Offside in the Bay: 2 the Pitch and Beyond
Chris Dangerfield on the Growth of Soccer in America
In this episode, Claudine Wong and Alex Lobban sit down with San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Famer Chris Dangerfield for a wide-ranging conversation about his remarkable soccer journey, the evolution of the game in the United States and where American soccer goes next. Originally from England, Dangerfield turned professional at 17 before coming to the United States during the heyday of the North American Soccer League. He shares stories from a career that put him on the field with some of the biggest names in soccer history, including Johan Cruyff, Pelé, Eusébio, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer. Dangerfield also reflects on more than four decades as part of the San Jose soccer community—as an Earthquakes player, broadcaster, club ambassador and Hall of Famer. The conversation turns to the growth of Major League Soccer, the impact of the World Cup, the U.S. national team, youth academies, pay-to-play soccer and what American soccer needs to do to continue closing the gap with the world's top soccer nations. Guest Chris Dangerfield Chris Dangerfield has been part of the San Jose soccer scene for more than 40 years. Originally from England, Dangerfield turned professional as a teenager and played in the English system before coming to the United States in the 1970s. He eventually joined the San Jose Earthquakes, scoring 14 goals and recording 14 assists during his NASL career with the club. Dangerfield was an important part of the memorable 1983 Earthquakes team that went unbeaten at home and came within one game of reaching the Soccer Bowl. His career also gave him the opportunity to share the field with some of the sport's greatest players. He played alongside Johan Cruyff with the Los Angeles Aztecs, where he was coached by legendary Dutch manager Rinus Michels, and experienced the NASL era that brought stars including Pelé, Eusébio, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer to North America. After his playing career, Dangerfield remained deeply connected to the Earthquakes as a broadcaster and club ambassador. He was inducted into the San Jose Earthquakes Hall of Fame in 2018. ⏱ Episode Highlights [00:00:30] Introducing Chris Dangerfield Chris joins the podcast to look back at more than four decades in the Bay Area soccer community and his journey from England to San Jose. [00:01:27] From Multi-Sport Athlete to Professional Soccer Player Chris describes growing up playing rugby, cricket, golf and soccer—and the chance encounter with a scout that changed the direction of his life. [00:04:34] Playing for England as a Teenager After joining Wolverhampton Wanderers, Chris earned a spot with England's under-18 national team and began testing himself against some of Europe's best young players. [00:05:13] Why America Changed Everything A summer with the Portland Timbers in 1975 gave Chris a completely different experience from English soccer: packed stadiums, enthusiastic fans and an environment that made the game fun again. [00:07:09] “Get Your Hair Cut” Chris tells the story of returning from playing for England and encountering his manager in the hallway. Instead of asking about the match, the manager had just one piece of advice: get a haircut. [00:08:42] Growing Soccer One Fan at a Time Chris remembers NASL players visiting schools, assemblies, community events and even birthday parties as they worked to introduce American children and families to soccer. [00:10:20] Finding a Home With the Earthquakes Chris explains why San Jose immediately felt like home and how the atmosphere at Spartan Stadium helped make the Earthquakes such an important part of his life. [00:11:53] How Far MLS Has Come The conversation turns to Major League Soccer's growth since its launch in 1996 and how the success of the 1994 World Cup helped establish the foundation for a sustainable professional league. [00:13:38] The World Cup Opportunity Chris believes the World Cup has created another enormous opportunity for American soccer—giving MLS greater visibility internationally while introducing U.S. fans to players and clubs from around the world. [00:15:50] Is MLS Still a Development League? Chris describes MLS largely as a developing and selling league, while acknowledging how much the quality and international reputation of the league have grown. [00:16:53] Niko Tsakiris, Beau Leroux & the Next Generation The group discusses young Earthquakes players Niko Tsakiris and Beau Leroux, the importance of MLS academies and when talented American players should consider opportunities overseas. [00:18:30] Navigating America's Youth Soccer Maze MLS NEXT. ECNL. Academies. ODP. College soccer. The group discusses how complicated the American development pathway can be—and how difficult it can be for parents to figure out where their children belong. [00:20:13] When Can the U.S. Expect to