apartment and then she
didn't see me for like the next week and a half,
and all I did was just play out in the
streets with my cousin.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
As little Mikey hit his teens, he was playing seriously
and hoping to go pro, attending summer camps back in Chile.
He kept devouring that South American football culture.
Speaker 4 (13:56):
So I did three or four summers in a row
playing with youthah Vision of New York City al Catoliga.
But during one of those trips, my uncle took me
to a qualifier and we watched but wai against Chile
Marcelo Salas bum Samorano at the time, who are obviously
legendary players pouring rain. We hadn't qualified for the last
(14:19):
World Cup due to suspension and four zero game.
Speaker 1 (14:31):
But it wasn't the action on the pitch that captured
young Mikey's attention. It was what was happening in the
stands all around.
Speaker 4 (14:38):
Him, just watching the fans jumping up and down for
ninety minutes, like how much passion. I think that was
definitely a watershed moment for me, where it was already
a big part of my life, but that was the
moment that I was completely obsessed and in love with
the game and it was all is. Not only was
(15:01):
that going to be my game, but it was going
to be my life.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Mikey gave it everything to make it as a pro,
even having trials back in Cheeleh with Santiago Wanderers, but
when it didn't work out, he wasn't about to just
walk away. He simply switched tracks.
Speaker 4 (15:20):
Got into coaching really young and basically almost right out
of college. Yeah, coached every age group there is, so
I've coached boys and girls from five year olds all
the way to adults. That's been an amazing experience.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Mikey quickly sort up through the youth soccer ranks. He
coached at academy level in Sacramento, then got a move
to MLS club FC Dallas from Texas. He was recruited
by the US Soccer Federation, which already saw him as
one of the brightest young coaching talents in the country.
He kept on climbing the ranks, coaching the national under
(15:55):
twenty side to a Gonkakav Championship and a Youth twenty
World Cup quarterfinal before stepping up for his short stint
as interim coach to the US men's national team in
the summer of twenty twenty four. Here's journalist Charles Baum again.
Speaker 6 (16:11):
So, I think you had the sense that Mikey was
going places and his brand thus far again is developing
young talent, playing an assertive, pressing oriented, typically ball dominant
style of play that sort of meshes with what Greg
Bearrehalter has tried to bring to the national team and
what in general many figures in and around US soccer
(16:34):
want the American game to be perceived as, which is
more technical, more skillful, closer to the global norms, and
able to stand toe for toe with top teams around
the world at international level.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
So varres is.
Speaker 6 (16:50):
He's a first year MLS coach. I think he knows
the league, but he will he will encounter some difficult
challenges along the way, but it's very much in keeping
with the culture.
Speaker 1 (17:01):
San Diego FC Sporting director Tyler Hips, as a former
US Soccer Federation man himself obviously knew of Mikey's reputation.
It wasn't long before official conversations began.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
I was approached by the club. I think the club
reached out to US Soccer just to find out who
were some up and coming younger coaches with a good
profile for the project. And my name came up. And
when I was asked if I'd be interested, I said absolutely.
Speaker 1 (17:30):
I think Mikey is being a little bit modest here.
When an organization like Right to Dream is hiring, there's
not too many candidates that fit the bill.
Speaker 7 (17:39):
When we were hirving on new head coach and then
we did interviews with several people, and these interviews was
primarily done by Tyler mess and myself.
Speaker 1 (17:50):
That's Fleming Patterson group technical director. He Tyler and Right
to Dreams Head of football Matt Davidson knew right away
Mikey was someone they work with.
Speaker 8 (18:01):
Mikey was the candidate that stood out for many ways.
Of course, his personality, his character is fantastic. He's a
genuine good human being with great values. Of course, he's
an inexperienced head coach at a club first team level.
That's just to look at the CV, but he's actually
(18:22):
a very experienced coach. And we also like coaches with
us that has been with the academy because that means
they have a focus on player development, so that's a
big plus.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
After a round of informal talks, a few candidates were
invited to present to the Right to Dream Committee. Once again,
Mikey impressed. Here's Fleming Patterson again.
