Against All Odds

Matt Sheldon sits down with Hartford Athletic Teammate, Conor McGlynn to discuss his journey to the professional game all stemming from a paid open try-out.

Timestamps:

0:00-1:14 - Intro

1:14-6:01 - Family Life (Brother Currently Playing in MLS)

6:01-9:06 - The Importance of Extra Training at Youth and Pro Level

9:06-11:07 - Playing in a Youth Academy

11:07-12:48 - "You turn into a different player when you're unconfident"

12:48-16:26 - Getting Picked on in High School

16:26-20:05 - What Did Your Extra Training Look Like in High School?

20:05-22:05 - Getting Recruited to Play D1 Soccer at Sienna

22:05-30:05 - Losing Confidence while Playing in College

30:05-37:00 - College Soccer vs Straight to the Pro Game

37:00-42:17 - Red Bulls Combine, Hartford Open Try-Out, and Preseason

42:17-51:09 - Taking College Classes while in Preseason

51:09-52:00 - Signing First Professional Contract

52:00-55:20- Covid cancels season 24 hours before Professional Debut

55:20-58:27 - Training with Brother in NY during Pandemic

58:27-1:01:37 - Professional Debut and Playing Against Brother

1:01:37-1:03:04 - Favorite Goals Conor's Scored

1:03:04-1:06:59 - Returning to Hartford for next three seasons

1:06:59-1:09:09 - All-time Greatest Moment of Conor's Career?

1:09:09-1:09:58 - All-time Greatest Moment on the field?

1:09:58-1:12:50 - Worst Moment of Conor's Career?

1:12:50-1:16:02 - What Advice Would You Give Younger Conor?

1:16:02-1:18:25- Life After Football?

Timestamps:

0:00-1:54 - Introduction

1:54-4:25 - First Few Years (Born in Israel to living in Togo)

4:25-9:05 - Why Tulu Didn’t See His Mom for 10 Years

9:05-13:54 - Playing for an Organized Team for the First Time at 13

13:54-18:23 - “I Didn’t Play High School Soccer until My Senior Year”

18:23-22:37 - Working at Rite Aid and Training Individually

22:37-28:32 - Developing for Two Years at a Community College

28:32-32:23 - Transferring to a D3 School

32:23-37:36 - Dropping Out After One Semester to Play Professionally

37:36-43:55 - One Way Plane Ticket to the Czech Republic

43:55-47:27 - Living with 6 Guys in a 2 Bedroom Apartment Playing PDL

47:27-51:14 - North Carolina FC Preseason Invite and then Back to Sweden

51:14-53:24 - Special Guest Babou Calling In

53:24-55:15 - Did Tulu Make the Right Decision Passing on a USL Preseason invite for Sweden?

55:15-59:19 - Training in the Lower Leagues of Germany

59:19-1:10:45 - Signing First Professional Contract with Tulsa

1:10:45-1:12:29 - “I was sh*tting my f*cking pants on my pro debut”

1:12:29-1:16:09 - Tulu’s Mental State After Three Years of Bouncing Around

1:16:90-1:20:55 - Signing with Hartford Athletic

1:20:55-1:23:04 - Finding Success with Hartford and First Pro Goal

1:23:04-1:28:11 - How Tulu Helped Matt Sign at Hartford

1:28:11-1:34:13 - One Thing Tulu Wants to Say to Everyone Listening about the Mental Side of the Game

1:34:13-1:36:54 What were the Absolute Best and Worst Moments of Your Career?

1:36:54-1:41:08 - What Advice Would Tulu Give to His Younger Self?

In this episode of the Against All Odds Podcast, Matt and Mimi sit down to give a full update on their situation with Mimi's pregnancy, Matt's search for a team, their plan for after the baby comes, and what is stressing them out. 

Timestamps

0:00-1:03 - Why Haven’t I Been Uploading Podcasts

1:03-3:56 - How Mimi Feels at 39 Weeks Pregnant

3:56-5:44 - My Struggle to Find a Contract For Next Season

5:44-7:28 - Will Mimi Miss the Excitement of Moving Every Year?

7:28-11:04 - Misconceptions I Had of Signing a Contract

11:04-12:06 - Matt Struggling to Pick Up All Mimi’s Work Right Now

12:06-14:09 - What we are most excited about for the baby

14:09-15:44 - The most nervous I’ve ever been for a trial

15:44-17:03 - Why we want our baby to come on Friday the 13th

17:03-17:48 - What age are we most excited about for our daughter?

