In today’s episode of The Cooligans, hosts Christian and Alexis are joined by Luis Robles, Vice President and General Manager of MLS Next.
The discussion covers Luis Robles’s distinguished playing career at the New York Red Bulls, his participation in the MLS Is Back tournament, and the outlook for youth development in United States soccer.
00:00 – The Red Bulls legend assumes control of US youth soccer.
05:16 – Transitioning from captain to head of MLS Next.
09:04 – An overview of MLS Next’s responsibilities.
19:59 – Discussion of free academies and the conclusion of pay‑to‑play models.
30:28 – Why academies falter, illustrated by the Brentford case study.
33:21 – Impact of COVID, CBA negotiations, and the reasons behind Robles’s retirement.
48:35 – The Hudson River Derby and a challenging night at Yankee Stadium.
01:02:28 – Challenges inherent in developing players in the United States.
01:19:54 – Guidance for parents: allow children to lead their own development journey.
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