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Interview with Former Sounder, current Atletico Madrid and Mexico National Team player Obed Vargas
1 Playsin 1 day
Obed Vargas joins Jeremiah to talk about his whirlwind soccer year so far. Obed discusses his rapid fire transition from Major League Soccer preseason with the Sounders directly into training with Atletico Madrid. He also details his experience playing for and representing Mexico at this year’s World Cup, what it is like to adjust to a lifestyle in Spain and what objectives he seeks for his playing future.
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Transcript
Introduction of Will Bruin as a legend
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. Here we go.
00:00:11
Speaker
Come
Seattle Sounders' MLS Cup victory
00:00:12
Speaker
on. Hey, O'Shaughness. Let's The Seattle Sounders have done it. MLS Cup winners. The Sounders rule the region.
00:00:43
Speaker
Ooch of a gooch! All creatures, great and small! Rothrock gonna collect it, he does about, runs into the advertising order. Low to our left, ball goes in! Oh, what a goal! Where's my copy? got bunch of them How many do you cost them? 50 bucks.
00:01:08
Speaker
I'll deadline you.
Sponsorship by 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.
Interview with Obed Vargas (Part 1)
00:01:42
Speaker
Welcome back to another episode of Saudi at this on the sounder at heart podcast network. I am Jeremiah Chan and joining me today is a very special guest. You know him.
00:01:53
Speaker
You love him. It's Obed Vargas, the Atletico Madrid and Mexico world cup player. Now, of course, former sounder, but welcome to the show bed. It is quite an honor to have you on your resume is getting a little absurd at this point.
00:02:09
Speaker
No, thank you. Thank you for having me. I'm happy to, be able to talk to you again and be close to the Seattle, the Seattle people and, and everyone that I spent so much time with at the end of, you know, the day I think I made my career in Seattle. I started there. So I'm very happy to have this time talk with you guys.
00:02:30
Speaker
Yeah. Well, let's, let's start there. Look, you, your departure from the Sounders was, i don't know if it felt sudden for you.
Vargas's transition to Atletico Madrid
00:02:38
Speaker
ah and maybe it wasn't sudden, but it was,
00:02:42
Speaker
it all came together kind of quickly and it came while you were already in Spain. So you didn't really get to have a proper goodbye. ah What, what has that, what was that transition like just going straight from one day you were training with the Sounders and then almost virtually the next day you were in training with, with Atletico Madrid.
00:03:04
Speaker
Well, yeah, everything. I mean, I kind of knew I wanted to go. I think a lot of people knew I wanted to make, I'll take the next step. And yeah, when we were in preseason, it all kind of worked out for me to, for me to transfer. And yeah, it happened so fast. I didn't get to say bye to my teammates, um, by to a lot of the staff. Cause we had a, we had to had a day off and a lot of guys were out, you know, kind of getting dinner together.
00:03:35
Speaker
And I stayed in the hotel cause I knew all this was going on. And, and all It all happened, and I just sent the group chat text that I was being transferred, and I couldn't say bye to anyone because the van was waiting for me outside, and guys weren't even in the hotel. So it was
Achievements and challenges at Atletico Madrid
00:03:51
Speaker
so fast. And then, like you said, yeah, like four days later, I was making my debut with Atletico Madrid in Copa del Rey, I think quarterfinals.
00:03:58
Speaker
And then i i did I just kept going. we I didn't have a day off with Atletico Madrid until the last ah week of the season. So... you kind of just get into that into that mode where you're just going, going, going. and And I was fighting for minutes because obviously as when i came up when I came in to the team, I wasn't going to be a starter. I wasn't going to have a big role. But little by little, I started to get more minutes. and honestly, I think looking back at the half season that was there, um I'm very proud of what I did and what I was able to accomplish. And I think it's a good starting spot for for going forward.
00:04:39
Speaker
Yeah, you know, look, I think a lot of people realize inherently that Atletico Madrid has a pretty impressive roster. But you were just telling me that this is like the third time in a row that Atletico has the most players in the World Cup final. You said they have nine guys playing in this in this final on Sunday. Yeah, they have nine guys um from last season. And then they just signed a player from Spain now.
00:05:08
Speaker
I'm during the World Cup. So I guess he's the second one they play now. So 10. Yeah, it's crazy. And so to break into a roster like that is not easy. You know, breaking into any rosters, any new team is tough.
00:05:20
Speaker
But when you're competing with literally world-class players, the fact that you were on the field so quickly seems to speak pretty highly of what they thought of you.