17:48-19:29 - Will our daughter become a footballer?

19:29-22:32 - Our LAST child-free date night

22:32-27:38 - The main thing that’s stressing Matt out…

27:38-30:23 - Is Mimi nervous about the pain of childbirth?

30:23-32:22 - Baby interrupting Matt’s sleep schedule during Preseason?

32:22-34:36 - When would be the best time to have a child as a footballer? 

34:36-36:05 - Mimi or Matt? Who wanted a kid first and why?

36:05-39:06 - Overthinking vs Underthinking

39:06-40:36 - Why most people are age don’t have kids nowadays

40:36-41:28 - Envisioning our future

41:28-44:28 - “I didn’t expect my career to go as well as it is…”

44:28-45:24 - Outro

Timestamps:

0:00-2:28 - Robbie’s Roots

2:28-7:45 - Entry into Rangers FC

7:45-10:19 - Weekly Schedule as a Kid

10:19-12:20 - Process of Signing First Pro Contract

12:20-15:51 - Extra Individual Training Outside Team Training?

15:51-17:26 - First Time Training with Rangers FC’s First Team

17:26-19:38 - Best Player Robbie’s Played With?

19:38-22:06 - Debut with Rangers FC

22:06-26:40 - How to Calm Nerves Before Big Games

26:40-27:48 - Did You Ever Have an “I Made It” Moment?

27:48-30:42 - How Robbie Handled a 5 Year Contract and the Money That Came With It

30:42-31:51 - Favorite Goal Robbie’s Every Scored?

32:33-36:38 - Typical Day in the Life at Rangers FC?

36:38-39:23 - Robbie’s Loan Spells

39:23-44:47 - Dealing with Negative Criticism as a Pro

44:47-45:58 - Has Robbie’s Versatility Helped or Hurt His Career More?

45:58-48:50 - Robbie’s Departure from Rangers FC

48:50-50:39 - Free Agency, Trials in England, Signing with 2nd Tier Scottish Club

50:39-50:55 - Robbie’s Drop Down to Non-League Football

50:55-53:34 - Heading Abroad to Play in Iceland

53:54-55:47 - Non-League to Champions League Qualifier in 6 Months

55:47-57:26 - Differences Between Rangers FC and FH in Iceland

57:26-58:26 - Declining a Two Year Contract at FH to Explore Other Opportunities

58:26-1:02:35 - Robbie’s Move to IFK in Finland

1:02:25-1:05:21 - Life Playing Footy in Finland

1:05:21-1:09:52 - Declining ANOTHER Contract this time at IFK in Finland

1:09:52-1:12:17 - Signing with the Charleston Battery

1:12:17-1:13:59 - Training with Hibernian FC in Offseason Before 2nd year with Battery

1:13:59-1:15:24 - The Most Stressful Offseason and Signing with Monterey Bay FC 

1:18:10-1:21:41 - Engagement, Wife’s Pregnancy, and Marriage ALL While in Season

1:21:41-1:22:47 - Robbie’s Return to Charleston Battery

1:22:47-1:25:40 - Mindset Shift with a Kid on the Way?

1:25:40-1:29:38 - Robbie’s One Piece of Advice for Everyone Watching at Home

1:29:38-1:30:21 - Outro 

In today's episode, Matt sits down with Charleston Battery teammates, Joe Schmidt and Mauro Cichero to talk about their careers and thoughts on a variety of topics! 

Timestamps:

0:00-5:01 - Intro and Rapid Fire Questions

5:01-7:06 - Joe’s Current Injured Ankle Situation

7:06-10:39 - Is College Soccer a Good Route?

10:39-12:05 - How Joe Was Recruited by Indiana University

12:05-14:23 - How Mauro Was Recruited by SMU

14:23-15:31 - How Joe Signed his First Pro Contract

15:31-17:19 - How Mauro Signed his First Pro Contract

17:19-20:00 - Misconceptions of Playing Pro Football

20:00-21:30 - Girlfriends and Professional Careers?

21:30-24:48 - What is the Most Stressful Aspect of Being a USL Player?

24:48-26:17 - Best thing about Being a USL Player?

26:17-29:06 - Biggest Lesson Learned as a Pro Footballer

29:06-33:24 - Mauro’s Experience Playing in Spain

33:24-35:17 - Aging in Professional Football, Our Experience

35:17-39:45 - Offseason Plans

39:45-40:42 - How I Accidentally Stole Mauro’s Number

40:42-41:43 - Mauro’s Prank on Joe on Day 1 of Preseason

41:43-47:20 - Would You Still Play in the USL if you Won $10,000,000

47:20-50:32 - What Small Change Have you Made, That’s Had a Big Impact?

