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Niko Moreno interviews former Sounders homegrown Danny Leyva
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Niko interviews former Sounders homegrown player Danny Leyva. They chat about how he’s currently doing with his Liga MX club, Necaxa and his time growing up in the Sounders pipeline.
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Transcript
Introduction: Will Bruin Joins Sounder at Heart
00:00:01
Speaker
Hi, I'm Will Bruin, and I was just recognized as a Seattle Sounders legend. Now I get to do voice reads for the Sounder at Heart Podcast Network.
Seattle Sounders Celebrate MLS Cup Win
00:00:11
Speaker
Here we go.
00:00:11
Speaker
Come on. Hey, O'Shaan. Let's go. The Seattle Sounders have done it. MLS Cup winners. Here comes Ruiz Diaz through the middle to crown it for Seattle.
00:00:25
Speaker
The Sounders rule the region.
00:00:58
Speaker
what was the thought process in terms of who you decided to use and who you didn't? Ever since I wrote a commentary that we didn't take the outcome seriously.
Sponsorship: Full Pull Wines
00:01:18
Speaker
This episode of Nos Arietes is sponsored by Full Pull Wines, a Seattle-based wine retailer and proud sponsor of Nos Arietes since 2011. Full Pull was founded in 2009, is based in Seattle, and is owned and operated by longtime Sounder supporters.
00:01:32
Speaker
They offer the best boutique wines of the world to members of their mailing list, with special focus on their home, Pacific Northwest.
00:01:41
Speaker
Hey, what's going on, Sounder Heart family? We are here on a special exclusive production of Lobbens Quarters, Sounder at Heart. And I do say it's a special
Interview with Danny Leyva
00:01:51
Speaker
edition. It's a special episode because today we are the first to talk to ah guy of our own, kid from the Academy, a fan favorite, a midfielder that has always had a privileged foot and now is getting a chance to prove that in League MX with now...
00:02:10
Speaker
one of my favorite teams and you know, my wife is Chiba, but now I'm half Nekaxa because I have been watching every single game.
Leyva's Game Performance and Potential
00:02:20
Speaker
And without further ado, we're going to be bringing in Danny Leyva to the stage.
00:02:27
Speaker
Thank you, Nico. It's a pleasure to be here again, talking with you and thank you for the introduction. Really happy to be here and talk with you. No, Danny, man, I'm excited, man. um um I am not kidding you, man. I have not missed on a Cox's game, watching you play, putting dimes, you know, being that set piece specialist that that we all know you could be has been great. That last game was phenomenal. You should had two assists in that one, by the way, you know, but, it but you know what? You were Julian Carranza. Just it's a match made in heaven. Love seeing you there.
Adapting to League MX
00:03:05
Speaker
So just for starters, first of all, how are you? How has this new scenery, this new club been, you know, the adaptation? You know, what could you tell us about all that?
00:03:16
Speaker
Yeah, yeah, no, I'm good. ah Enjoying every moment. Obviously, it's always different when you move to different country, to new league. Like you said, to to adapt to the different styles of play and everything. But I'm enjoying every every second of it. I think I had a good preparation leading up to the start of the league.
00:03:34
Speaker
I came here early in December to do the full preseason. So I think I've been enjoying it a lot, learning a lot of new new things as well, because, you know, the league is is different as well. and The stadiums, everything, you know, so I'm enjoying every every second of it.
00:03:52
Speaker
what What has been the or how would you describe the the culture shock? i mean, you've been an academy kid for the Sounders, a first team player for the Sounders. I mean, it's all been in one club, right? One system, one mythology, one group of coaches. You know, ah how has that change been? What's been different about now being in the Caxa?
Career Development and Influence of Seattle Sounders
00:04:11
Speaker
Yeah, I think, like you said, ah you know my time in Seattle ah was very consistent. I think you know the the mentality, the culture was always you know the desire to win. The coaching staff was pretty much the same throughout my time there. I know i started with Gonzalo Pineda, with Jimmy Chauori.
00:04:29
Speaker
Obviously, ah Schmetz was there and he's been there all all through through these years. And obviously, the new coaching staff with Freddy Juarez and Andy and Precky, they've all helped me grow a lot. So,
00:04:40
Speaker
I think it's been different and it's been good to, you know, to join a new place, to learn
Personal Growth and Learning New Play Styles
00:04:45
Speaker
new things. Obviously with the new coaching staff here, we're learning a lot of new, new ideas, new concepts, new, new styles that we want to try out and implement in our game.
