Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboa
Marcelo Balboais a retired American soccer defender who played in the 1990s for the U.S. national team, becoming its captain. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame...
ProfessionSoccer Player
Date of Birth8 August 1967
CityChicago, IL
ask people
People ask me about that more than anything,
career carry eddie game guys jersey kids last opportunity outside pass run time today work younger
You always want to end your career in the jersey you started, ... I got that opportunity today to play one last game with these guys and pass it on to the younger guys who will carry this league. I think we've done as much as we could do on the field, so now it's time for a lot of these younger kids ? the Eddie Gavins, Landon Donovans, DeMarcus Beasleys ? to take the reins. We can work on the outside ? become the coaches, the GMs, the guys who run U.S. Soccer.
core enjoyed eric fans fought front good group hard john maybe played players qualified sacrificed soccer sure tab talking time took turned
I have a hard time talking about myself. It was much more than just an individual, ... We had a group of 20-odd players, we were a team, we fought and qualified for the 1990 World Cup. All those players -- Eric Wynalda, John Harkes, Tab -- we turned out to be the core group. We sacrificed a lot to make sure that soccer took off. We played in front of maybe 5,000 fans on a good night. But I enjoyed every minute. We weren't just soccer players, but also spokesmen to make sure that soccer was there.
bicycle happen last move
If I happen to do (a bicycle kick), it'll probably be the last thing I do on the field, because I won't be able to move afterwards,
bunch ceremony emotional ending perfect share spend top weekend
It'll be the perfect ending to a perfect weekend, ... I'll get to spend the weekend with my family, share a bunch of stories, get emotional during the ceremony and top it off with some soccer.
ahead good stadium
We've got a lot of years ahead of us to do some good things in Colorado, especially with the stadium in 2007,
beating fans gonna mexican mexicans respect start until
You're not gonna get respect from Mexican fans until you start beating Mexicans teams. It translates to winning.
crushed fact guy knew labeled media people player voted
As a player I was always labeled as Rambo or the guy who crushed people at the back, ... You never really knew how the media thought of you. The fact that they voted me in on the first time, it's a real honor.
alive god hall honored keeping son wife
I say, 'Thank you, God, for keeping me and my wife alive to be able to see my son being honored at the Hall of Fame,'
attitude ball best cheering crowd good job knew knocking left man mexican played stadium team tie
Going into that stadium and getting a tie was phenomenal, ... That was the best we have played as a team being a man down. We knew we were doing a good job when we started knocking the ball around and the Mexican crowd was cheering 'Ole, Ole!!' That day, we left with the attitude that we were back in it again.
father fathers second
He was like a second father to me,
special
Being able to (come back) was a special moment,
gentlemen group guys honored humbled realizing
Being here and realizing the gentlemen that are over here and the pre-NASL guys, I'm humbled and honored to be in the same group as you guys are in right now.
studied tape watched
I never really studied the game. I just watched tape of who I had to cover. That was my studying.