50:32-59:21 - What Do you Wish you Did More of as a Teenager?

59:21-1:00:56 - Weightlifting and College Soccer

1:00:56-1:06:01 - Best Player You’ve Played With/Against?

1:06:01-1:11:35 - Moment Where You Felt Like You “Made It?”

1:11:35-1:15:40 - Overthinking and Playing Your Best Footy

1:15:40-1:18:45 - Should You Focus on One Position or Become Versatile?

1:18:45-1:23:59 - What Do You Want to Do After Playing?

1:23:59-1:26:50 - Are You Looking Forward to Stability After Your Career?

1:26:50-1:32:19 - One Piece of Advice for People Watching this Video

In the first episode of 2022, Matt sits down with Charleston Battery teammate, Matteo Ritaccio to discuss the young footballer's path to signing his first professional contract with Liverpool FC and his subsequent loan out to Charleston. Sit down, relax, and listen to Matteo's story! 

In this episode, Matt sits down to answer 30+ questions submitted by you guys via Instagram! 

Time Stamps

0:00-0:33 - Intro

0:33-3:52 - Benefits of Journaling?

3:52-6:02 - Biggest Learning Experience?

6:02-8:56 - D3 College Athletes to Pro Level?

8:56-11:36 - Improving Decision Making Alone?

11:36-14:05 - Europeans + U.S. Universities?

14:05-16:03 - Have I Improved Since First Pro Contract?

16:03-18:44 - Goals for Next Few Years?

18:44-21:07 - Training Fitness in Offseason?

21:07-24:30 - Advice for Personal Soccer Trainers

24:30-28:17 - Why Do Some Good Youth Players Not Make it Pro?

28:17-30:52 - One Drill to Do Every Day?

30:52-33:35 - How Much Has Analyzing Own Games Helped?

33:35-38:17 - Smallest Change that Made Biggest Difference?

38:17-41:23 - Biggest Misconception in Becoming a Pro?

41:23-43:26 - What Do Attackers Do That I Hate?

43:26-46:09 - How Often Did I Train Individually as a Teen?

46:09-47:39 - What do I Wish I Did More at age 15/16?

47:39-50:54 - Biggest Regret of Career?

50:54-53:56 - Advice for Footballers in Long Distance Relationship?

53:56-56:33 - How Important is Building Friendships Off Field?

56:33-59:36 - Why Do I Only Sign 1 Year Contracts?

59:36-1:02:07 - Difference Between Semi-Pro and Pro Levels?

1:02:07-1:04:24 - Have Any Habits Changed Since Becoming Pro?

1:04:24-1:07:13 - Dealing with Pressure to Perform Every Day?

1:07:13-1:10:43 - How to Perform at Trial with Bad Teammates?

1:10:43-1:12:52 - How to Send Follow-Up Emails to Coaches?

1:12:52-1:17:01 - Do 80% of Results Come From 20% of Effort?

1:17:01-1:19:42 - How to Impress Coach at a New Team?

1:19:42-1:21:11 - How Does Upper Body Gym Translate to Game?

1:21:11-1:26:00 - Has YouTube Affected My Career?

1:26:00-1:26:53 - Have I Ever Experienced a Mindset Shift in my Career?

1:26:53-1:31:07 - How Do I Decide Between Teams or Schools?

1:31:07-1:33:47 - Have My Surgeries Affected My Career?

1:33:47-1:34:28 - Outro

In this episode, Matt sits down with FC Tulsa teammate, Kembo Kibato to discuss his career. Kembo, a Toronto native, was a part of the Toronto FC Academy set-up before signing his first pro contract abroad in Denmark at just 18 years old. 

Although Kembo is young his story is full of highs, lows, and plenty of lessons. Sit back, relax, and enjoy the podcast! 

In this episode, Matt sits down with FC Tulsa teammate, Daniel Gagliardi to talk about his path to the professional game. Danny has an incredible story of patience, perseverance, and highs and lows throughout his journey. 

In this episode, Matt sits down with FC Tulsa teammate, Raphael Ayagwa to talk about his path from Gboko, Nigeria to the Nigerian Professional Football League and then to first division European Football. It's a fantastic story filled with highs and lows. Sit back, relax, and enjoy this episode of the podcast!