Speaker 7 (18:44):
In his already thirteen minutes into his presentation, I had
a strong sense that he would definitely be a top
candidate because he was very clear in his way of working,
in his way of doing things. So he showed a
high degree of security and clarity, and that's always so
(19:09):
important for players that they have a coach that is
clear and also it seems like a very good communicator.
And then he showed this openness that it has a
very open mindset and also asked some very good questions
to why we're doing this and this. He had some
(19:32):
very very good reflections after our first meeting, So already
after the first interview, I had a strong sense that
he would be a top candidate.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
But Mikey's charm offensive didn't stop. When the interview ended,
he kept thinking about how his San Diego side might look.
We'll get into it more another time, but central to
the interview process, central to everything I write a dream
is the group's style of play, literally a group handbook
of how to play football, the Right to dreamway. No
(20:05):
matter whether a player is in Ghana, Egypt, Denmark or
right here in San Diego, it's the playbook that guides them. Clearly,
that's not going to work for every coach. And to
be fair, when Mike you read it, he had some
ideas of his own too.
Speaker 8 (20:21):
And then of course what we saw when Mikey that
the more we talked details on the interview, the more
he got excited and the more he got into it.
And Mikey was also a guy that For example, in
one of the interviews we did, I challenged him on
defensive transitions of what we're hear in our playbook called
attacking balance, which basically means how do you position yourself
(20:44):
when you have the ball attacking and you might lose it?
What's your strategy and when you lose it? And I
challenged some of the clips that Mikey she had with us.
And next day when I woke up, he sent me
like twelve WhatsApp messages and clips videos and wanted to
discuss more. There was a very that's exactly how we
(21:05):
want to work. We want people that have self motivated
and in general brings more to the table.
Speaker 1 (21:13):
After his what's Up initiative came the second interview and
by this time it was Mikey's job to lose rookie
or not.
Speaker 7 (21:21):
And after our second interview with with Mikey and then
Tyler Mas and me, there was no doubt that Mikey
was the main We think it's a benefit to have
like younger people compared to a very experienced coach that
has his or her own ways of doing things. Then
(21:43):
we think like a little younger, younger coach and this
olden mindset. This is a huge benefit for Right to
Dream and it fits Right to Dream perfectly.
Speaker 1 (21:53):
As a former coach himself, Fleming will be a mentor
to Mikey. In the coming weeks and months there gonna
be working very closely together on how to build an
SDFC team that works with the Right to Dream model.
Speaker 7 (22:07):
The more focus on clubs and performance, where I have
more focus on academies, potential pipelines, but obviously also on
the technical football pad. So I will be closer to
Mikey and is already pretty close to him because mike
is also that that kind of person that is curious,
(22:31):
wants to learn new things, wants to see things. So
Mikey and me we already have a very very good relationship,
but also our collaboration in terms of football is great.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
Exactly how the right to Dream style of play is
going to work in MLS is something Mikey and Fleming
are going to have to figure out. But for now,
Mikey has a pretty clear picture of the fundamentals that
will anchor his team.
Speaker 4 (22:57):
We're completely aligned in terms of our football philosophy. The
style of play is always founded on this brave and
relentless fighting team spirit. This is the foundation. Of course,
we want to play really nice football, but a fighting
spirit is the number one ingredient, is the first ingredient
that we're together and that every time we step on
(23:19):
the field, the fans can see clearly we give everything
for them and for each other. Then, when it comes
to specifically the footballing, we want to control the flow
of the game and we want to do that by
playing the game on our terms. So we go after
the game and we have a conviction to build up
(23:40):
with being dynamic, being purposeful, being vertical, and being creative.
And at the same time, we want to press as
high as possible, and we want to press as early
as possible. The most important thing, in my opinion, is
you'll see a proactive team that wants to control the game,
that wants to go after the game and be proactive
rather than reactive.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
I don't know about you, but all of that sounds
pretty good to me. Of course, at this point, match
day one is months away, and as Mike Tyson famously said,
everyone's got a plan until they get hit in the face.
