I don't know anyone that is more deserving of coaching with the US National team than Mike Sorber.
'Sorbs' (to his friends) is as patriotic a person that I know, and his experiences both as a player with the US National team (played every minute for the US in the 1994 World Cup) and with Bob Bradley (played for Bradley with the Chicago Fire of MLS) make him a logical choice to be added to Bradley's staff when he received the job with the US. He was a humble superstar in Mexico, Major League Soccer and with the US team, and remains the same today as he gets ready for the World Cup.
As the US team prepares for their first game in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch catches up with Bradley's top assistant to talk about his development as a coach and rise to the US National team.
For those who have known him over the years, starting when he was a little kid tagging along to his father's soccer practices or when he was fetching water and helping out on the bench at Steamers indoor games, it's not too surprising that Sorber is where he is today. Sorber has always left the impression of someone cool under pressure with a solid eye for the game and a professional attitude. The perfect coach.
"He was always a student of the game," said Pat McBride, who coached the Steamers in the glory days of indoor soccer in St. Louis. McBride had hired Sorber's dad, Pete, as an assistant coach and Mike Sorber and McBride's son Tim were regulars at practice and at games. "We're talking 10, 11 or 12 years old. You could sit down with Mike and Tim (now an assistant coach at Loyola of Chicago) and at that age the two of them could talk soccer. They were fans, but they could tell you who played good and what the other team did better than you did. ... He's a natural coach."
"He's very clinical," said former SLU coach Dan Donigan, who brought Sorber on as an assistant coach. "He's very straightforward, very honest. He's realistic with his approach to the game. He practices what he preaches, with integrity and character. He told the guys they have to make sacrifices and be disciplined and he's lived a very disciplined life. That's why he's been successful."
'Sorbs' (to his friends) is as patriotic a person that I know, and his experiences both as a player with the US National team (played every minute for the US in the 1994 World Cup) and with Bob Bradley (played for Bradley with the Chicago Fire of MLS) make him a logical choice to be added to Bradley's staff when he received the job with the US. He was a humble superstar in Mexico, Major League Soccer and with the US team, and remains the same today as he gets ready for the World Cup.
As the US team prepares for their first game in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Tom Timmermann of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch catches up with Bradley's top assistant to talk about his development as a coach and rise to the US National team.
For those who have known him over the years, starting when he was a little kid tagging along to his father's soccer practices or when he was fetching water and helping out on the bench at Steamers indoor games, it's not too surprising that Sorber is where he is today. Sorber has always left the impression of someone cool under pressure with a solid eye for the game and a professional attitude. The perfect coach.
"He was always a student of the game," said Pat McBride, who coached the Steamers in the glory days of indoor soccer in St. Louis. McBride had hired Sorber's dad, Pete, as an assistant coach and Mike Sorber and McBride's son Tim were regulars at practice and at games. "We're talking 10, 11 or 12 years old. You could sit down with Mike and Tim (now an assistant coach at Loyola of Chicago) and at that age the two of them could talk soccer. They were fans, but they could tell you who played good and what the other team did better than you did. ... He's a natural coach."
"He's very clinical," said former SLU coach Dan Donigan, who brought Sorber on as an assistant coach. "He's very straightforward, very honest. He's realistic with his approach to the game. He practices what he preaches, with integrity and character. He told the guys they have to make sacrifices and be disciplined and he's lived a very disciplined life. That's why he's been successful."
I am really proud of Mike Sorber, and know that he will continue to represent our national team and country with the integrity, character and humility that we have all come to expect from him.
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