00:04:54
Speaker
And i think it's helped me grow. I think it's always, you know, hard to to make a change, especially coming up through the Academy in Seattle and after they've given me everything, but I think, you know, change can also bring a positive growth. So I think I'm,
00:05:08
Speaker
I'm learning a lot. I'm enjoying it. And I'm also working hard so to make the most out of my my time here and every opportunity I get.
00:05:17
Speaker
Before we get into where you are right now, Winnekaxa, and other things about you right now, I did want to ask you a tough one. And it's obviously as part of that transition.
00:05:29
Speaker
it kind of felt like this season, it was Danny Leyva's time with the Sounders. Like if there was ever a time that was going to be Danny Leyva's time, it was, it was this one, right? Because there was an opening. There was that opportunity for you to be the man at center
Mixed Feelings About Leaving Sounders
00:05:43
Speaker
midfield. so when when When you had the change, and not not about the new club, but moving on from the Sounders, right when maybe it would have been your time to shine, did that give you any mixed feelings about, you know, when you were here, maybe you didn't get as much opportunity as you know, but you could have or you wanted to, and now when it was your time, you were moving somewhere else?
00:06:08
Speaker
Yeah, i think... Obviously, like you said, and mixed feelings, but at the same time, you know, I think my my idea was always very clear. You know, i I always worked hard in training and my idea was to play, to to try to to be a starter and and influence whatever role I had.
00:06:27
Speaker
And I think, like you said, maybe, you know, the timing of things, maybe if I would have this year would have been a little bit different. I think. We don't know, you know, until the things actually happen. It's it's kind of hard to to see if they actually pan out that way.
00:06:39
Speaker
But I think, you know, my mentality was always like I said, and I told you a lot last year, maybe these past years when I wasn't playing a lot was that for me, it was always to be better than I was yesterday. And, you know, if I wasn't playing in the games, then my games were the training sessions. I think that was always my mentality. And,
00:06:58
Speaker
I think that past year was ah a great year, not only for me individually, especially with the team winning League's Cup, but I think it helped me grow a lot and and mature a lot in the sense of ah a professional.
00:07:09
Speaker
And I think when this
Decision to Join League MX
00:07:10
Speaker
opportunity came up, I think it was also something that I wanted to do. I grew up watching a lot of League MX, and i think it's somewhere where where you can learn a lot of new things, where there's a lot of talent, there's a lot of good players individually, tactically is very good, the league is very competitive you know every game here is is a final I think and and they treat it that way and I think yeah yeah I mean it was a good decision and and I'm enjoying every every second of it here and like I like I told you and I've always told everyone that Seattle for me is home and they helped me grow into a the 14 year old that I was all the way to to the person I am now and also the professional I am now so I'm forever very grateful I'm for sure that that they feel that way too
00:07:52
Speaker
yeah look Look, I feel like I've watched you grow and I was just covering you. I mean, I was just on the sidelines, just, you know, trying to get my time with Danny Leyva. But I am curious, ah how was that final conversation with Brian Smetzer before you? Did you have a conversation? You know, what was that like?
00:08:08
Speaker
Yeah, no, with everyone at the club. um Obviously, you know, Brian has has always been very supportive of me. I think ah he's always been someone that tells you the things straightforward. and um you know, the final, when the opportunity came up, he basically you just told me that whatever I decide, that had to support.
00:08:28
Speaker
And... that all these years with him that he had nothing else to say but good things that I always prepared myself in in the best way possible. i was always trying to help the team out whether i was playing or not and that that was gonna help me take me far in my career. I think if I maintain that that discipline that ah mentality and that confidence in myself that that was the most important thing.
00:08:53
Speaker
Perfect. So now we're at Club Nekoxa. I'm excited to watch you. The team is 11th right now in the standings. It's early, but I feel like they should be higher than that. I mean, there's been a couple of games where, you know, there's been, you know, a red card or, you know, a last ah a goal that maybe you guys could prevented.
Team Adaptation and Gaining Momentum
00:09:11
Speaker
You know, where are you now with with the team and and where the team is going? Because there's some exciting talent in this team.
00:09:17
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think obviously, like you said, there's a lot of new new people coming in, new players, the new coaching staff. And I think we needed that time to adapt. And maybe, you know, as ah every process goes, sometimes it it works out really quick or other times it takes a little bit more time.