Breaking into a world-class team
00:05:30
Speaker
And the fact that you were able to grow into that role quite a bit. I mean, you didn't get into Champions League, but you got into La Liga games. You got into Copa del Rey games. You got to experience a lot of stuff in a relatively short period of time.
00:05:45
Speaker
Well, yeah, that's that's why i was saying i was so I'm so proud looking back at that because it's not easy making a jump from MLS to Liga to any European league, to top five European league. It's not easy.
00:06:00
Speaker
And obviously, I'm a young player and I wouldn't say my experience is super long as a player, like maybe other guys that are in their or 24s.
00:06:12
Speaker
um so You know, and also when i I told you when I came on, when I came into the team, the team was in like a two-day training schedule. Like we would play every three days, train two days, play the third, train two days, play the third.
00:06:27
Speaker
You didn't, you don't have, we don't train that much. It's not like we have a lot of time to prepare the games or you're on the field for an hour or an hour and a half maximum. That's maximum, you know?
00:06:39
Speaker
And... you don't have that much time to demonstrate, you know, what what you're capable of. And, you know, there was a little bit of injuries. Some guys were were out and the opportunity came. And I think when I had the opportunity that I tried to do the best I could. um And I think i I showed a little bit of what I can do. i don't think it's my total end product or um what I'm going to be in the future. I hope that I keep growing and developing
Learning and growth in Europe
00:07:08
Speaker
as a player.
00:07:09
Speaker
But I think I did enough where, The coach trusted me to play me more and more. And honestly, what I learned in those games and the experience I've gained in these past six months has been eye-opening for me. And it's been incredible to to be able to experience all that.
00:07:28
Speaker
Well, let's, let's ah dig into that a little bit. You know, you are not necessarily a goal scorer. You're not necessarily piling up assists. And I would imagine those are usually the easiest ways to impress a coach when you're in training is just doing the stuff that everyone sees. So what is it that you think you were able to do? How did you win over a coach like Diego Simeone, who is not, you know, he's, he's known as, as one of the the top managers in the world.
00:07:56
Speaker
trying to do the same thing I did here in Seattle, just at a higher level. um at the end of it, you're not going to change who you are as a player. so you might develop ah develop new aspects of your game, but your essence or my essence as a player is not going to change. And so I just kept doing what what characterizes me as a player. And I think what what I can give you is um I mean, Simone, you can know, is is a coach that loves defensive work rate, that loves intensity, that if you don't give him that, you're probably not going to play.
00:08:28
Speaker
So that was a starting point. was giving my all in every training session, winning trying to win all my duels defensively and make sure I wasn't getting beaten in any of my duels. you know and you can You can notice that pretty easily when you're like, wow, this player does not lose any defensive duels. He gets stuck in. he's He's so intense. He's always going.
00:08:48
Speaker
that's easy to notice. It always grabs the attention of of a coach. And then obviously what you do with the ball when you, when you're in possession, I think that's also one of my strengths is going forward, dribbling, taking guys on, trying to unbalance the opponent.
00:09:01
Speaker
And little by little, as I gained confidence in the environment, I was able to start doing that. And they were able to start realizing, wow, he can, he can do these things. And then, and then obviously I've been saying that since I was in Seattle, I'm trying to get better at my end product, which is the goals and assists. I think,
00:09:16
Speaker
um Maybe I'm not seen as a guy that contributes at that that a lot, but I want to at some point, you know, be able to say, no, I have 10 goals or assists this season or more, you know, that's, that's, I'm going to help my career a lot and help me grow as a player. So that's where I started off. And I hope I keep developing those aspects of my game. And obviously there's going to be different tactical situations that I need to get better at, you know, in a higher level. So I'm constantly trying to to improve all those things.
00:09:47
Speaker
Was there a moment when you got, I mean, it was so fast. The transition, like you said, you you go from literally training with the Sounders one day and then the next day you're thrown onto the field.
00:09:59
Speaker
But it and it wasn't just like, you know, it wasn't like in MLS where you show up and, you know, there might be a little bit of, you might do a little, small press conference or something. It was like, you got, you were on a stage, you were presented to the fan base.
00:10:13
Speaker
It was, they did a whole social media campaign around you. It was a big production bringing you into the team. Was there a moment where you took kind of took a step back and just like, is, is this really all happening right now?
