In the latest of our exclusive blogs, we corner a star of the New York Red Bulls soccer team and shoot them a few questions about life in New York and New Jersey and playing in the MLS. Today's player in focus is forward, Corey Hertzog.
Name: Corey Hertzog
Position: Forward
Birthplace: Reading, Pennsylvania
Date of birth: August 1, 1990
When did your passion for soccer start?
I was really young. My dad and my mum got me into playing soccer, I think I was like four or five and ever since then I just kept on playing for the rest of my life.
Why did you decide to play soccer and not one of the other major sports in the US like baseball, football, basketball or ice hockey? Because soccer was not so popular back then.
Yeah, you are right…and actually at first I started to play baseball and I really liked it, but then my parents introduced me to soccer, I played with them and actually I did pretty well, so I turned over to soccer…and here we are now!
Which players did you most admire when you were younger?
When I was younger obviously Thierry Henry…hmmm… just every striker…but actually I didn’t really watch soccer that much when I was younger.
Really? Thierry was one of your idols? So how does it feel to play together with him at the New York Red Bulls? This must be something special for you?
Oh yeah, it is definitely awesome. When I got drafted this was the first thing I thought about that I am going to play with Henry in my first season and that I am able to learn from him…it is just an unbelievable and awesome experience for me to play with him.
And what was your favourite club when you where younger? Is there any special club in the world that you like besides the New York Red Bulls?
Yes, I really like Barcelona. You know Messi, he is one of my favourite players.
What do you think is so appealing about FC Barcelona?
It’s just a really good team. They play one, two so perfect…they play really fast…they just know how to play soccer. They are simply one of the best teams in the world.
Katharina Krutisch
Who do you think has the best repertoire of soccer tricks at the moment at the New York Red Bulls?
The best soccer tricks…I would say Solli [Jan Gunnar Solli]…he has a lot of tricks...whether at the games or in practice, he shows them everywhere.
What is your favourite hotspot in New York or New Jersey?
John [Rooney] and I live together and we really like to go to the movies or just hang out together. We go to the city once in a while and walk around a bit…but if I have to choose one place…hmmm, let me think… we go to Chipotle a lot to get something to eat, we love Mexican food. And we also like to go shopping at Adidas and so on. These are my favourite places here in the area.
What do you really appreciate concerning the area around New York City?
Just everything…just living in New York, coming to a big city, the people and everything…it’s great. Just playing soccer for a living is awesome. This is the best thing and everything I have ever wanted.
So what does it mean to you to play for the New York Red Bulls?
Oh my god – a lot!!! I always dreamed of becoming a professional soccer player, and now I am here in New York…the arena is great, it’s a beautiful set-up here, the guys are awesome, the fans are great, so I cannot imagine anything better than playing for the New York Red Bulls at the moment.
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