00:09:34
Speaker
But I think right now we're in the perfect moment. We won this past game, which is, I think, crucial to to gain momentum, and to gain confidence in in our idea and our style of play that we want to be successful. a team that dominates possession, that that especially at home wants to make it hard for teams to come here and play. And I think defensively, you know, be very aggressive with the pressure. And I think we showed that in the last game.
00:09:55
Speaker
So I think especially here, like I told you, every game, every game is a final. There's pressure in every game. So for us to be able to to get a victory in that past game was huge. and And now we need to carry it on with the with the momentum for Juarez this Saturday.
00:10:08
Speaker
Who's a player that you've kind of just really created a ah really quick chemistry with? Is there anyone specifically? It feels like you and Julian on the field, that that's, you know, clear cut. And then he seems like it's a good one, but anybody else or or him, you know, off the of the field.
00:10:26
Speaker
Yeah, I think connection-wise, everyone has been great. It's a very healthy locker room. I think they welcomed me in the best way possible. I think here there's a very tiny group. The the unity that there is with the group, it's it's a one big family.
00:10:39
Speaker
But um I don't know, there's there's everyone has been really good to me. have to say probably, you know, Kuli, especially since he's new too, and I know him a bit from MLS too, from Philly.
00:10:50
Speaker
I think we we kind of connected a little bit more coming from, you know, similar leagues from different country as well. um So I think that connection was really special and I think we can help grow that too as well. Also, I think everyone, the young the young players here, they give them a lot of chance, they give a lot of opportunities. I know Tejo was really one that surprised me and I love the way he plays and especially the the style of play that we have. I think it's perfectly into the midfield. Lolo is another one that that came from a big club, from Cruz Azul, who is also of a big leader and trying to learn things from everyone and make connections so that we can continue to grow.
00:11:26
Speaker
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00:13:43
Speaker
How would you compare to the level of play? I mean, you know,
Comparing MLS and League MX Styles
00:13:46
Speaker
you played in MLS your whole career now in League IMAX. How would you compare those two? I think it's in a sense really similar. I think...
00:13:55
Speaker
Maybe MLS, I would say, is a little bit more direct and in terms of the physicality. You know, a lot of counterattacks, a lot of back and forths here. Maybe it's not as quick as as level of speed, but physically the level is very high.
00:14:10
Speaker
Technically it's very high. The players are very smart and tactically teams are really solid. this So I think there's a lot of more... more um thoughts and decision making going into into every play, into every every game plan. So I think that's a little bit more different than MLS, but I think very similar to the quality is very high. The competition is very high. And like I said, the pressure here and the passion is is is tough.
00:14:35
Speaker
Speaking of that passion, what what's the atmosphere of Nekaxa in general, you know, the fan base, you know, the the daily occurrence. You are here with possibly the best culture in MLS and with with the Sounders fan base. But now with Nekaxa, you know, how's that how has that been?
00:14:51
Speaker
No, it's been good. The the support here and and in the city is amazing. I think we saw in in all our home games this this this season that the the people come, the people support.
00:15:03
Speaker
And what I love is that they also, you know, demand. think that's that's something that you need at every every football club. You know, like like we saw in Seattle, the culture of wanting to win, I think the culture here is the same, you know. that was They demand results, they demand that the team plays an attractive style of soccer. And I think that here is very important. I think the fans are are amazing. they They come, they support in the good moments and the bad moments. But the most important thing is that they stick together. And honestly, I've been very, very surprised and very happy with it too, because when you when you have fans like that, it motivates you to want to to get better, to to perform for them and to you know give it all for for the bash.
00:15:41
Speaker
What do you feel that you've grown the most over the last you know couple of months? Yeah, I think, ah you know, maturity-wise, I think I've always been a player that's been very mature.
00:15:52
Speaker
But I think it's being able to, you know, to adapt to new styles of play, to adapt to a new locker room, to adapt it to a new league as well. I think it's just being able to have that capacity to to adapt to different situations and not change the way that I am or the way that I play, but how can I...
00:16:08
Speaker
be influential with the way that that I play and and you know kind of connect it with the style of play here that's very different, that sometimes it's more physical and not so much fluid with with the with the flow and the rhythm of the game, but also how can I you know make the most out of the opportunities i get and and make a bigger impact and have a bigger role with the team. I think that's where I've grown a lot and I'm enjoying every moment of it here and I think it's helped me to grow. Every day I'm learning something new, so it's it's good.