Win a World Cup? How far away is the U.S. men's national team from entering a World Cup with a genuine expectation of winning it? Chris and Alex discuss the long-term development required to build a soccer culture capable of consistently producing world-class players. [00:22:09] Why American Soccer Needs Patience Chris points out that Major League Soccer is still remarkably young compared with the great leagues and clubs of Europe. His message: the U.S. has accomplished a great deal in a relatively short amount of time—and development can't be rushed. [00:24:14] Playing With Johan Cruyff Chris reflects on one of the highlights of his career: playing alongside Johan Cruyff with the Los Angeles Aztecs and being coached by Rinus Michels. He explains Cruyff's belief that soccer is a simple game—and why what players do without the ball can be just as important as what they do with it. The group also discusses Cruyff's enormous influence on Pep Guardiola and modern soccer. [00:27:17] America's More Educated Soccer Fan The World Cup didn't just fill stadiums. It exposed millions of Americans to the details and nuances of the game. Chris, Claudine and Alex discuss how generations of Americans who grew up playing soccer are now creating a much more knowledgeable fan base. [00:30:48] Americans Can Watch the World's Best Every Week Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, MLS and more—the American soccer fan now has unprecedented access to the world's best players and clubs. [00:32:35] What MLS Still Needs to Improve Chris would like MLS clubs to spend more money bringing in experienced, difference-making players who can improve teams while also helping younger American players develop. [00:34:00] Pay-to-Play and Access The conversation turns to whether the pay-to-play system prevents talented young players from getting opportunities. Chris believes pay-to-play isn't likely to disappear, making programs that provide free or subsidized opportunities to underserved communities even more important. [00:35:35] Don't Forget the Fun Chris knew as a teenager that he wanted an environment where he could enjoy playing soccer. Decades later, he still believes enjoyment matters. [00:39:13] When Chris Knew It Was Time to Stop Playing Chris remembers the serious knee injury he suffered while playing indoor soccer with the Earthquakes and how he eventually realized his body could no longer do what he wanted it to do. [00:40:43] Chris Dangerfield's Advice to Soccer Parents His first piece of advice: let young kids play multiple sports. Let children discover what they genuinely love instead of forcing them toward the sport their parents want them to play. [00:43:05] Parents: Watch Soccer Chris has another suggestion for parents of young soccer players: learn the game yourself. Understanding high-level soccer can help parents recognize good decisions, movement and technical development instead of judging everything by goals and the final score. [00:44:44] Chris Grades American Youth Soccer So what grade does someone who has watched American soccer develop for decades give the system today? A strong B. Chris says it's not perfect, but American youth soccer has come a long way, with stronger academies, better coaching and more young players finding pathways to the professional game. ⚽ Why This Conversation Matters Few people have experienced the evolution of American soccer from as many angles as Chris Dangerfield. He arrived when professional soccer in the United States was still fighting to establish itself, experienced the star-filled NASL era, became part of the Earthquakes' history and then watched Major League Soccer build a much more sustainable professional game. His perspective is also a reminder of just how young the American soccer system remains. There are legitimate questions about youth development, pay-to-play, professional pathways, coaching and the national team. But Dangerfield believes the sport has made enormous progress. The next stage will require patience, stronger academies, greater access to the game and continued investment in developing American players. And through all of it, Chris argues that one thing shouldn't get lost: The game still needs to be fun. Memorable Quotes “If you are truly a football or soccer fan, go and watch your local team.” — Chris Dangerfield “The history is not on our side. I think the national teams have come a long way in a short time.” — Chris Dangerfield “As long as they’re smiling, that’s the main thing.” — Chris Dangerfield on youth soccer “Watch the game.” — Chris Dangerfield’s advice to soccer parents Connect With Us Claudine Wong Facebook: ClaudineWongKTVU Instagram: @ClaudineWongKTVU TikTok: @ClaudineKTVU YouTube: @ClaudineWong Alex Lobban Instagram: @thealexlobban San Jose Earthquakes Website: sjearthquakes.com Instagram: @sjearthquakes Facebook: San Jose Earthquakes X: @SJEarthquakes YouTube: @sjearthquakes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