00:10:28
Speaker
Um, not really. Like I said, I was just kind of living in the moment and just going
Managing career pressures
00:10:33
Speaker
and, I think I had a good, I think I have a good base, a good, um I don't know. i think what Seattle gave me and, you know, social and um media training and and every aspect of the game, I think I had a great coaches over there that gave me a ah solid base to build off of.
00:10:53
Speaker
And so I wasn't like intimidated by like what you said, by the big, I don't know, stage. I had also seen, I followed the team for years and I had seen that every player goes through that.
00:11:04
Speaker
And so i was also prepared. I was like, this going to happen. The president's going to talk. I have to talk to the media. um But yeah, when you're in the moment, sometimes it's okay, now I actually have to do it and and do it well.
00:11:17
Speaker
And yeah, I think I was just living in the moment and trying to do the best that I could. And that's kind of how I how i live is not trying to think too much about things because If you worry a lot if thinking about what can go wrong, then I think it's worse.
00:11:36
Speaker
ah Was there anything on the field where you sort of took in the, like, I know you you're saying you're living in the moment, but the there there's gotta be something about watching a game at a stadium that you've seen hundreds of times on TV in in place in your playing against players who you've, I don't know, you've, ah you've idolized. I imagine playing with players that you've idolized at various times.
00:12:01
Speaker
And was there ever a moment where you kind of realized this is all really happening? Sort of like it it really hits you, like this is all really happening? um Yeah, I think going to that first training session and seeing Simeone as like a person, seeing him as like, okay, he's he's like my coach now and he's not just some guy see on TV and all my teammates.
00:12:28
Speaker
um The first training day, like seeing Griezmann, training with him, like being... being part of the team, kind of realize, wow, like this is, this is real. Like I'm, I'm here now and I have to, um, step up my game.
00:12:44
Speaker
And I kind of think I take it as like responsibility and, and pride and, um, wow, I can do this. You know, I'm here. I'm like proving to myself that I can be at that level.
00:12:55
Speaker
And I think also, know, the champions league games, when I would be on the bench and I would watch that, it was, the speed of the game was different. Like um everything was so much faster. Guys were so intense. Coach, the coach was so intense.
00:13:13
Speaker
The vibes in the locker room where this is win or go home. Like the fans, if we don't win this, the fans are going to get on top of us. And all those little things, you start to realize um where you're at, the club that you arrived at and what it means to to be there.
00:13:31
Speaker
what What would you say now, you know, ah what would you say the biggest difference is? Like, what was the biggest adjustment you had to make either off the field or on the field just to sort of be able to to be present present and be part of it?
00:13:44
Speaker
I think, obviously, the level is higher. Like, the quality of the player is is a little bit higher. But I think the biggest difference is the the way that they take care of themselves over there. And well, at least on my team, I can't speak for other teams, but the way that I see that my teammates take care of their bodies, the way that 24 hours they're taking care of everything they do is to try and perform better.
00:14:09
Speaker
You know, everything from what they eat, from the blue light glasses to the recovery, to the setup at home, their gyms at home, everything they do is trying to improve how they perform on the field.
00:14:23
Speaker
And so i I started trying to take the same steps, like get my nutritionist and get a chef that brings me what I need every day. Like in Seattle, I made my own food or I eat at the club and I was fine. You know, I didn't um have it as detailed as I have it now.
00:14:42
Speaker
So I think that's the biggest difference besides anything on the field. Obviously on the field, you can tell that some, some, Some teams are are more intense, are tactically more advanced than than over here, than on MLS. But I think that was the biggest difference for me was seeing like the physical aspect of
World Cup experience and national pressure
00:15:02
Speaker
each player. Because over there, you play every three game every three days. And if if your body's not in and the best shape ah possible, you're probably going to get injured a lot. So um that's that's what I learned from being there.
00:15:19
Speaker
And so that's all sort of a precursor to you having what maybe is even a bigger experience, which is playing in a World Cup. And it's not just any World Cup, obviously. It's a World Cup where you're playing for one of the the host nations. You're playing in a venue that is legendary around the world that I would think is has ah has has a very particular relevance to any Mexican fan, any mix anyone who grows up with El Tri in their life, right?
00:15:49
Speaker
oh Just kind of walk me through how the World Cup was and and maybe how the Atletico Madrid experience prepared you for it. Yeah, I think um it's hard to put the World Cup into words because, I mean, just imagine a whole country being focused on 26 guys, on 26 players. like And you feel that. You know that the whole country is watching you. You know every game, every the time we left our facilities,
00:16:20
Speaker
the whole country would come out into the streets and see our bus and kind of flip out by seeing us, you know, and they can't see it. They just see the bus. So you definitely feel the responsibility and and the pride that it means to to represent the country at at a World Cup. And especially at home, you feel it even more because everyone's there.
