My Best Ten and Me: Featuring Brian Luchini, Manager of Steel FC

For this week’s My Best Ten & Me, we hear from Manager of Steel FC, Brian Luchini. He built out a 4-5-1 and put himself in between the sticks, but the rest of the squad is a collection of legends and winners. We were sure to reiterate the rules…

1. You are the Player/Manager and you have to plug yourself in.

2. Any player selected must have been active in your lifetime.

*(GK) Brian Luchini
I grew up playing between the pipes then transitioned to striker when I was a bit older. However, my first love was being the crazy man in net so we'll go with that.

(RB) Paolo Maldini
A ruthless, cut-throat defender that you could always count on to bring his "A" game. Not only was he known for being one of the best physically, he was also great at the mental game and could get inside opponents' heads.

(CB) Thiago Silva
A big and strong player, Silva was a staple on the Brazilian defense for years. His "never back down" approach to the game is what made me enjoy watching him. He was either winning the ball or breaking a leg.

(CB) Giorgio Chiellini
A crafty player that also brought physicality. Many players hated Chiellini because of the way he played. The ticky-tacky fouls that stopped opponents' run of play and momentum is what made him great. You could never really get anything going against him.

(LB) Roberto Carlos
Another strong and fast Brazilian defender that was also able to get involved in the attack. Everyone remembers that swerving free kick he scored vs France from 40 yards out. That free kick alone would put him on my list. He was a monster.. 

(CDM) Andres Iniesta
I liked watching Iniesta because the game came so easily to him. Everytime he was on the ball it was a simple 1-2 touches and it was off his feet. Additionally, his defensive work ethic and vision on the field made him a vital player in Barcelona's midfield. The game slowed down when he had the ball and he had insane chemistry with Messi and knew where he would be making runs all the time. A pleasure to watch. 

(CDM) Andrea Pirlo
I also loved watching Pirlo because of his ability to ping the ball all over the field with such accuracy whenever he wanted to. Pirlo also had amazing vision but he brought physicality as well. Like Iniesta, he played a simple game and when on the ball you could tell the gears were turning as to which deadly pass he would pick out.

(CAM) Zinedine Zidane
Zidane was an amazing player but also the type of player that knows he's good and could back it up. Most famous for his headbutt in the World Cup, Zidane didn't take any shit. He was physical, won battles, and punished players with both skill and physicality. His finishing was top notch and was an overall great player that balanced skill and physicality and used both evenly to his advantage. 

(LW) Kylian Mbappe
I like watching Mbappe because of 2 things- his skill, overall work ethic, and versatility. There is no doubt with his speed and footwork that he is very skilled, however his work ethic is 2nd to none. Playing out wide at times he made 60 yard runs to get involved in the attack and then 60 yard runs to get back and cover for others. He is a machine and plays both sides of the ball very well. Additionally, he is able to play in multiple positions and I like that about players.

(RW) Arjen Robben
Robben was an absolute beast on the right side. Everyone knew he would cut from the right side inside and get the ball on his left foot for a curling shot back post, but no one could stop it. Additionally, his speed on the right was nearly always superior to his opponents and he left it all out on the field. Watching him play for the Netherlands and Bayern Munich was a treat.

(ST) Thierry Henry
My favorite player of all time. To put it simply, Henry knew how to finish. He was a monster in the attacking third of the field. His footwork, vision, work ethic, and of course finishing was 2nd to none at his position. He was also a humble guy that enjoyed playing soccer for the game. He was not a big show boater and did not complain. He showed up, did his job, and put on a show while doing it. Goal after goal scored by him are flashing through my head right now but my favorite was his half volley turn goal vs Manchester United where the keeper didn't even move. Pure class.    

My Best Ten and Me: Featuring Rose Shoen, Founder and Head Coach, Azteca FC of Sacramento

We’re joined by Rose Shoen, founder and head coach of Azteca FC out of Sacramento, California for this week’s My Best Ten & Me. She tried to wiggle out of including herself per the rules…

1. You are the Player/Manager and you have to plug yourself in.

2. Any player selected must have been active in your lifetime.

She wanted to add an extra player so we gave a bench spot to a legend to ensure Rose gets on the imaginary pitch.

