Stoppage Time Special: Exploring Modern Football Dynamics and Mentorship

What does it take to leave a lasting legacy in the world of soccer? In this episode, we feature the extraordinary journey of a former professional soccer player who has seamlessly transitioned into media and coaching. Hear firsthand how the threads of family and community support have woven a tapestry of character and humility throughout his career. Experience the warmth of a soccer family—where not only did he shine on the field, but his wife also played professionally, and their children are now carving their own paths in the sport. We share touching anecdotes that capture the essence of mentorship, especially through the unforgettable influence of Manny Schellscheidt, a pioneering coach whose wisdom continues to inspire.

Our Stoppage Time segment takes listeners into the strategic heart of modern football. Join the conversation as we dissect the evolving dynamics of the game, unpacking the intricacies of player development, tactical game plans, and influential managerial decisions. We'll highlight key moments from recent matches that have shaped the current soccer landscape, linking these insights back to our guest's lifelong devotion to the sport and the community that nurtures it. This episode is a must-listen for fans eager to gain a deeper understanding of the beautiful game and the stories that enrich it.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Welcome to the Stoppage Time edition of the
Pitch to Pro podcast.
This is a highlight reel ofsome of the best moments from
the show so far, and every otherweek we will be bringing you a
special five to seven minutesegment featuring the best
stories, tales and moments ofthe podcast.

Speaker 2 (00:20):
Yeah, it's a long journey but I had a lot of
people supporting me along thatand a lot of people that, um,
through my ups and downs and mychildhood you know immaturity
and mistakes and everything else, they still believed in me and
gave me love and so that helpedpush me on to the next levels

(00:42):
and, uh yeah.
So when I retired from playing,it was more like I was involved
in media.
I loved commentating on thegame, I loved bringing a
different perspective and frommy experience for six years
playing overseas in the UK andEngland and the Premier League
and everything and working atSky Sports over there, it seemed
natural for me, but I wasalways coaching guy sports over

(01:07):
there.
It seemed natural for me, but Iwas always coaching and I was
always coaching youth and my sonand my two daughters and my
wife's a footballer as well.
She played pro overseas when Iwas playing in England, which
was kind of unheard of at thattime.
So it's ingrained in us in ourfamily.
I never forced my kids to play,it was just always there.
Ingrained in us in our family.
I I never forced my kids toplay, it was just always there.

(01:27):
And, um, you know, the numberone thing for us is like do they
have good character?
Are they humble and are they,you know, nice people?
Uh, as they grow up and thenthe sport and everything else is
bonuses, you know.
And so my son ian's playing,he's a pro, he's going into his
ninth year, um, he'll be withsan Jose Earthquakes this year.
My daughter Lauren, she went toClemson University under Eddie

(01:55):
Radwanski, great coach, and shelearned a lot and played really
well there.
And then she went to Creightonand did a master's program there
and played under Ross Pollock,another great coach, another
great leader and she went overto Denmark and played pro and
enjoyed that.
And now she's back here workingfor US Club Soccer down in
Charleston.
We just moved her down therelast weekend.

(02:16):
And my youngest daughter went toElon University, played D1
there as well, and then she wentoverseas and got a master's
program at Oxford University asmart cookie and she graduated
there and is working for acompany in London and so you
know, my wife's a Catholicschool principal and has been a

(02:39):
coach, you know, and a formerplayer.
She's a great leader, a greatmentor for kids and yeah, that's
kind a great mentor for kidsand yeah, that's kind of a
nutshell where we are.

Speaker 3 (02:50):
I love that man.
All right man.

Speaker 2 (02:52):
I rambled the whole first section, sorry about that
Never apologize, john.

