After completing his first season abroad with Racing Ferrol of Spain’s Second Division with 7 goals in 20 games, Ante Razov is a free agent. Several teams have made offers and Razov is weighing his options as he prepares for the USA’s World Cup qualifying game with Trinidad & Tobago on Wednesday. INTERVIEW BY WILL KUHNS SOCCER AMERICA: Any news on the club front? ANTE RAZOV: There’s a lot of news, actually, but nothing is done yet. I’m just going to look at all the offers and probably make a decision on what’s best for me. Obviously, I have to look at the various situations with each team and hopefully within 10 days to two weeks, that’s going to be decided. SA: What are the important factors for you in deciding? AR: I’d like it to be in the first division somewhere. I’d like to stay in Spain, obviously — it’s a great place. I also have to look at how the team plays. The team where I just completed playing recently wasn’t best for me, but it was good experience. SA: In what way did Racing Ferrol play differently from what you prefer? AR: Well, they were very technically limited. They played smashmouth-type ball. I prefer more of a team that likes to play, but that’s what you expect from a modest, second-division team. It’s very hard over there, but we did all right. … But I also have to look at where it is and make sure there won’t be problems if I have to leave for national team games — all those factors.
SA: And I guess a city where you’d like to live … AR: Yeah, we’d all like to live in Malaga, but it doesn’t always work out like that. That’s a very small issue. If you get a good offer somewhere and a good situation, those things come first. SA: How many offers are we talking about? AR: About three or four, maybe five. I can’t really say which clubs right now. SA: All within Spain? AR: No, actually throughout Europe, but we’re going to keep a lid on [specific teams] for now. SA: Despite playing for a team that didn’t suit your style, did you feel you gained something from this past season? AR: I think I gained a lot, actually. Over there, especially in Segunda, everyone plays a 4-4-2, space is very limited and they play it very well. Unlike MLS, you have relegation and promotion, so it’s life or death. It’s very physical — fairly brutal, at times. I think it’s like that in every second division in Europe. In the first divisions, they play a lot more and in the second divisions, it’s more battle-oriented. But I think it helped me a lot — getting stronger on the ball, getting my aerial game together and getting some confidence.
SA: How did you feel about your performance in Jamaica? AR: I felt pretty good. I had a limited time, but I wanted to come in and see if I could get the game for us and I thought I was pretty unlucky. Interview by Associate Editor Will Kuhns in Foxboro, Mass.