"The vision of a champion is someone who is bent over, drenched in sweat, at the point of exhaustion when nobody else is watching.” – Anson Dorrance

For the head coach of this team I would make sure US Soccer hires Anson Dorrance. He is the best coach that the women’s game has ever seen, and his system has produced the best female players in the beautiful game of futbol. Technical director of this Best XI= Anson Dorrance. My formation is a 1-3-5-2, it will encompass power in the front and back, and excellent creativity within my midfield. You need an absolute savage in the goal if you want to be the best. Therefore I select…

(GK) Hope Solo
(USWNT ,  WWC 2015 and two Olympic Gold medals) As of August 6, 2016, Solo holds several U.S. goalkeeper records including appearances (202), starts (190), wins (153), shutouts (102) wins in a season (26), consecutive minutes played (1,256), and longest undefeated streak (55 games). Solo is by far the best female goalkeeper I have ever studied. She is gritty, fearless, can stop PK's, aggressively directs her back line, and mouthy. If your GK isn't a little crazy, then she probably isn't going to win you many championships. Shout out to the Leyenda, Hope Solo. 

In my back three I have selected three of my favorite and very versatile center defenders to keep my rock-solid backline.

(LCD) Crystal Dunn
(USWNT and NWSL North Carolina Courage). Crystal Dunn played her collegiate career under the legendary coach, Anson Dorrance, at the University of North Carolina. She has been drilled in technical ability and defensive prowess forever. In 2012 she helped lead the USWNT U20 to a championship in Japan. She returned to UNC to help them win a championship in the NCAA DI finals.  This led her to a successful rookie career in the NWSL, where she earned the golden boot in 2015 while playing for the Washington Spirit. She was denied a position in the 2015 USWNT which went on to win the WWC 2015. Dunn refocused herself and earned a position as a defender in the 2019 USWNT and helped anchor the backline as they went onto win the USWNT 4th World Cup. Dunn is versatile in scoring goals and defending against the best offensive lineups in the world.

(CD) Rebecca “Becky” Sauerbrunn
(USWNT and NWSL Portland Thorns) Sauerbrunn has been a standout in the USWNT backline. Fearless in the air, lethal on tackles, and managing her backline with maturity and patience. She is one of the reasons that the USWNT dominated and held so many clean sheets in the 2019 WWC. In the NWSL she anchored the Utah Royals for several seasons but was recently traded to the Portland Thorns for the 2020 season. Becky is one of the best center backs in the world currently, and it could be said she is one of the best female center backs of all time. 

(RCD) Wendie Renard
(France National Team and  Olympique Lyonnais) While watched the France National team play vs the USWNT in the WWC 2019 it was CLEAR that the French backline had one of THE MOST dominant women in the air managing their D-line. Renard won so many 50/50 balls it was incredible. In the waning minutes of the match vs the US in WWC 2019, Renard went up for a set play and scored a magnificent goal with a lethal header. She is one of the only women in the world who can score like that. She would be an ideal player for my back 3 and she would go up for set plays and offensive corner kicks. Dominant in the 18-yard box offensively and defensively. 

(CDM) Julie Ertz
(USWNT and NWSL Chicago Red Stars) If anyone has been paying attention in recent years to the development of Julie Ertz (née Johnson), they will see how she has become the defensive linchpin within the center mid triangle of the USWNT. Additionally, Julie has been a key component to the back to back WWC championships 2015 and 2019. A Santa Clara University standout, Ertz was selected in 2014 to the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL. After her rookie season she was named Rookie of the Year. She was selected as a member of the USWNT 2015 and 2019 WWC squads and was an anchor in the midfield and defense. She has a dominant ability to score on offensive set plays and defend fearlessly on defensive set plays. She is arguably the best Center defensive midfielder (#6) in the women's game currently. 

(CAM) Carli Lloyd
(USWNT and NWSL Sky Blue)- There are few things certain in life…. death, taxes, and Lloyd scoring unbelievable goals for the USWNT in the clutch moments. Carli is a two-time Olympic gold medalist (2008 and 2012) and WWC champion in 2015 and 2019.  Carli was a key player for USWNT during their 4th WWC championship in 2019 even though pundits thought she might be “too old”. Her dominant performances both on the USWNT and at the club level earned her FIFA player of the year in 2015 and 2016. She is the second soccer player to EVER score a hat trick in any senior world cup final. Carli scored three goals in the 2015 WWC final vs Japan in 16 minutes, this is a world cup record. The power, vision, and pure grit which she demonstrates makes her a key member of the center mid triangle. Peak Carli was a force to be reckoned with, even now as her career is winding down, she is still within the USWNT roster and can score as a sub or starter.

