If there was an official face of soccer in Illinois, Brian McBride would be it.
The 17-year professional career of the former Buffalo Grove star included stops with Everton and Fulham of the English Premier League before captaining the U.S. Men’s National Team. He retired from soccer with the Chicago Fire at the end of the 2010 season.
These days McBride is doing a little bit of everything. From starting McBride’s Attacking Soccer Academy (mcbridesacademy.com) to showing soccer fans how to build a junior soccer goal, it’s safe to say McBride has the game in his blood.
“I’m here to be a soccer resource,” McBride said Thursday. “It’s different from my playing days, but I’ve been enjoying myself and staying busy.”
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It has been two decades since the former All-American played high school soccer, but he cherishes the experience and the memories. McBride also understands the landscape of high school and club has changed, with some players skipping high school to play club year-round.
“To me, it doesn’t make sense to skip high school soccer,” McBride said. “Each individual player needs to decide what is best for them, but if you don’t play high school you lose that experience.”
Youth soccer has become a business for some, something McBride is involved in through team training with his academy.
“There are more opportunities for players to learn and train, which is a good thing,” McBride said. “They can receive specific training with different clubs and even train on full-size soccer fields in the winter.
“No matter what, though, it should always be the player’s choice of what they want to do and where they want to play. You want them to enjoy the experience and not begrudge it later.”
That’s the advice McBride will give to players and parents Sunday at the free Craftsman Experience (233 W. Huron St.) in Chicago. From 1-5 p.m., McBride will talk about ball handling and shooting skills, and fans will have a chance to race him on Craftsman’s newest Turn Tight Tractor on an outdoor obstacle course.
McBride also will show handy skills by building a junior soccer goal, which will be donated to an area soccer league. Those who can’t be in attendance can visit facebook.com/craftsman from 2-2:30 p.m. to ask questions during a live streaming segment.
“I’m excited to experience what Craftsman has,” McBride said. “This experience is the ultimate DIY-playground with tools, live demonstrations and hands-on work stations. It’s going to be a great event.”
Wheels on the bus go round and round: Lockport, York, St. Charles North, Homewood-Flossmoor and Glenbrook North will head to Burlington, Iowa, on Friday to take part in a two-day showcase. The event, which is becoming more of an Illinois showcase (15 of the 28 teams are from the Land of Lincoln), also has programs from Iowa, Missouri and Wisconsin competing.
Email Joe Trost at [email protected].