In the latest part of our ongoing series, we corner New York Red Bulls soccer star Jan Gunnar Solli and shoot him a few questions about life in the MLS...
Jan Gunnar Solli
New York Red Bulls Midfielder
Birthplace: Arendal, Norway - April 19 1981
Where did you begin your professional career?
I had my debut in Norway when I was 19 years old. I played for Odd Grenland for almost three and a half seasons before transferring to Rosenborg Trondheim at the age of 22.
When did you start playing football?
People have seen me carrying a soccer ball around with me since I was just 4 or 5 years old. Soccer has always been a part of my life. I had a bicycle back then and everywhere I rode it, my ball was always with me.
Looking back, which players did you most admire as a youngster?
Of course I watched soccer on television, but for me it was always more important to look at the players around me, players who were maybe just a little bit better than me. Maybe players who were just two or three years older. For example, I looked up to my friend and tried to be as good as he was, maybe even better. This attitude helped me to improve. You know, everybody always wants to be a big star when they are young, but honestly, there are so many bumps on the road to being a professional player that you're better off focussing on the small steps. My real role models have been people I could measure myself against.
Did you have a favourite club when you were younger?
Rosenborg was always my favourite club. When I transferred to them I was really very happy and I had a great coach there. He even coached the national side in Norway a little bit later. Anyway, I was playing for my favourite club and I had the chance to participate twice in the Champions League and got the chance to play against [Thierry] Henry while he was playing for Arsenal. This was such a huge experience for me, to play in the Champions League. My best moment came when I was winning the Championship in Norway with SK Brann and I got the chance to play against [Red Bull New York team-mate] Frank Rost in the Champions League.
That’s funny…
Isn’t it? And now we are roomies..
How does European soccer compare to American soccer?
There are so many sports to compete with in America. Soccer will probably never be as big as American football, baseball or basketball. I've seen kids here who've never tried to play soccer. I can't imagine meeting someone in Europe who has never heard about soccer.
Heads Up: Jan Gunnar SolliWhy is that?
I hope that soccer can become one of the big four sports, but they have to introduce this sport to more kids. It is a question of awareness. Plus it all depends on the environment the kids grow up in. It’s important for them to play something that's popular in their school. They start right away with basketball and baseball because their friends are playing it. I was in Upper East Harlem recently at a private school with 170 kids and I did a soccer clinic there. Some of the kids looked at me as if they'd never seen a soccer ball before. I asked them what the most important rule in soccer is and their answer: not using your hands. Some of them even said: 'Oh, so we're going to kick the ball?'
We hear that you're a DJ. How did you get into that?
I've always had a passion for music. I've actually started producing my own tracks, which is a dream come true. Some of my remixes have even been picked up and played by the Swedish House Mafia. You can see it on YouTube. I make mash-ups, putting two songs together, and they really liked them, which means a lot to me. The DJing just comes with that. I'm not a late-night party animal DJ, it's just something I like to do. You can DJ at nice events in the evening, from 7-10pm, so I can still get my sleep. I'm very professional. No coach has ever had to warn me off doing this or that, because as long as I perform well on the pitch, everything is okay. I love playing soccer but I need the music too. It gives me the energy to keep on playing soccer.
Where can people hear your music?
I have my own website, djsolli.com. There are links to my music, or you can look for my tunes on YouTube. And it tells you about any upcoming gigs I'm playing in New York. I hope you like it.
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