(CAM) Marta Viera da Silva
(Brazil national team and NWSL Orlando Pride) One of the only players to earn FIFA player of the year more than five times is the great Brazilian leyenda, Marta. She has earned FIFA world player of the year SIX times (2006, 2007, 2008, 2009,2010, and 2018). Another record from this crafty and ruthless midfielder, is that she holds the FIFA WWC all time record goal scorer with 17 goals. She strikes fear into defenders as she is one of the most experienced female players on the global stage and the classic #10 possesses the silky touch which is known as a trademark skill of the Brazilian ballers. Marta and Carli would be an ideal combo in the midfield due to their vast experience, vision, and the DEEP desire to be a CHAMPION at all costs.

(RM) Tobin Heath
(USWNT and Portland Thorns NWSL) If you want to see a player with the handles to drop a defender to their knees and then go back again on the next play and perform another dizzying display of pure finesse, then look no further than Tobin Heath. A former coach of Heath at the youth level stated, that Tobin was “bored” with girls her age and would nutmeg and rainbow them for fun at nationals. She went onto have an illustrious career at UNC under coach Anson Dorrance, who truly put Heath into his system. Under his guidance she helped lead UNC to three NCAA DI championships. Dorrance helped her sharpen her skills into the dominant world champion we know her as today, and put her through his “competitive cauldron”, truly making her one of the best 1v1 female players in the world. Her creativity, distribution, servicing, and ability to make the game FUN on the wing makes her one of the best to watch in the women’s game. With the USWNT Heath was a member of the 2015 and 2019 WWC championship squads. In the Thorns she has been a member of the NWSL franchise since 2013 and has been a key member of both of their championship lineups. Heath scored the game winning goal for the Thorns to earn the 2013 NWSL championship. If you want a winger who can connect and read the game and be fully synchronized with the likes of Marta and Carli, then you need Tobin on your wing.

*(LM) Rose Shoen
Reluctantly, this is where Rose would line herself up. But if she could, she would sub in Kristine Lilly as soon as possible. (USWNT and Boston Breakers WPS) On a global scale there has not be one other player with the consistency and dedication to total EXCELLENCE to do their job in the pitch for decades as the ultimate USWNT legend, Kristine Lilly. This baller holds the record for both men and women in caps for their national team, at a staggering 354 appearances and 130 goals, Lilly STANDS ALONE at the top. A true shining example of what a quiet and focused level of dedication can lead to. A stellar career for the USWNT which began as a high schooler, Kristine geared up for the USA starting in 1987 and playing her final match in 2010. Very few players can even comprehend the level of mental, emotional, psychological, and physical dedication it takes to continually earn a position in the most dominant women’s soccer player pool in the world. She is another product of the legendary college coach, Anson Dorrance, she went onto win a NCAA DI championship EVERY single year she played at UNC (1989-1992). Even though there have been MANY world champions to come out of the UNC system, the program honored Lilly by retiring her #15 jersey in 1994. Lilly played n the 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cups for USWNT. She is the only third player to participate in five different World Cup Finals. She additionally played in three Olympics, earning a gold medal in the 1996 and 2004 Olympics and a silver medal in 2000. She only missed the 2008 Olympics due to giving birth to her child. Lilly is arguably the toughest player to participate in the national team ever, her consistency over three decades is unmatched on a global scale by any other player male or female. The stats don’t lie and there may never be another player like Kristine Lilly in our lifetime.

My striker pair was a very hard decision. I decided on two of the grittiest strikers, who just always find a way to score and had to battle for the women’s game on many levels.

(S) Abby Wambach
(USWNT, Washington Freedom WUSA and Ney York Flash NWSL) One of the most iconic WWC moments was Wambach scoring the equalizer goal on a last ditch attempt in the 2011 WWC quarterfinals, this goal lead to a PK shoot out in which the USA advanced to the WWC Semis and then eventually the finals where they earned 2nd place. Abby’s dominance during clutch moments made her a standard #9 in the USWNT lineup. Her USWNT career spanned from 2001-2015 she appeared 256 times winning the WWC in 2015, Olympic Gold Medal in 2004 and 2012 and FIFA World player of the year in 2012. She currently holds the goal scoring record with 184 goals scored while donning the red, white, and blue. When the cards are down you send Wambach to the box on any type of offensive set play or last ditch run to the final third. Abby is a champion and she WILL find a way to put the ball in the back of the net.

