ASN: Gil searching for a clear slate within the Czech Republic with Viktoria Zizkov

Luis Gil may need fallen off the radar amongst American followers, however he’s okay with that. Now enjoying for Viktoria Zizkov within the Czech Republic, Gil was aiming to get away from the place he was comfy however not enjoying. He needed a recent begin and located it in Prague. ASN’s Brian Scairetta spoke with the previous high U.S. youth worldwide. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
March 17, 2020
9:10 PM

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LAST YEAR, Luis Gil was at a crossroads. He had simply completed enjoying out a contract with Querétaro in Liga MX and through that point he went on mortgage to 3 separate MLS groups. Taking part in time had been uneven however he nonetheless had choices inside MLS. Regardless of being well-known and a former outstanding U.S. youth nationwide, Gil determined he wanted to get away and discover a clear slate.

Gil, now 26, at one level was on an elite path in the USA. He was on the 2009 U.S. U-17 World Cup staff and the 2013 U-20 World Cup staff. Earlier than his twentieth birthday, he had amassed early 5500 minutes with Actual Salt Lake. He moved to Queretaro on a free switch in 2015 however was loaned to Orlando, Colorado, and Houston.

It had been a decade since Gil performed on the U-17 World Cup and now he was a couple of months out of a contract. When his choices, he felt he wanted to get away. That course of led him to signal with Viktoria Zizkov, a staff based mostly I Prague that was as soon as within the high tier of the Czech Republic however had fallen on exhausting occasions and was now within the second tier.

“It wasn’t like the first place I wanted to go to,” Gil informed ASN from Prague. “I had options in MLS but I kind of wanted to get away from that. The whole idea was just kind of get away from where I was comfortable. I feel like I was just so used to a certain way and a certain style….It was kind of a quick decision in a way. It was just something where I can get back to where I wanted to be – the player that I wanted to be, where coaches didn’t know me. I wanted something different.”

“I was out of contract for a couple of months, so I needed to start get back into it,” Gil added. “I can’t have too much time off. I wanted to be on a team where I’m playing consistently. That was the biggest thing for me. I wanted to kind of find myself again, to find my game again and just start from scratch in a way.”

Gil’s aim within the transfer was to discover a state of affairs the place he would discover coaches that might not take a look at his previous and as a substitute play him at his pure place which is the No. 10 function. To this point that has labored. Gil has performed in all 17 of Viktoria Zizkov’s video games this season with 15 video games coming as begins and he has scored three objectives up to now.

The membership at the moment sits in sixth place and is 5 factors out of the promotional playoff positions.  Like most leagues on the earth, play is halted as a result of CONVID-19 virus however previous to the suspension, Viktoria Zizkov had gained three in a row.

However crucial half is that soccer is enjoyable for Gil once more and for the primary time in a very long time, he’s enjoying the function he feels most comfy.

“It’s kind of it’s a little bit different because back when I was in MLS, I didn’t really get to play my actual position,” Gil defined. “With the national team, I’ve always played the attacking role, attacking midfield, the No.10 role. I didn’t really get to play that in MLS. And I am able to do that here. And not many players like that come through here. Here it’s mostly a lot of physical players. I’m able to bring my attacking play, my flair that I used to have with the national team and in my younger days. But at the same time, I’ve learned here that you have to hustle a little bit more and they’re consistently running here. The ball is very direct sometimes. You have to win those 50-50 balls. That’s that was the biggest thing for me was finding that balance of being able to play as a 10 but at the same time be able to get into those battles, which happens quite a bit.”

The longer term stays unsure for Gil, however for now he’s having fun with is soccer once more and is eyeing a path ahead. Success within the second tier of the Czech Republic can open doorways within the high tier, which has well-known golf equipment like Sparta Prague and Slavia Prague.

He nonetheless follows each Liga MX and MLS regularly however his aim proper now could be to climb the ranks of Europe and develop each on and off the sector – the place he has loved residing in Prague. Fluent in English and Spanish, Gil was set to start taking Czech classes however courses had been postponed as a result of Coronavirus.

On the sector, his arrival was met with curiosity from each teammates and supporters of Viktoria Zizkov since Individuals and Mexicans are extraordinarily uncommon within the league. A typical response amongst teammates when he joined was: “why are you here?” In the meantime, supporters had been excited to have somebody with such a special resume.

However for now, Gil is seeking to step out of the highlight in MLS and Liga MX and develop in a spot the place he has a clear slate.

“The soccer here is actually very distinct,” Gil mentioned.  “Czech football, I would say more in second league, than first, it’s very, very physical and very direct. It’s kind of its own football in a way. It’s kind of under the radar, but it’s actually a very pretty decent high level even at the second tier. Then obviously, once you get to the first divisions, you can start seeing the Sparta Prague’s, the Slavia Prague’s. Those teams are consistently fighting in the Europa League. It’s been an adjustment at first, but I have found some success here. I’m playing consistently, scoring some goals, making some assists, making some plays. I’m getting back into it and getting back to myself. Hopefully I continue to grow.”