Chat By The Pitch by Ian Babcock

February 27, 2025 From Indoor Soccer to the MLS Next Pro Cup: Michael Collodi’s Goalkeeping Journey So Far

Michael Collodi, goalkeeper for FC Dallas, takes us through his soccer journey—from playing in the backyard as a kid to making crucial saves in the MLS Next Pro Cup. He shares the highs and lows of the position, the importance of mental resilience, and how learning from mistakes has shaped his game. On February 22, 2024, Michael earned his first roster spot with FC Dallas, marking another milestone in his professional career. Whether you’re a young player looking for guidance or a fan of goalkeeping excellence, this episode is packed with insights you don’t want to miss.

⚽Key Talking Points

• The journey from FC Dallas Academy to the professional ranks

• The mental aspect of goalkeeping: handling pressure and mistakes

• The importance of multi-sport backgrounds in goalkeeper development

• Why foot skills are crucial for modern goalkeepers

• The transition from college to professional soccer

• Studying film: How goalkeepers prepare for penalty shootouts

• The experience of playing in the MLS All-Star Goalkeeper Wars

• Winning the MLS Next Pro Cup: Reflections on a championship season

• Advice for young goalkeepers and players looking to go pro

• The role of teamwork and communication in elite soccer

🎙️ Tune in to Learn:

✔️ How Michael developed his skills from a young age

✔️ What it takes to be mentally tough in the game’s toughest position

✔️ How young players can improve their footwork and game awareness

✔️ Why studying the game is just as important as playing it

✔️ What it felt like to win the MLS Next Pro Cup

🔑 10 Quotes from Michael Collodi

• "There’s going to be games where you’re the hero, and there’s going to be games where it’s your fault—it's just the nature of this position."

• "Footwork is just as important as shot-stopping in today's game."

• "Playing other sports like baseball and football helped me develop key skills as a goalkeeper."

• "Communication is everything. If you're not talking, you're making your job harder."

• "Film study is crucial—I spend hours preparing for penalties and opponent tendencies."

• "Being a goalkeeper isn’t just about stopping shots; it’s about commanding the game."

• "MLS Next Pro was a long grind, but winning the Cup made it all worth it."

• "Every goalkeeper should play in the field at some point—it gives you a new perspective on the game."

• "The best way to help yourself is to help your team succeed."

• "If you don't enjoy it, there's no point in doing it. You have to love what you do."

📲 Connect with Michael Collodi:

📷 Instagram: @MichaelCollodi

📲 Connect with FC Dallas & North Texas SC:

FC Dallas:

📷 Instagram: @fcdallas

🐦 X (Twitter): @FCDallas

📘 Facebook: FC Dallas

🎟️ Tickets: FC Dallas Tickets

North Texas SC:

📷 Instagram: @northtexassc

🐦 X (Twitter): @northtexassc

📘 Facebook: North Texas SC

🎟️ Tickets: North Texas SC Tickets

🎧 Follow Chat By The Pitch:

🐦 X (Twitter): @ChatByThePitch

📷 Instagram: @ChatByThePitch

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