I'd played the full year of sports as an American kid-- basketball in the winter, baseball in the summer, soccer year round. Never got into American football 'cause i'm not very big (5'8" as an adult).

Soccer was something i'd always enjoyed but a particular coach that I had when i was between 10 and 14 really solidified my passion for the game. He's an Iranian fellow with a small bit of professional experience in Europe and some coaching experience at AC Milan and Ajax. The dude was kind of a force of nature. He's actually only my height, but had the giant quads and calves of a pro player. A rather intimidating and stern character. Always rocked the mustache. Seeing him rip a few shots added to the intimidation. Yikes.

Playing for his club was totally different than playing on any of the other teams here in the US. He really knew how to develop technical ability and our performance in the leagues we were in reflected that. The game he taught his squads was centered around possession and conditioning (he was big on dutch total football) whereas most of the other youth teams kinda played a lot of "kick and run" and a very physical game with bigger kids. He had a team in several age groups, so i would watch my brother in the older squad and it was impressive seeing the total football come to life in the higher age groups. Knowing that that style is kinda sorta passed to Barcelona (through Cruyff), I tend to be partial to them, though I happily watch most top flight football as a neutral.

He ended up moving to a different part of the state and my brother and I couldn't participate in his teams anymore, but his passion for the game stuck with both of us. Not only that, but it instilled a huge respect in us for the professional game (how the game is truly played) and its players-- a respect that's largely nonexistent here in the states. People tend to like insulting soccer here and only focus on diving, or how "nothing happens", or how soccer players are pussies, etc. etc. Which is a piece of why it's difficult to be a fan of the game here. In spite of that though, I'll always remember Mahmood and be thankful for the passion for football he instilled in us at Caspian FC.