David Abidor didn't take the easy road to a pro career — he earned every minute of it. Growing up playing youth soccer in the Chicago suburbs, he made the jump to Shattuck St. Mary's in Minnesota for academy ball, then played college soccer at Dayton and Creighton before heading overseas to chase a pro career in Europe. It didn't start well. David talks openly about a rough start to his career abroad and what it took to turn things around — the mindset shifts, the grinding, the refusal to quit — before eventually finding his footing playing professionally both in Europe and back in the U.S. Now an assistant coach with the Chicago Fire Academy, David brings a perspective shaped by every level of the game, from the sidelines of Chicago rec fields to locker rooms overseas. If you've ever wondered what it actually takes to make it as a pro — and what to do when it doesn't go according to plan — this one's for you.

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