(F) Mia Hamm
(USWNT and Washington Freedom WUSA) If there is any player who lifted up the sport of women’s soccer to a global level and demonstrate what it REALLY means to “play like a girl” then you need to say the name, Mia Hamm. Another champion to come out of UNC and the direction of Anson Dorrance, Hamm won the NCAA DI championship every single year she played at UNC (1989-1993). She holds too many records to count at UNC and in the ACC. She debuted for the USWNT at the age of 15 and went onto score 158 while representing the United States. She was a key member of the 1991 and then the top striker for the WWC Championship in 1999. Additionally, she went onto win gold medals in the 1996 and 2004 Olympics. Mia was a household name in the 90’s and for good reason, she lit the field on fire with her lethal runs to goal and clutch finishes. Her performances earned her FIFA world player of the year in 2001 and 2002. Her USWNT career lasted from 1987-2004 and her goal scoring record was only surpassed by Abby Wambach. Which is why we need this striker pair at the top. They are THE BEST to ever compete in the Women’s world cup and it will be hard for any player to surpass their lengthy and star-studded careers.

Creating a Solution

When you take a peek into the US soccer system you are met with various problems that stunt the growth of the sport in our country. These various barriers to entry are often discussed, but solutions are often glossed over. Rather than finding or workshopping solutions, it's easier to just talk about other systems, mostly in Europe, and daydream about the eventual change of our system into another model, a more European version. Of course there are the activists who have tried or continuously try to change the system, but their presence is often met with dismay from the people who are in charge of providing this sport to all those who seek to support it.

We are often taught that if you want change you have to get out and be the change that you want to see: play in a league that promotes sporting merit (pro/rel), offer a free/low cost academy, develop kids into professionals and promote the community that you play within. All of these qualities have been described as ways to build a club in some of the most successful leagues in the world.

The Aztec people have been known as a tribe whose ambition to improve life meant learning from pre-existing cultures and those cultures around them. The culmination of ideas that when put into practice would help further the community. These are the tenants of a great soccer club, these are the tenants of Azteca FC.

A team of two leagues

Leagues in the country all operate at different times. All the leagues have various lengths of schedule and majority of them don’t even reflect a full season. So, imagine trying to operate and grow a club and only playing 15 games a year. It’s just not ideal.

Azteca FC operates in two different leagues: the SFSFL and UPSL. The San Francisco Soccer Football League is a league that operates in Northern California. The league has over a hundred years of history, fields strong teams and offers promotion and relegations. The league is home to five clubs that have won the US Open Cup, most recently San Francisco Greek-American Athletic Club. “ SFSFL is the hardest league that I coach in,” said owner and head coach of Azteca FC, Rose Shoen, who adds “ SFSFL is a grind, because in the lower divisions the only way you move up is with points. There are no playoffs. You can't slack and end up in sixth and maybe make playoffs and get promoted. You have to be top two.”

There is a big difference to playing in a pro/rel league than playing in a league without it. First, no one wants to get relegated. Getting relegated brings a hint of shame to your club. You can lose fan base and players could then move on from your club to participate at a higher level. That failure can bring about introspection and force an analysis on the club’s practices. Relegation forces a club to make adjustments to become a better club, it forces a club to break mediocrity and strive for something greater, to strive for promotion. Azteca FC is a club who has continued to push the envelope. In back-to-back seasons within the SFSFL Rose’s men have battle to earn promotion. In that battle, the club has positioned themselves in a place to be challenged by hardened veterans of the game. “ In the SFSFL there are men's teams legitimately train,” said Shoen about the difficulty of the league. She added “ there are players getting paid in the premier division, so you are competing against men who take it seriously. You are competing against men who are preparing 4-5 days a week to prepare for that Sunday game, to win.”

Image courtesy of Azteca FC.