00:16:36
Speaker
Before we get into maybe some lighter questions, I do want to get a little feel from you and how you're living down there. i did want to ask you, how important is it for you that, look, us that have followed your career know that the set piece, it's not just, it doesn't just happen. I mean, you were the guy that was the last guy leaving the field every single time here.
Dedication to Set Piece Specialization
00:17:00
Speaker
Cause you were just set piece after set piece after set piece. How good does it feel that right now that's you provided your first assistance and now you're getting that, that responsibility right from the coach.
00:17:15
Speaker
No, I think it's big. It's huge. I think I talked a lot about it last year with the coaching staff that if I could add that to my game, it's it's it's a plus, you know? It gives you something different that maybe the other players don't have.
00:17:27
Speaker
And like you said, it's just practice. A lot of practice, a lot of sacrifice. Like you said, I try to stay, try to practice, try to perfect it, try to to see what I can do to improve it, try to maybe hit different types of of situations with the dead ball or free kicks or something to try to get something out of it, especially in today's game, I think... there's always opportunities to score in different uh dead ball situations and even more where the games are so tight so close uh you need that little bit of advantage and yeah it's just putting in the hours i think i've always been someone that wants to do extra that wants to to work more than the others to try to you know perfect whether it's my left foot or my right foot or or curling the ball or the long switches you know so that in the game it comes off perfect and i think uh
00:18:10
Speaker
You know, having that confidence in myself, but also the the responsibility and the opportunity to do it in the games from the coaching staff is huge. I think right now i'm taking advantage of it and it's just continuing to perform, continuing to perfect it, not stop and continuing to to continue to work.
00:18:27
Speaker
Now, look, the the readers would not forgive you if I don't ask this question because everybody's waiting to see what what they got to do to possibly watch you. And I don't know if you know this just yet, but the the show Club Nekaxa, you know, the FX show, is that coming up? Are you going to be there? Because, I mean, i'm sure there's going to be a ton of subscribers from the Seattle area that, you know, Washington State.
00:18:52
Speaker
Yeah, I mean, hopefully right now there hasn't been any filming them, maybe the next season we appear and make an appearance. I have to practice my acting, but no, it'll be good. It'll be good.
00:19:04
Speaker
yeah Yeah, we're excited. we We have to ask it. I mean, people have been wondering, right? About it. The other thing that I keep hearing from people is, you know, what what what is life like now down there in Aguascalientes? You know, when you go out and like, you know, what is it like? How that adaptation part of it has been? How different is it? Do people recognize you a lot more down there?
Adapting to Life in Mexico
00:19:25
Speaker
Yeah, no, I think, yeah, the people do recognize you when you go out. And culture-wise, I think it's very similar. I think, like I said, I grew up and my parents are from Mexico City, so we grew up with that Mexican culture. I think that's a big part of of my life and how I am and how i was raised to treat others with respect, to to have that sense of community and very close with my family.
00:19:48
Speaker
So I think here it's its it's all of that, I think, even more. So I think the culture is very rich, you know, the people are very friendly. people are very family oriented and i think here the life is very very calm very easy going very like i said family oriented so for me that's perfect you know somewhere where where i know i can enjoy the city i can go out and and be with my family maybe go out for a walk or something and also gives me you know uh time to focus on on the soccer and what i love to do so i think in that sense the culture is very rich the food is amazing the people are amazing there's
00:20:22
Speaker
There's a lot of good things. The festivals here that's going to happen soon in the summer and it is good as well. So, yeah, I think culture-wise, it's amazing. It's amazing. And I'm enjoying it a lot because I know when I was younger, I used to come visit here in Mexico and Mexico City, especially with my grandparents, my aunts, my cousins and everyone. So now being able to live over here and be closer to them, it's something that, you know, I've always wanted to do. And, you know, it gives me a great happiness as well.
00:20:50
Speaker
Where's the best food? What's the best thing that you've been able to try down there? If I ever go to Aguas Calientes, you know, what what is Danny's Leyva Spa? What what is that you've tried that you've just really liked down there? Well, there's a lot of good meat and steak ah places here. So once you come, maybe I'll give you a little tour and and show the places. But I can't name one because there's so many. All of them are so good. You have to come. What's your favorite taco? Al Pastor, Campechana? What is it?