Speaker 3 (03:02):
I mean, those are the great episodes, right, when you
get to really know people and Ilove this medium for that.
But you know you talked a lotabout you know you and your
family and your town and theengagement within the game, um,
and how you know it's.
It's good to hear around the,the, the help that that, yeah,

(03:24):
and, to use your word, the lovethat you had surrounding you on
your journey through it.
Chris Martinovich, ourco-founder, has a great saying
from his coach, manny Shelschei.
In college, first A-licensedcoach, I in the in the us, but

(03:44):
he, um, he, uh, he used to sayif you love the game, it'll love
you back.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
Um, yeah, very true, and I was very fortunate to know
manny shellshey and uh got agreat story about him.
Actually, he was, uh, the rivalteam in Union New Jersey and it
was my dad.
We were playing with my dad'steam and then my dad was
probably looking at me from aperspective of like how can I

(04:15):
push John?
And he asked me to guest playfor Manny, which was, you know,
the Union Lancers were like therival to Arnie Thistle FC and I
was like I'm not playing forthem and he was like, oh yes,
you are this weekend.
I was like what, I wasn'tplaying for Manny and I don't
know if you want to hear thestory, but I learned great

(04:37):
lessons from Manny Shelstein.

Speaker 3 (04:39):
Let's hear it, man, I'm all about it.

Speaker 2 (04:42):
So, manny, you know, just for a lot of people
listening out, there was the oldschool, like you said, the
first A-licensed coach, Ibelieve, in this country.
But he, you know Germanbackgrounds, his influence was
caring about the people, such agreat manager of people, and he

(05:04):
was kind of like, you knowyou're always.
You were in awe of him.
Almost you were scared of him,you feared him because of the
way his stature was, you know.
But we knew he was such a greatmanager and my dad wanted to
get me a new edge to myself.
I guess I went and guest playedwith Manny in a tournament on

(05:26):
the weekend.
It was just a one-day thingbecause he had two games already
, and then it was the third dayI was going there.
I started for his team, whichwas great, and I ended up
scoring.
We were up 1-0.
Right towards the end of thefirst half we were up 1-0.
In the beginning of the game Oneof their players equalized

(05:53):
Manny.
At halftime there was one linewe were talking and he was
asking players' accountability,what do you think about this
play and stuff like that?
And then, as we came back out,um, I didn't, I wasn't selected
to go back in.
I thought I'm a guest player,that's fine, I'll just take what
I get.
But then the rest of the game Ididn't play at all and I was
wondering, wow man, what theheck happened there.

(06:14):
And I think it was about 14 atthe time and I couldn't
understand why.
I'm like Dad, how come youdidn't let me play?
I guess that's a question forManny, not me and I was like, oh
, I'm not calling the coach, youknow.
So there's no way.
And it just kept troubling mebecause I was like I want to
compete with this group.
It was so good.

(06:35):
And I said, okay, no matterwhat.
And I waited and waited, but itwas about two in the morning
and I couldn't sleep and Ifinally woke up and I went
through the other room and Ishook my dad.
I go, dad.
I know why and my dad knew whyit was because I let the guy run
through and I didn't transitionto fend in the midfield and
that was my player and he wantedto give me a chance to speak

(06:59):
out and say that.
But maybe I was too immature oryoung at that time and I didn't
.
But I said can I call CoachShellshite in the morning?
And he's like my dad's, likeyes, you can, he goes, good for
you.
Go back to bed.

Speaker 1 (07:11):
So I did.

Speaker 2 (07:12):
I called him and I said you know we had a long talk
.
And when I said you know we hada long talk, and when I said I
think I understand why I didn'tget a chance to play second half
, and I presented it to him andhe goes aha, so you've been
thinking about the game, he goes.
That's what I was trying to getyou to do at half time and I'm
like, sorry, I'm just socompetitive, I couldn't think

(07:34):
about it.
But ever since then he made mechange the way I play in the
midfield and I became a moretrue number eight, box and box
midfielder, not just attackingand creating.
I was at that age.
I started adding defensive tome posture, grittiness and
coming out of New Jersey, out ofKearney, I had to do that to

(07:55):
survive, and so he pushed me toadd that even more, made me
focus on it.
So he changed me as a player,without a doubt.

Speaker 1 (08:00):
Thank you for joining us for this stoppage time
special of the Pitch to Propodcast.
If you've enjoyed theconversation, you can click
watch the full episode here.
Be sure to tune in nextThursday for a new episode of
the Pitch to Pro podcast, theofficial podcast of Ozark United
FC, Available on YouTube,Instagram and everywhere you get
your podcasts.