This increase in competition will bring about many challenges on the pitch. Currently, Azteca FC has won one match, drawn one and have lost five, which has them currently in the relegation zone, but tied on four points with two other clubs. While the results may not have been in Azteca’s favor, Rose and her squad look to continue to embrace the challenge and continue to improve during the remainder of the season. Some of those improvements have started to occur as Azteca has only allowed four goals in the last three games against some of the strongest sides in the premier division.

Azteca FC also competes within the United Premier Soccer League. The UPSL is one of, if not the biggest national league in the country. They host over 300 clubs and even offer pro/rel in various regions. Azteca FC played in the Wild West North division in the Fall 2018 season, where the club finished in third place. Just outside the playoffs. “ A higher level of professionalism is needed in the UPSL,” said Shoen when describing UPSL. She added “ it’s stricter, there is no re-entry after being subbed. You really have to be a champion to be in the starting eleven.” The UPSL has given Shoen an opportunity to teach her young players the importance of hard work and the meaning of being in the starting XI.

On top of competing in two leagues, Azteca FC have gone on to play high quality sides such as FC Golden State Force (USLL2), Sacramento Gold (NPSL) and various college squads. Azteca FC believes in challenging its players and that these challenges will develop stronger professionals in the future.

A team for all

In the US, soccer is consistently considered as a sport for the upper-middle class. If you have the exposable income, you can become a soccer star. But soccer should be the sport for everybody. There’s only a couple of ingredients needed to participate in the sport: a ball and a passion for the game. The game shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars a season, kids shouldn’t have to travel hours and hours to compete against another club and parents should feel that not only are their children becoming better soccer player, but are becoming better humans and are giving a pathway to become successful. Azteca FC provides a club for multiple generations of boys and girls. The club teaches each player more than just the fundamentals to the sport, it teaches each player the importance of hard work and dedication to a craft.

The Azteca academy is a low cost option for the Sacramento community. The club members partake in futsal sessions, physical conditioning and are guided through the process of how to apply for colleges in the future. What sticks out about the organization, is that they perform grade checks. Soccer is emphasized as a privilege and can be used to take you to greater heights in the future. “ Our mission is to educate first generation student athletes about college opportunities and to open up doors for them. We are really a scholarship program,” said Shoen. “We obviously compete as a club, but our main mission is to educate these kids about how the college system works, what it takes to be a collegiate athlete and what opportunities are available to get your education through soccer,” she said when describing the benefits of her academy.

The club has gone on to already provide multiple opportunities for players that entered the Azteca academy. The club has gone on to publish nine different success stories through its website and looks to continue to add to the many players they have helped push on to the next level of education. Shoen and Azteca FC are grounded in the reality of what their players go through and how each success story is defined by different criteria. “ I always feel my objective, with any kid I bring into my program, is to get them a collegiate offer. But with some kids I work with, to even get them a high school diploma is a success, said Shoen about her work with her student athletes, she added “ I have other players where for them to go to a junior college and earn a two year degree is a success. Of course I would love to see all my players earn a bachelor's degree, but at the end of the day it's not always their reality.”

A generational club should be open to everyone regardless of income, gender or race. Azteca FC is giving that opportunity to many kids. And sometimes all a kid needs is an opportunity and someone to believe in their potential. That is exactly what Rose Shoen and Azteca FC are providing. They are creating a developing a generational club for the community and its civilians.

“The future of Azteca FC is to create a path way for kids to be in an affordable year round program that will ultimately develop them for the next level of soccer.”

— Rose Shoen

To change a problematic community, you need to be active and put forth the change that you want. It’s easy to complain about pro/rel, competition, youth development and the nature of competitive clubs in our soccer landscape. While most people will skip the solution and dream about the future, Azteca FC is creating a true generational community club. Its offering its youth a pipeline for growth and an ability to change one's fortune. Azteca FC is willing to work in the areas that are typically avoided by most soccer academies, its working with the section of the community that needs it the most. The section of the community that needs to understand the importance of collegiate opportunities. And the section of the community that would benefit the most from the lessons about developing ones life in a positive manner. Azteca FC embraces the children from lower incomes, the families fighting poverty and the hardships that are pushed upon them. Azteca FC is creating a club that truly benefits the community. Azteca FC is one of those clubs that are an example of the solution our soccer landscape needs to embrace. And hopefully we will.

- Steven Ramirez

To learn more about Azteca FC and their programs, check out their site!