00:21:16
Speaker
it's al pastor but over here they have tacos a picanha toritos i mean that are very good like this cheese and and the tortilla and all blend together but yeah it's good how much do you follow the sounders uh you know how much do you check in you know All the time. All the time. I still talk with the guys with it Cody and Stuart and especially the younger guys to check up on how they're doing as well. FaceTime calling them, especially when they were preseason. But I'm always following them because, you know, it's good to maintain those relationships. And especially, you know, Seattle is also my club. So i'm always keeping up with them. And I know it'll be a great year. I just saw the new kids and I need one as well. So.
00:21:56
Speaker
And I talked to my guy. There you go. What do you think about the kid? Do you like it? Good. Yeah, I like it. I like it. I think it's very different, but I think the full kid will be good. And i like it. It's a good. Have you been able to see Obed Vargas? You know, what you think about him going to Atletico Madrid? Yeah, no, good. i talked with him recently when he made his most atletico. Obviously, I think we all saw it coming and we all saw the growth that he had with Seattle. So I think it was it was a very big, not a big surprise, but a big move. And I think we were all so happy for him. and And especially today, they have a game today against Barca. So it's going to be an important one. And yeah, very happy for him to see him, bro, and get this opportunity. So it's very good.
00:22:36
Speaker
Wonderful. Look, I know that Diego, the PR guy, you know, I know he told me this is going to be it's to be a certain amount of time. i do not want to get him upset. i want to be on his good side. So we continue to do this. But before we go, i just wanted to give you.
00:22:52
Speaker
The open mic, because we didn't really get to see you or say goodbye. a lot of the fans, i mean, it was very quick. it was before the season. You know, what what do you have to say to the fans, all of them who have been asking about you and, you know, now are watching that cox-eye, you know, what would you say to those fans here from the Sounders community?
00:23:11
Speaker
Yeah, I think it's tough to to say in one simple message, but I think just a big thank you to to the club, first of all, because they they believed in me when when I was a young little kid and they gave me the opportunity and the platform and the atmosphere to grow and to to make my
Gratitude to Seattle Sounders and Fans
00:23:31
Speaker
dream possible. So for the club, nothing but...
00:23:35
Speaker
uh being grateful and and words of you know i'm privileged to be able to have worn the sounders jersey to represent the city to represent the the fans which which like you said i think are the best uh in mls and yeah i think it's tough always to say goodbye but there's there's always opportunities down the road that that keeps us connected and like everyone says once a sounder always a sounder i truly think that's that's That's real. and and And I feel it that way because, you know, I felt the jersey. I i played every game with with my heart and and the passion that I had towards the club.
00:24:10
Speaker
So just a big thank you to everyone. I'm ah still keeping up with you guys. I will always keep you guys in my heart. And you never know, down in the future, there's always opportunities to to reunite, whether that's, you know, in football or outside in the city. Like I said, my sister's still over there playing with the University of Washington.
00:24:27
Speaker
So there's always those connections. And I think this is my home, like I said, because I grew up there. I learned a lot there. I matured. I went from little kid to an adult. So, yeah, it's ah ah thank you. And then see you guys soon.
00:24:39
Speaker
Look at that, man. i can' I can't think of a better way to finish this interview, Danny. Thank you so much. We do want you to know that we hope this is not the last time. We are going to continue to follow your career with Nekaxa. We're hoping that you guys continue to climb up in the standings. And, man you know, if anything at all, we are proud of you. hate to see you go, but we love to see where you're at, man. Getting minutes. doing what you love to do. So ah best of luck and love is gorgeous under a heart. Always your home whenever you want to come on.
00:25:11
Speaker
Thank you, Nico. And thank you to you guys as well for always supporting me, keeping up with me and, and always rooting for me. And like I said, when you guys come over here, we'll have to give you a little tour and maybe go out for, for some, for some food or something. And so is the city. So thank you guys. i Claro que sí. Gracias, Danny, for this time. Everybody, that is the man, Danny Leyva, here on an exclusive for Sandra Hardin Love is Courchers. Hope everybody enjoyed it. Make sure to subscribe. Make sure to share this. We're going to get a lot more of these exclusives in So i really appreciate you. This is Nico Moreno signing off with Danny Leyva.
00:25:49
Speaker
Yeah. See you.
00:26:20
Speaker
Let's go and sounders.