‘I feel very good about the way I’m playing’



Tom Dooley has decided to take his playing career into the next millennium. The 38-year-old Columbus Crew defender, who grew up in Germany, has also made plans to settle in the United States.

SOCCER AMERICA: What has made you decide to play another season, after this one? TOM DOOLEY: At the beginning of the season, I talked with the league about it, and they said they’d like to exercise on option on my contract if I play at least 15 games this season. I’ve already played many more than that, and I enjoy soccer so much, I want to play one more year. SA: But you’re already 38 years old, and have played in two World Cups, and have been in professional soccer since 1984 … TD: Columbus has so much going for it. We have a brand new, wonderful stadium and super fan support. And I feel very good about the way I’m playing.


Missing national team play

SA: Did you ever imagine to play this long? TD: There was a time when I thought I’d retire at age 32 or 33. But I had a coach who told me that so many players quit, and then want to play again. He said that if you stop playing soccer for a year when you’re in your 30s, at that age, it’s virtually impossible to return. And once you do quit, it’s very hard to cope with not playing. You end up staying awake at night thinking about how much you want to play. I know, because I think about how much I miss playing on the national team all the time. SA: And what do you want to do when you finally retire, after the 2000 season? TD: My family and I have decided to stay in the United States. We are building a house in Laguna Niguel, Calif. It will be ready next year, so the timing will be perfect. SA: You were born and raised in Germany, and came to the United States in 1992 when you joined the national team [thanks to U.S. citizenship through Dooley’s father]. When did you decide you wanted to settle in the United States? TD: When we lived in the Los Angeles area, training with the U.S. team before the 1994 World Cup, we decided we wanted to make the United States our home. My wife and two sons [ages 7 and 18] all love it here. My ideal scenario would be to live in the United States, and visit Germany once or twice a year to see friends and family. SA: You prefer the United States to Germany? TD: The lifestyle in the United States appeals to us, and we certainly prefer the California weather to German weather. SA: But shortly after you arrived in California, weren’t you shaken by an earthquake? TD: That’s no big deal. An earthquake only lasts 15 or 20 seconds.


More opportunities in U.S.

SA: You’ve said you want to pursue a coaching career. Why would you rather do that in the United States? TD: Soccer in this country is a sport that is still growing at an impressive rate, and I’d like to continue being a part of its development. And I think, with my experience, I may have something to offer. I also believe there are more opportunities here. In Germany, for instance, youth soccer participation numbers are no longer on the increase. And in Germany, you have about 20 or 30 top-flight professional soccer players retiring each year who have become licensed coaches. But the demand for coaches there isn’t increasing. And, again, I want to live in the United States. SA: What will be your first step toward coaching? TD: I will get my licenses. I have to start with my B license in the United States, then my A, and I also want to get my A license in Germany. SA: Have you thought about what kind of coaching you’d want to do? TD: We’ll have to see what the opportunities are. I am very interested in the youth game. I would like to see MLS teams involved in youth development. Can you imagine how beneficial it would be if youth teams would play games before every MLS game? You could have under-16 or under-18 teams playing their matches as part of the pregame festivities before MLS games. It would give youngsters a valuable taste of what it would be like to be in a professional atmosphere. SA: What do you think of MLS’s progress in general? TD: It has gotten better year by year. We have so many more quality, young Americans coming into the league now. Columbus’ new stadium is a great sign, and I see overall progress continuing. SA: It’s been a year now since you were captain of the U.S. team that lost its three games in France ’98. Have your thoughts about that experience changed at all? TD: It was a disappointing showing, and there were mistakes. But I don’t think it was as terrible as the press made things seem. The important thing is that we realize what the mistakes were. There was not enough discipline, not enough unity, and not enough team spirit. SA: What do you think about the national team’s progress under its new coach, Bruce Arena? TD: It’s a new coach and the team has a new face. There are more talented young players available to the team than ever, and there are still the older experienced players who have much to offer. As long as there’s discipline and overall camaraderie, I think the future looks bright. by Soccer America Executive Editor Mike Woitalla