BRENT LATHAM – Who is Hassan Nazari, and why the cool photo, you might be asking. Nazari, bottom right in the photo above, next to Alecko Eskandarian’s dad, played for the Iranian national team in the 70s. After playing in the World Cup and Olympics, like so many other Iranians he ended up in the U.S. after the Revolution.
It was America’s gain. Nazari went on to set up the Dallas Texans soccer club, which has turned out a number of fantastic players, including Clint Dempsey and Conor Doyle, who recently signed with Derby County in the English Championship.
So Nazari knows plenty about American youth soccer. And the good part is he thinks it’s improving. Despite the title, we actually had a telephone chat, during which the Iranian-American reflected on a number of topics germane to today’s American soccer landscape.
On his goal in starting the Texans two decades ago:
“I’m coming from a very strong background myself. I was very fortunate as a young player to be exposed to top coaches from around the world. Soccer is obviously the number one sport in my country, Iran. Iran is a very. Very wealthy country because you have oil, and money was not an issue when it comes to soccer. So I had the opportunity to be coached by top coaches from around the world, from England, Germany, Brazil, and all that. Then, as a young player, I was playing at a hgh level – the World Cup, the Olympics.
“So when I started the Texans I wanted to make sure that it wasn’t just another club, just gather some kids and give them a soccer ball and tell them go play. We have a club with direction, a clubhouse, facilities, six lighted fields with indoor facilities and the sponsorship with Nike. I could imagine that – I could tell ten years ago the way our players were going, they are developing the way that they could play abroad. And because I’m coming from abroad, we know what it takes. We have players in Portugal, in Bundesliga, the premier League, Holland, because we know what it takes.
“I remember 15-16 years ago when I started at Texans, and I had the dream that one day we would have what they would have in youth clubs in Europe. Their own clubhouse, strength training and agility training, and centers. A lot of people told me it’s not possible. But we accomplished that.”
On the improvements in the new development academy system over the previous ODP system:
“Directing all the best players in those cities where they have the USSF development academies helps all the best players to come to the environment that can be scouted a little bit easier. I think ODP ten years ago was very very good in terms of finding the players. But I think now with clubs becoming more professional I think ODP was not the answer anymore. And USSF academy understiid that. One of the reasons this started is because they realize the level they have, so they direct them into the USSF academy so the players will be under their nose.”
On general improvement in U.S. soccer over the years:
“I think soccer has come a long way in the United States and I think a lot of the clubs have grown in terms of professionalism. I think it was a brilliant idea by the U.S. Soccer Federation to introduce something very professional, for only limited clubs, with very professional direction, that can develop the top players in that very competitive environment. I think that was a brilliant idea by U.S. Soccer Federation.
“Since I started coaching in the U.S. around ’85, U.S. soccer has made great strides. We are better today than yesterday, and I’m sure we will be better tomorrow than today. So the future of American soccer is very, very bright.”
On the promise of American soccer and the problem of underskilled youth coaching
“I have the chance to travel all over the world. With the exception of Brazil, I think the U.S. has as many talented young players as any other country. The difference is those young players in Germany, in England, in Portugal, from U-12, they are put in a very professional environment. So they’re exposed to it faster. We have developed clubs in the United States, we have a lot of coaches in the United States. But I can tell you that only five percent of them are professional, professional in the true sense. We have a lot of good American coaches, we have a lot of international coaches that they came to United States simply to find a job. Not necessarily because they are international they are good. Some of them you check their backgrounds and you wonder if they really played anywhere at any level.
“So I think what USSF is trying to do is to hold these clubs accountable. Make sure you have facilities, provide the best coaching for young players, all of these things are going to play a big role in the future of youth soccer in this country. I think a lot of good players are simply being coached by bad coaches. This country has resources, unfortunately we don’t have enough coaches to mold those players.
“Unfortunately here, tomorrow, I can get up, find my own team, go buy a shirt and put on the back of it coach, and have the young players around that I deal with, that could be the future of the U.S. This is the problem the academy has. They want to know who coaches the academy teams. It’s very important to know who is coaching these talented players.”