ASN: McGuire bold for future following Orlando breakout, eyeing Europe and Olympics

Duncan McGuire has loved a speedy climb over the previous yr and he is spectacular season with Orlando has been incomes consideration from the media. However the Omaha native now has his sights on clear objectives: successful a trophy for Orlando, making the U.S. Olympic staff, and taking part in in Europe. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with the ahead. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
July 11, 2023
1:50 PM

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A LITTLE OVER A yr in the past, it might have been fairly a stretch to foretell that Duncan McGuire would have been among the many high American breakout performers of 2023. It was at the moment when he was coming off a sophomore season in 2021 at Creighton College the place he scored only one purpose in 19 video games.

However since then, McGuire has had an astonishing rise. The 2022 NCAA season in his junior yr he scored 23 objectives in 24 video games and was awarded the Herman Trophy because the NCAA’s finest participant. Six of his objectives got here within the staff’s run to win the Large East Match.

With that, McGuire determined to show skilled and was chosen by Orlando Metropolis with the sixth place within the 2023 MLS Draft. Since he was signed, he has continued to rise. In his first skilled season, McGuire has, up to now, scored seven objectives in simply 750 minutes and been one of the crucial productive middle forwards within the league.

“At the beginning of my college career, I didn’t have the size or confidence yet,” McGuire instructed ASN. “It all started at this time a year ago when the spring season came. I got confident and I became really comfortable with my teammates. We had a good bond. We all had a good understanding of each other, which was I think was one of my keys to success at Creighton.”

American ahead Duncan McGuire – 6 objectives in 512 minutes. What a begin to Omaha native’s profession in his first professional season. pic.twitter.com/67H4m8bPla

— Brian Sciaretta (@BrianSciaretta) June 22, 2023

“Along with the success I am having here, I am having good relationships and bonds with my teammates on and off the field – and that is carrying over into my play,” he added.

Whereas Orlando not too long ago suffered a tricky loss to Actual Salt Lake final weekend, the membership has been trending upward in current weeks and at present sits seventh within the Japanese Convention. However McGuire has been in a position to make a seamless transition from the school ranks to the skilled stage.

McGuire’s success has carefully resembled Daryl Dike who was a Midwest native, turned a high NCAA participant on the College of Virginia, was later drafted by Orlando, had an distinctive rookie season, climbed as much as the nationwide staff stage, and eventually earned a switch overseas.  

“Similar players in terms of willingness and energy and big body in presence up top, both of them have willingness to work,” Orlando supervisor Oscar Pareja mentioned of compariing Dike and McGuire whereas including that McGuire has tailored to MLS faster. 

Along with his fifth purpose this season, the rookie Duncan McGuire pulls one again for Orlando. pic.twitter.com/kw7BqP3zmf

— Main League Soccer (@MLS) June 18, 2023

As well as, McGuire, like Dike, is enjoyable to look at. He’s a giant ahead that can be cell. When he scores, he celebrates with a backflip – which he realized with mates in his again yard rising up.

“The physicality and the level of play isn’t what it is here, but it got me ready for the next step,” McGuire mentioned of the school recreation. “Playing that many games in three months – and I know the season is a lot shorter than the MLS season – but you play just as many games in a short amount of time. That really gets your body ready for the next level. You learn a lot about your body and how to take care of yourself. I have brought a lot of that with me to the next level.”

However nonetheless, he has exceeded the expectations he set for himself after signing for Orlando following the draft.

— PFF FC (@PFF_FC) July 7, 2023

“I would definitely say it is above what I expected,” McGuire mentioned “I was hoping to get into a few games and score a few goals while doing that. But this has been above my expectations… The whole group, we’re feeling really confident right now. I think we’ve been gaining confidence and playing well these past few weeks.”

The transfer to Orlando can be the primary time McGuire has moved out of Nebraska in his profession aside from a short run with Lane United of the USL2 previous to his 2022 NCAA season. As a local of Omaha, McGuire needed to put in additional work to assist shut the hole which may exist between him and gamers who develop in additional soccer-established areas of the nation.

“Omaha is actually a bigger soccer town than most people would think,” McGuire mentioned. “It wasn’t like Texas, or the teams in Florida, North Carolina where you get great competition all the time. But I did a lot of extra practices and was always looking to get in all the meaningful practices I could.”

“It’s hard moving away from home,” he added or Orlando. “It was all I knew. I was ready to move away. The weather is not something I am used to. The humidity is unreal.”

However McGuire stays bold about his future with a number of particular objectives. He desires to win a trophy for Orlando this yr and the rookie of the yr can be inside his potentialities. He additionally desires to make a transfer to Europe, in a fashion much like Dike. When requested, he’s clear: “Europe is something that has always been on my mind. It’s definitely a goal of mine to play there.”

To assist him probably in making a transfer overseas, he has begun exploring the procedures and the method of acquiring a Polish passport by way of his maternal grandfather.

However there may be additionally the worldwide aspect of the sport. McGuire has but to symbolize the USA internationally on the youth ranges, however he has a transparent alternative now that the U.S. U-23 staff has certified for the 2024 Olympics in Paris. McGuire, 22, was born in 2001 which is the cutoff yr for the event. 

The U.S. U-23 staff ought to start preparations for the Olympics this yr and McGuire desires to be there as a manner of constant his speedy accent that began a yr in the past.

“I would definitely say it is 100% one of my goals for my future,” McGuire mentioned. “You grow up here watching the Olympics and you think about how cool it would be to compete and be one of those athletes. Now it looks like it could be a possibility and it is something I have always wanted to do. So, I am definitely going to push as hard as I can to make that team and represent my country.”