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Canales Daily: Getting to Know You
Each passing year, it seems, the number of Americans braving a skeptical soccer public in different countries grows slowly, but steadily. Defender Heath Pearce passed along some information and advice for Michael Parkhurst, who recently joined Pearce's former club in Denmark.
Dec 12, 2008 2:47:21 PM
By Andrea Canales
It's always helpful when a player who is transitioning to a team in another country has someone from his own culture to ease the way and make introductions. In Major League Soccer, recent arrivals from Argentina, for example, have banded together for barbecues and shopping trips to help make the adjustment to the U.S. an easier one.
The tables turn, of course, when an American goes abroad. There are still so few in Europe that they tend to scatter around. Not since the U.S. contingent at Fulham has a significant number made a single squad. But more and more American players are moving abroad. They look to help those who follow their path when they can.
Recently, former New England Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst made the jump from MLS to a team in Denmark, Nordsjælland. He and his wife, Sam, will now become part of the American expatriate soccer community.
Another member of that group, U.S. defender Heath Pearce, now with Germany's Hansa Rostok, had previously played with the Danish squad that Parkhurst is now joining. Pearce was happy to pass along some tips and advice for Parkhurst. He shared these exclusively with Goal.com via email.
One thing players to the European continent have to deal with, unlike the players who move to England, is that there is a bigger language adjustment. Though many speak English as a second language, that's the case in a move to Denmark.
"There are a few useful phrases; 'Tak' can mean 'please' and 'thank you'," Pearce explained. "'Tak skal du have' - 'Thank you very much.'"
Of course, on the field, one needs to know certain key things to say to impact a game.
"'Giv mig bolden' means give me the ball," Pearce detailed. "Then there are the basic soccer terms such as 'frem, tilbage, hoeje, venstre' meaning forward, back, right and left."
There's really no better way to endear oneself to others in a new culture than to try to speak the language. When a player travels to another country with his family, learning together can become part of the adventure.
Few people really have concerns about Parkhurst's ability to conform to whatever situation he finds himself in, however. After all, the quiet defender has made a career not out of spectacular last-moment tackles, but of uncanny anticipation and perfect positioning. Parkhurst is more famous for the lack of cautions in his career than he is for his single career goal, a stunning shot from beyond the halfway line. In his own understated way, he is expected to fit in just fine at Nordsjælland.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com USA
It's always helpful when a player who is transitioning to a team in another country has someone from his own culture to ease the way and make introductions. In Major League Soccer, recent arrivals from Argentina, for example, have banded together for barbecues and shopping trips to help make the adjustment to the U.S. an easier one.
The tables turn, of course, when an American goes abroad. There are still so few in Europe that they tend to scatter around. Not since the U.S. contingent at Fulham has a significant number made a single squad. But more and more American players are moving abroad. They look to help those who follow their path when they can.
Recently, former New England Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst made the jump from MLS to a team in Denmark, Nordsjælland. He and his wife, Sam, will now become part of the American expatriate soccer community.
Another member of that group, U.S. defender Heath Pearce, now with Germany's Hansa Rostok, had previously played with the Danish squad that Parkhurst is now joining. Pearce was happy to pass along some tips and advice for Parkhurst. He shared these exclusively with Goal.com via email.
One thing players to the European continent have to deal with, unlike the players who move to England, is that there is a bigger language adjustment. Though many speak English as a second language, that's the case in a move to Denmark.
"There are a few useful phrases; 'Tak' can mean 'please' and 'thank you'," Pearce explained. "'Tak skal du have' - 'Thank you very much.'"
Of course, on the field, one needs to know certain key things to say to impact a game.
"'Giv mig bolden' means give me the ball," Pearce detailed. "Then there are the basic soccer terms such as 'frem, tilbage, hoeje, venstre' meaning forward, back, right and left."
There's really no better way to endear oneself to others in a new culture than to try to speak the language. When a player travels to another country with his family, learning together can become part of the adventure.
"The locals love the attempt," pointed out Pearce about outsiders trying to talk like the Danes. He shared a bit
of local lingo. "'Hej
Skat' . . .means 'Hi Honey' or 'Hi baby', though Mikey should only
learn it to say it to his wife."
