Days of anonymity in U.S. may soon be over for two-time World Cup team captain Reyna

BY ANDREW MILLER The Post and Courier http://www.charleston.net/assets/webPages/departmental/news/Stories.aspx?section=sports&tableId=136400&pubDate=3/28/2007 Claudio Reyna is arguably the greatest American player to ever lace up a pair of soccer cleats. Reyna is the only U.S. player to be named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star First Team. He is the first American-born player to captain a major European club. He was named captain for the U.S. National teams during the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. But chances are that if you bumped into the former University of Virginia star on the street, you probably wouldn't recognize him. And that's OK with the soft-spoken Reyna. "I think on a personal level it's a good thing that a lot of people don't know who I am because I can go out with my family and I don't have to worry about it," Reyna said. "I like being anonymous. I definitely don't expect to get noticed when I'm back in the States and that's the difference. When I'm in Europe, I expect it, and I'm ready for it. In Europe, they recognize you, they say hello, but they give you some space. It's not like they follow you around town and pester you. But they definitely know who you are. But here, I can go out without many people knowing who I am." With soccer's growing popularity in the U.S. and Reyna's role on the last two World Cup teams, his days of anonymity might be coming to an end. On a recent golf outing at Wild Dunes, Reyna was surprised that several people stopped to talk with him and get autographs. "There were like three or four people that recognized me," Reyna said. "I'm always flattered by it, but again, it's nothing I expect when I'm back here. I had a lady come from behind the counter and talk with me, and I was a little surprised that she knew who I was. But it was great." After playing in Europe for the last dozen years, Reyna, 33, signed with the New York Red Bulls this past January and will be playing in Major League Soccer for the first time in his storied professional career. It's a homecoming of sorts for Reyna, who grew up just a corner kick away in Newark, N.J. "This is something I've been trying to do for a while, but things just never seemed to work out," Reyna said. "I've wanted to come back and play in the United States for a couple years and this year everything just fell into place for me professionally and for my family. I grew up in the New York area, my wife (Danielle) is from New York, so we're pretty comfortable here. I couldn't have asked for a better situation." Reyna is also reunited with Red Bulls head coach Bruce Arena, who coached Reyna at Virginia and for the last eight years on the U.S. National team. "I've known Bruce since college, so I know what he wants from his players and what he expects," Reyna said. "He likes to push his teams, and he gets the best out of his players and that's why he's been the most successful coach in the game in our country. "When I first spoke to him about coming here, it was all about starting something new and building a team, not only for this year, but for the coming years. He wants to build a team so that we're not only competitive for this year, but for the future, and that's something I wanted to be a part of." Arena feels fortunate to land a player of Reyna's reputation and ability. "Claudio is a quality player at any level," Arena said. "A player who will hopefully make us a better club. Claudio is one of the best players that the United States has ever produced. I don't think there's any question about that." Reyna, who has played in Scotland, Germany and England during his pro career, has spent the last four seasons with Manchester City in the elite English Premier League. Hampered by injuries while with Manchester City, Reyna managed just four goals in 77 games. With Reyna joining the MLS and the addition of British superstar David Beckham to Los Angeles in June, Reyna expects the fledgling league to grow in the years to come. "The Premiership is one of the best leagues in the world, if not the best," Reyna said. "It's a great league, but I think the MLS is going be very competitive as well. The league is starting to bring in some quality players." Reach Andrew Miller at 937-5599 or apmiller@postandcourier.com.

This article was printed via the web on 3/28/2007 9:53:14 PM . This article appeared in The Post and Courier and updated online at Charleston.net on Wednesday, March 28, 2007.