FC Dallas has arguably the best academy in Major League Soccer. Four players who came through its doors were on the 21-man U.S. roster at the U20 World Cup in Poland. The national teams at younger age groups are peppered with Dallas kids. And now those kids are getting professional minutes at the ages of 16 and 17 with North Texas SC, the franchise's gateway to MLS first team minutes. The coach of that team, which is 7-1-2 in USL League One, is Eric Quill, the guy who identified Chris Richards from near Birmingham, Alabama, recruited him to Texans SC, and took that team to a national title in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs in 2017. He just won USL League One coach of the month, and he joined the podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on everything from the training schedule in Frisco to Nico Carrera’s confidence and whether Dante Sealy has the sauce.

Episode 81: Interview with Eric Quill, head coach of North Texas SC

An in-depth show about the U.S. men's and women's national soccer teams, the players who could one day make it better, and American soccer in general.

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Soccer

Greg and Belz dig in on several scenarios for replacing Dest at the Copa America, the biggest tournament we'll have between 2022 and 2026. Lots of possibilities, lots to discuss.

#486: How to replace Sergiño Dest at the Copa

The former Ajax and USMNT midfielder, a key player in the 2002 World Cup quarterfinal run, joins Belz for a conversation that touches on, among other things, how the Dutch trained total football in the late 1990s, playing for Bruce Arena, the goal v Portugal, some of the innovative stuff John is working on in his psychology practice in Colorado, and the extent to which club academies have a responsibility to develop not just soccer players but whole people and functioning adults.

#485: John O'Brien joins the pod

Vince and Tara report on their visit to lovely Columbus for the She Believes final victory over Canada, a rundown of the best young talent in NWSL, and Olympics roster discussion.

#484: WoSo — Boots on ground in Columbus, Olympics roster, young guns in NWSL

Another She Believes trophy for the cabinet. Some good progress in this camp, a midfield setup that works, and we now look forward to the real beginning of the Emma Hayes era.

#483: USWNT v Canada recap

Hey! A giant leap forward from the soccer we watched at the W Gold Cup last month. Combinations, lots of chances, Mal Swanson back from with the NT and as dynamic as ever, very little created by Japan (a good team) outside the first 30 seconds. Full recap/celebration of a very good performance as the Olympics draw near.

Episode 81: Interview with Eric Quill, head coach of North Texas SC

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