Lifestyles are often as varied as the personalities of American players themselves. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, now with Seattle Sounders FC, famously lived with his family in a stone castle. Other players live in apartments provided by club management. Some assimilate to the local food, while others indulge in gastronomic nostalgia with American cuisine, especially since McDonalds and Starbucks can now be found worldwide.
The Parkhurts will only be a short drive away from Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
"My locals spots varied over my time there, but a great cafe was Zoo Bar," mused Pearce. "Definitely the best burgers in Copenhagen and a nice early evening cafe/lounge scene. Roberts Coffee is a great place to escape to as well. They have dim lighting and themed lounge rooms from African to Asian. Other places to hang out are on Stroeget. It's the main shopping street in Copenhagen, with all the top fashion as well as boutique shopping. It has a little of everything."
The way Parkhurst is received whenever he is out and about, however, will no doubt be affected by his play on the field. But the soccer culture in Denmark is not as aggressively heated as Argentina's, for example.
"My experience with the Danish fans was great," Pearce recalled. "Nordsjælland is a growing club with a solid fan base. They are passionate about their soccer, but are never too pushy or aggressive as fans. They always give you your space."
Of course, fans will be delighted if Parkhurst is able to help the Nordsjælland defense hold fast against the club's most important opponents.
"Nordsjaelland is a young club, but the main rivals would be the other Copenhagen clubs, Brøndby and FCK (FC Copenhagen)," Pearce wrote. "The rivalries usually develop over many years, though."
Besides Pearce, Robbie Russell and Danny Califf are other defenders who have also been successful recently in Denmark. The Danish style is not too far off from the American approach to the game.
"The style of football played at Nordsjælland is a mix between direct and trying to move the ball around," Pearce described. "Some of the teams in Denmark are more direct, while others try to play the 'total football' system. The Danes are well known for aggressive play as well as being tactically strong."
Lifestyles are often as varied as the personalities of American players themselves. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller, now with Seattle Sounders FC, famously lived with his family in a stone castle. Other players live in apartments provided by club management. Some assimilate to the local food, while others indulge in gastronomic nostalgia with American cuisine, especially since McDonalds and Starbucks can now be found worldwide.
The Parkhurts will only be a short drive away from Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark.
"My locals spots varied over my time there, but a great cafe was Zoo Bar," mused Pearce. "Definitely the best burgers in Copenhagen and a nice early evening cafe/lounge scene. Roberts Coffee is a great place to escape to as well. They have dim lighting and themed lounge rooms from African to Asian. Other places to hang out are on Stroeget. It's the main shopping street in Copenhagen, with all the top fashion as well as boutique shopping. It has a little of everything."
The way Parkhurst is received whenever he is out and about, however, will no doubt be affected by his play on the field. But the soccer culture in Denmark is not as aggressively heated as Argentina's, for example.
"My experience with the Danish fans was great," Pearce recalled. "Nordsjælland is a growing club with a solid fan base. They are passionate about their soccer, but are never too pushy or aggressive as fans. They always give you your space."
Of course, fans will be delighted if Parkhurst is able to help the Nordsjælland defense hold fast against the club's most important opponents.
"Nordsjaelland is a young club, but the main rivals would be the other Copenhagen clubs, Brøndby and FCK (FC Copenhagen)," Pearce wrote. "The rivalries usually develop over many years, though."
Besides Pearce, Robbie Russell and Danny Califf are other defenders who have also been successful recently in Denmark. The Danish style is not too far off from the American approach to the game.
"The style of football played at Nordsjælland is a mix between direct and trying to move the ball around," Pearce described. "Some of the teams in Denmark are more direct, while others try to play the 'total football' system. The Danes are well known for aggressive play as well as being tactically strong."
Few people really have concerns about Parkhurst's ability to conform to whatever situation he finds himself in, however. After all, the quiet defender has made a career not out of spectacular last-moment tackles, but of uncanny anticipation and perfect positioning. Parkhurst is more famous for the lack of cautions in his career than he is for his single career goal, a stunning shot from beyond the halfway line. In his own understated way, he is expected to fit in just fine at Nordsjælland.
Andrea Canales is Chief Editor of Goal.com USA
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