But whatever happens on the pitch, Tyler heaps his confident
the whole organization is pulling together and most importantly, they're
(24:25):
in it for the long run.
Speaker 3 (24:28):
I think we would all be naive to think that
we're in support not to win, and I think we
have an ownership group that values that tremendously. I think
we need to be successful. We need to be successful
in the year one and well beyond. So it's about
building it and setting it up for long term success.
And that also correlates with our hire and Mikey, I
think we probably could have maybe got somebody that would
(24:49):
have had us a bit more experience on day one,
but we need to make sure that obviously we're aligned
and we are planning for success well beyond twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
For his part, Mikey can't wait to get going. There's
a lot to do and a lot for him to learn,
but he knows the owners in management are investing in
him as a person as well as a coach. He
also appreciates the responsibility they have in being able to
write the first chapter in sdpc's history.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
I think they found somebody who's very open minded and
growth minded in terms of wanting to improve, knowing that
I'm not a finished product yet, and also that I
want to be part of something way bigger than just
what I bring to the table.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
You know.
Speaker 4 (25:37):
I know that I'll play an important part in this project,
but there's going to be so many other people who
also play important parts in this and ultimately I want
to be a small part of a big story versus
a big part of a small story.
Speaker 1 (26:03):
So far, so good for coach badas he met the
right to dream bosses and impress them. He got the job,
and now he's past the press conference and his first
media duties with Flying Colors. But after leaving Snapdragon, thoughts
turn to his next interview. Tomorrow, He's due to meet
the most important stakeholders of all the fans at the
(26:26):
Courtyard Bar Downtown. The club's hosting a fan of bit.
This includes meeting the supporter groups hoping to become the
official SDFC Supporter Union. Remember those guys we met in
episode one, the ones nearly trading punches outside the bar, Yeah,
those getther. When Tyler and Mikey arrive at the open
air events space, they find the beer flowing and the
(26:49):
San Diego faithful in full voice. You can hear them
from around the block. The place is packed with people
singing in chain flags and SDFC banners are rippling overhead.
First time is a Q and A giving fans a
chance to put Tyler and Mikey to the test.
Speaker 9 (27:10):
So give it off as we welcome them to the stage.
The first ever sporting director Tyler Heaps and the first
ever head coach in sd FC history, Mikey Baris.
Speaker 1 (27:32):
When the cheering dice down, Tyler kicks things on This
is also his first chance to speak directly with the fans.
It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (27:40):
Thank you guys all for coming.
Speaker 1 (27:41):
I appreciate every one of you.
Speaker 2 (27:43):
Had a chance to meet a lot of you over
the last coming weeks. But thank you for making me
feel at home in San Diego. I appreciate that, all right.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Next up is Mikey, and I'll tell you what he
knows how to get a crowd of San Diegan's on
his side.
Speaker 4 (27:57):
Early on, specifically, I have the fortune to say that
I met my wife in San Diego.
Speaker 10 (28:06):
I met her on Pacific Beach. She's my wife is Gringa,
but in her heart she's Latina and her cooking is amazing.
But and she's just amazing.
Speaker 4 (28:21):
But I met her in Pacific Beach. Her family is
from South Mission Beach. They're all from here originally. So
I have a really really close connection to San Diego.
It's always been the home that I never lived in,
and now I get to have the pleasure living here.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
After the Q and A Tighter and Mikey take the
time to shake hands, going fan by fan, they even
get some suggestions for new players signings. There's a long
way to go, but Tyler is confident they've got the
guy to captain this ship.
Speaker 2 (28:54):
First and foremost, I'm excited. I think you hear Mikey talking.
