ASN: U.S. U-20 goalkeeper Gaga Slonina emerges as a key a part of Chicago’s future

Gabriel Slonina, 17, has emerged as one of many younger breakout gamers in MLS this season. It units the stage for a busy 2022 because the Addison, Illinois native will look to assist the Chicago Fireplace return to relevance whereas additionally enjoying an enormous position with the U.S. U-20 workforce. ASN’s Brian Sciaretta spoke with Slonina on his breakthrough and his future. 

BY

Brian Sciaretta

Posted
October 20, 2021
8:25 AM

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THE 2021 MLS season was one other sturdy season for younger gamers. A few of the high tales on this space are properly referred to as Gianluca Busio, 19, was top-notch for Sporting Kansas Metropolis and secured a transfer to Venezia. FC Dallas ahead Ricardo Pepi, 18, was one of many league’s greatest American goal-scorers and is now enjoying an enormous position with the U.S. nationwide workforce in World Cup qualifying.

Amongst this spectacular record of accomplishments from younger gamers, Gabriel Slonina (who goes by the nickname “Gaga”) additionally stands out. The younger Chicago Fireplace homegrown turned the youngest goalkeeper to ever begin an MLS sport on August fifth in opposition to New York Metropolis FC when Bobby Shuttleworth was unable to play as a consequence of damage.

At simply 17 years and 81 days outdated, Slonina was the youngest beginning MLS keeper by over 18 months. Since then, he’s made seven extra begins and has posted three shutouts – together with a 0-0 attract his debut in opposition to NYCFC. On Saturday, he made some necessary saves in a 2-2 away draw in opposition to the league’s greatest workforce this season, the New England Revolution.  

Whereas Chicago has no hope of enjoying within the postseason and is enjoying beneath an interim teaching workers after the dismissal of Rapha Wicky, Slonina is making a powerful case that he would be the workforce’s beginning goalkeeper in 2022.

“I always believed in myself,” Slonina instructed American Soccer Now. “That’s super important in a young player to always believe in themselves and to continue to put in the work when no one’s watching. I set some goals for myself and it’s amazing that I was able to accomplish most of them because it’s really difficult for a young player to get involved in the first team and then start to perform and play well and gain the trust from their teammates.”

The character of the goalkeeping place usually favors older gamers. There may be little rotation and goalkeepers typically play properly into their mid 30s. In consequence, older goalkeepers are inclined to have a better time establishing the belief of their gamers and their backline.

Incomes that belief at such a younger age has been the largest problem for Slonina and it’s one thing that he has been working in direction of properly earlier than his debut. Along with enjoying properly and coaching laborious, it has been the little issues like staying behind to gather balls and tools, and assist carry issues again to the coaching room after apply.

“That trust that’s seen on the field from the older players was developed long, long before I was on the field,” Slonina defined. “They saw how much work I put in. I’m super passionate and professional about this profession, so I think that trust was gained far back before you guys first saw me on the field. I think they started believing in me when they saw me performing trainings and doing extra work. I don’t treat it as if they’re 20 years older than me, and they don’t treat it as if I’m 20 years younger than them. When you’re on a field, none of that matters. That’s super important.”

“It’s really difficult for a young player to get involved in the first team and then start to perform and play well and gain the trust from their teammates,” he added. “All the work that you put in does really pay off. The other things that you do – that people aren’t watching or that they don’t see, like going to the gym and stretching while everyone’s leaving and then doing an ice bath and extra ice bath – they add up… When I played against New York, I didn’t stop anything I had done before to get to that point.”

Jonathan Bornstein is about to show 37 in early November and is without doubt one of the veteran leaders on Chicago. The left again has huge expertise together with beginning two World Cup video games for the U.S. nationwide workforce in 2010. At over twice the age of Slonina, Bornstein has been impressed with the standard and professionalism Slonina has proven.

“For him, getting minutes is very important for his development. I think, not only is he getting the games and development, but he’s also playing very well,” Bornstein stated. “I think you know it’s hard anytime you’re getting your first games. I think he’s also extremely professional on and off the field. I think he’s got a huge future in front of him, so I’m excited for him to get these minutes. I think any player gains experience the more games they get… Overall, though, he’s doing a great job and you’ve got to applaud his performances.”

Slonina is a local of close by Addison, Illinois and his older brother Nicholas, 20, can be signed to the Chicago Fireplace on a homegrown deal. Their dad and mom immigrated to the USA from Tarnow, Poland and each gamers nonetheless have numerous household again in Tarnow.

Rising up in Illinois, soccer was an necessary a part of their lives and the gradual enchancment of the Polish nationwide with elite gamers reminiscent of Robert Lewandowski served as an enormous motivation for each brothers. For Gabriel, soccer supplied him a novel alternative to pursue his goals and stand out.

Nonetheless in highschool, Slonina carries with him knowledgeable mindset.

“I don’t view myself as a high schooler anymore,” Slonina stated. “I got into this mindset of really taking this job as a real opportunity to be something in this world. It’s a shift of mentality that this something I have to take very seriously now. It’s huge because the way you perceive yourself is how you act. How you behave in those actions, turn into your life. I changed my perception of who I am. I just view myself as more of a professional player now that that is trying to be the best every single day.”

Instantly following this season, Slonina is probably going going to shift his focus to the worldwide stage with the USA U-20 nationwide workforce. Whereas that workforce remains to be with out a coach, it’s slated to start its 2023 cycle with a event in Mexico in November. That may probably be adopted by camps in January and March. Subsequent summer time, the workforce will take part in a event that may function qualifying for each the 2023 U-20 World Cup and the 2024 Olympics.

Slonina has represented the USA youth nationwide groups earlier than at U-15 via U-18 ranges however the U-20 workforce has been extraordinarily necessary to U.S. Soccer over the previous decade when it comes to getting ready gamers for roles with the total nationwide workforce. Whereas the 2021 cycle was cancelled as a consequence of COVID-19, the groups in 2019, 2017, and 2015 all superior to the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cups.  

Slonina’s breakthrough on the Chicago Fireplace places him at a novel place to begin for a U-20 workforce and he ought to be in place to be an enormous participant on a workforce that already has numerous breakout gamers all through the league. U.S. nationwide workforce supervisor Gregg Berhalter has already stated he believes the workforce wants youth on the goalkeeping place and the latest defection of Actual Salt Lake and 2019 U.S. U-20 goalkeeper David Ochoa to modify his worldwide affiliation from the USA to Mexico harm that trigger.

Gaga save reel? Sure, please. pic.twitter.com/h6jZMD1tIk

— Chicago Fireplace FC (@ChicagoFire) October 17, 2021

The total nationwide workforce remains to be a approach off for Slonina and the U-20 nationwide workforce and U-23 workforce nationwide ought to hold him busy probably via 2024.

For now he’s on a very good path and he’s excited for the chances with the U-20 workforce and to be a part of an rising technology of promising younger American gamers.

“It’s awesome to see players my age breaking through,” Slonina stated on his technology of gamers. “When I was younger, I would see kids my age now breakthrough. I would think that I want to get there once in my life. Now that it’s happening, it’s a dream come true.”

“It’s an honor to represent the country and play for the fans who cheer us on with the US national team,” Slonina stated on the U-20 workforce. “That tournament is going to be huge – now they’re also qualifying for the Olympics. I’ll be honored if I get the call. I’ll give my best, like always.”