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Juan Pablo Ángel has been a soccer star in countries that are wild for the sport. The Colombian forward played for River Plate in Argentina and Aston Villa in England before taking a chance on Major League Soccer.
Even though he joined Red Bull New York after the 2007 season started, Ángel finished second in the league in scoring, with 19 goals. Ángel was also voted an MLS All- Star and scored a goal versus Celtic in the All-Star Game.
In his second year with New York, Ángel was again named an All-Star. He also overcame injuries to help the Red Bull team fight for a playoff spot.
1. What’s been the biggest motivation for you in your career?
I think it is the passion of the game; you are born with it. I have loved this sport since I was very, very young and that is what probably keeps me going day in and day out.
2. Describe the adjustment to MLS and New York, personally and professionally.
Personally I think it has been a pretty easy transition coming from England. Usually when you know the language and understand a little bit more of the culture, it is easy. So it hasn’t been difficult at all in terms of my personal life and my family. In terms of the sport there are some rules in the league and obviously the way it is played here; you have two conferences and the traveling has been difficult, but I have been handling it pretty well and I am enjoying it.
3. How did your time at Aston Villa change you as a player?
It changed me a lot. It was a great experience. I had a lot of difficulties when I was there. Right now, I would say, it is probably the best time to be at Villa because they have changed the club upside down for the better. I am not saying it was a bad club back then, but it was different. The management was different, we didn’t have the resources or the players that they have right now. It was a very rewarding experience because we had to fight and every season was a battle and I wasn’t used to it. I was used to playing for teams that always had a chance to win the league, and that wasn’t the case at Villa. But I did enjoy it and I did grow up a lot as a person and a player.
4. Your Red Bull teammate, Jozy Altidore, moved to Spain - what advice would you give him or any other young player trying to start a career abroad?
I think that it’s about being consistent in what you do. Having the responsibility, the work ethic, and the discipline to do what it takes to be a professional. It’s not about doing it for one day or one week, it’s about doing it every day, every week, every month, for a number of years. The only way that you can achieve that is by being disciplined and being professional and having an excellent work ethic.
5. Some players have a hard time learning a new language when they move to another country-what helped you develop your English skills the most?
I don’t know. I think that every individual is different. It was probably the necessity for me when I was in England. Nobody spoke Spanish when I was there, so I had to find a way to make myself understood and to try and understand what was going on around me.
6. Explain what having their own new stadium, Red Bull Arena, means to the players of the team.
I think it is going to be a massive change for us and for soccer in this city. I think we are crying for a venue that is only for soccer purposes and we are going to have the stadium in a different area, which I think will have much more supporters nearby. In terms of being in our home field, I think it is going to be the biggest thing because right now I don’t think any of us feel like we are playing at home when we are playing at Giants Stadium.
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