Speaker 11 (28:58):
He has so much passion about the sport, about how
aligned we are, I think for this project. And so
I think, first and foremost, extremely happy to get our
candidate that we think can be a very good head
coach here. And then it's another employee that we were
trying to hire, all these different employees to work with,
and I think it's another one that will bring a
lot of energy and passion to this project.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
Just as Tyler and Mikey are about to call it
a night, the pair of them get their reward for
a hard day's work, acceptance and appreciation from the fans.
It's a moment for them both the chance get going
again louder and loud. Soon Mikey and Tyler are swept
(29:41):
into the mob and are jumping up and down with them,
both smiling and soaked in beard spared. It feels like
something special, maybe Brown, Okay, where's my song? Save Mikey.
Speaker 10 (30:02):
Saven for Mikel sav itr.
Speaker 1 (30:04):
Mikey. It's amazing.
Speaker 2 (30:05):
Thank you guys all for coming.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
I appreciate every one of you. Back at SDFC headquarters
(30:27):
a few days later, Mikey is getting to work or
thinking about it. Honestly, it's hard for him to know
where to start.
Speaker 4 (30:35):
It's been as challenging as planned for it. That way,
So you know, when you start a club, you know
it's going to be daunting, but once you're in it,
you just realize how much work there is. We're standing
up an entire organization from scratch. There's clubs that have
been working for hundreds of years and still don't got
it right.
Speaker 1 (30:56):
On January eleven, twenty twenty five, less than five months
from this moment, San Diego's first squad, we'll report for
training at the club's new soccer complex at Singing Hills
in Alcohol. Right now, Mikey only has a handful of
players and the training ground covered in construction tape.
Speaker 4 (31:14):
I'm confident that we're doing all the right things, but
Rome wasn't built in a day. It's the cliche that
just makes a lot of sense here. At times, it
feels like we're working hour after hour and you kind
of get the sense that you're swimming in the ocean
and you can't see where the land is right it's
(31:35):
just more work on top of more work. But what
we do know is we have faith that we're doing
all the right things, and we know we're making progress,
even if we can't see the land ahead of us yet.
And there will come a time when more players are
in the building, more staffs in the building, and we
start to see that horizon and we start to see
that land, and we'll know that it was all those
(31:58):
strides kind of in the midst of just an unwavering
wave of work that got us to that point. We
know we're very confident in that.
Speaker 1 (32:10):
And Mikey isn't doing it alone. The office around him
is filling up every day with new members of staff,
all dedicated to doing their bit to launch the club.
And upstairs in the boardroom they've got the full backing
of the top man.
Speaker 12 (32:27):
Tyler ran a really exhaustive process along with the Right
to Dream group.
Speaker 1 (32:32):
This is Tom Penn, CEO of San Diego FC.
Speaker 12 (32:37):
People talk about what it's like to be a head
coach and having to make snap decisions under pressure that
have consequences, and you have to react to what's happening.
You know, sometimes you just see it. You just see
people that have it in them, and I believe he's
going to be a very successful head coach in Major
League Soccer.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
It may be Mikey and Tyler's first time launching an
MLS club, but it ain't. He was the mastermind behind
Major League Soccer's first ever billion dollar franchise. He brought
his team championship, gold, broke points and gold records, and
built a sporting dynasty in record time. The name of
his club LAFC. That might bother some around here, but
(33:18):
I tell you, if he can make lightning strike twice,
San Diego is gonna love him next time. On Behind
the Flow, we revealed the story of how a British
Egyptian billionaire philanthropist, a revolutionary global football organization, and a
(33:39):
Native American tribe came together to bring Major League Soccer
to San Diego. What exactly does it take to win
a franchise bid? And who'd pay half a billion dollars
to do it? Behind the Flow is a message heard production.
I'm your host, Adrian Garciamaricas the series. Forducer is McAllister Bexon,
(34:02):
Mark Kendrick is the assistant producer, and Rebecca Ware is
the field producer. Jake Warren and Sandra Ferrari are the
executive producers. James Cox and Gago Diaz are the production coordinators.
The sound editor is Lizzie Andrews and music composition is
by Tom Bill
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