The youthful brother of Sporting Kansas Metropolis defender Matt Besler might have adopted his sibling to Notre Dame, however the extremely touted midfielder intends to be his personal man on the professional degree.
BY
Brooke Tunstall
Posted
January 12, 2015
8:22 PM
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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.—At first look it could not look like an enormous deal, however if you’re attempting to make a reputation for your self impartial of a well-known brother in the identical subject, typically the little issues matter.
When it got here time for Notre Dame midfielder Nick Besler, 21, to select an agent, it could have been simple to go along with the identical consultant utilized by his older brother, Matt, the Sporting Kansas Metropolis and U.S. World Cup defender. In any case, Eddie Rock is likely one of the extra well-respected brokers in American soccer and this summer time he confirmed his chops, leveraging European curiosity in Matt into one of many few designated participant contracts for an American participant in Main League Soccer.
However the youthful Besler went his personal method and selected as an alternative the Wasserman Media Group, maybe the largest company representing gamers on this nation. “It had nothing to do with (Rock), I just wanted to go a different direction than my brother and carve a different path,” Nick Besler mentioned.
That path continued on the MLS mix, the place Besler has emerged as one of many prime seniors with a respectable shot at being a prime 5 choose.
“He and Khiry (Shelton of Oregon State) are probably the top two guys among the seniors,” mentioned a scout who has adopted Besler intently. “He’s tough and smart, plays the game simple, and he’s a winner.”
Besler has been one of many extra constant gamers right here, displaying consolation on the ball and good imaginative and prescient. Yesterday he whipped in an ideal nook kick that was headed in by SIU-Edwardsville’s Christian Volesky—who has had a strong displaying himself and would possibly sneak into the second spherical—to provide Staff Nitro Cost an early 1-0 lead.
“I think that was the first corner kick I’ve taken in like six years,” mentioned Besler, who was an All-American as a senior and received a nationwide title as a junior. “I didn’t know I could still do it.”
Regardless of having a brother on the staff when Sporting started its academy program, Besler by no means performed with the membership and isn’t homegrown eligible.
“They started it before my junior year (of high school) and by then I’d already committed (to Notre Dame) so I just stayed with the same club,” he mentioned.
Besler will not be against returning house to Kansas Metropolis to start out his profession however figures the percentages are slim. Initially, barring a commerce, Sporting’s first choose is tenth general and Besler will possible be off the board by then. “Plus they just brought back Roger (Espinoza, the Honduran international) and he plays the same position I do, so I don’t think that’s a need.”
Nonetheless, one particular person near Besler might see him sliding to the again line in MLS.
“He’s a very smart player who doesn’t complicate the game,” mentioned Notre Dame coach Bobby Clark, a former Scotland worldwide. “Robust, robust and sees the sector effectively and pases effectively, each type and lengthy balls.
“One of the compliments I can give Nick is that he reminds me of Ryan Nelsen, whom I coached at Stanford. Nick has a lot of the same qualities Ryan had and he played the same position at Stanford that Nick does.”
“They both make the game look pretty easy,” continued Clark. “And Ryan got switched to the back line and went on to play in MLS and then nine years in the English Premier League as a center back—so maybe Nick will be moved back, too.”
As a result of they’re six years aside in age, the Besler brothers have “never played together or against each other,” Nick Besler mentioned. “That’s something I’m really looking forward to. Either playing together as teammates, which would be cool, or going at it as opponents, which would be brutal. Neither one of us will back down, I can tell you that.”
Clark, who additionally coached Matt at Notre Dame, chuckled when picturing the 2 going at it. “They’ll love each other and be best friends again afterward,” he mentioned. “But during the game, no quarter will be given. And none will be asked.”
Brooke Tunstall is an American Soccer Now contributing editor and ASN 100 panelist. You may observe him on Twitter.