00:16:42
Speaker
After the games, you see the videos of the people that go to El Angel and celebrate and they flood the streets. You... I don't know. don't know how i explain. Just if you can imagine what it feels like to have a whole country watching you at all times and expecting like at our training session, we had like maybe a hundred to 500 media people every day, you know, so you, you feel it.
00:17:09
Speaker
And then I think that's, that's why I also wanted to take the next step in my career was because I knew the the world's cup was coming. I knew that being at a, at a bigger club and in Europe was going to was going to help prepare me for for that moment, help me get to that World Cup, because the day, was one of my dreams, one of my goals to make it to that World Cup roster and be able to be part of that team.
00:17:34
Speaker
So obviously being athletic, having the pressure of La Liga games, having to be in top four every year, having to compete, then Copa del Rey having to win there and Champions League having to win. you just have to win every game over there. and I think that that makes you better. And then obviously the environment, my teammates, they push you to ah to new limits and the coaching staff push you pushes you even more. So I knew I was going have to go through a bit of uncertainty and uncomfortable situations, but at the end of the day, that's what i wanted, to get out of my comfort zone and grow and prepare me for for what's coming.
00:18:10
Speaker
Sounder at Heart has been around in one form or another since 2009. In 2026, though, we make a pretty significant evolution when we go analog. Yes, that's right. In the year of our Lord, 2026, we are publishing a real-life magazine. We're calling
Launch of Sounder at Heart magazine
00:18:25
Speaker
this thing 4, as in Sounder at Heart 4.0. But we're stylizing it as IV because we absolutely love Roman numeral. And if you want to refer to it as IV, that's cool, too. The first issue has a comic book-style cover that was hand-drawn by local artist Kevin Newber. features by tim fosst suse rant and charlie bohm a statistical deep dive by cat bush a q and a with b brian schmetzer a column by g willow wilson and photographs by noah reif max aquino mike russell and jane gererssheitz I could not possibly be more proud of the work everyone put into making this
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Speaker
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Speaker
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Playing at Azteca Stadium
00:20:07
Speaker
You know, I have to imagine that it's also pretty powerful to be standing there on the field, to have your so your your arm over your chest, and to be singing the national anthem in someplace like Azteca and have 80,000 fans singing along with you. ah i don't know, what what is that like? What is the the emotions of of sort of knowing exactly like where it's really hitting you? like this is you know Yeah, I think in that moment,
00:20:37
Speaker
um you think more about everything that you've gone through to be in that in that moment like for me I think I thought back to um my grandparents and everything that they had to go through they obviously I mean I'm not gonna go into it now but they didn't have easy lives my parents didn't have easy lives either um i had to overcome a lot of obstacles just trying to make as a professional soccer player coming from Alaska and honestly, in that moment you're just standing there and you see the people and you're in the stadium and you're singing the anthem, you're like, wow, everything was worth it. You know, everything that I did, all the sacrifices that I've made, um leaving my family, having to be alone, like,
00:21:16
Speaker
you know, persevering through things. You just, in that moment, you're like, this is, this is what I worked so hard for. And I'm just going to enjoy it now. Like, I'm so proud to be here. And for me, I thought more to my parents, because I can't imagine what it was for them to see their son, you know, standing there on that field. Like, that makes me more proud than like being me, myself being in that moment is knowing that my parents are seeing me, you know, they're,
00:21:43
Speaker
And did your parents get to, like, were they in attendance at ah the World Cup matches? Yeah, they were in attendance at all the games. They wouldn't have missed that for for anything. And so, uh, has the, uh, were you able to experience what Mexico was like outside? I mean, I assume they, they kept you probably pretty isolated from everything else else that was going on there, but did you get to sort of experience any of the, cause we would see the videos of what's going on in Mexico and it just seemed like it was so fun. yeah
00:22:14
Speaker
no yeah. We were pretty confined in, in our space. We had maybe one day after the game where we could see our families for, X amount of hours. There was probably no more than six hours. We could leave for, for a little bit.
00:22:29
Speaker
And when you leave and if you go to a public, public space, you can see, i think I went to a mall one time with my parents and, know, all the people know who you are They all recognize you. They ask me for a picture. And it's, it's pretty surreal. You know, it's cause you just thinking like, I'm just a, just the same as you guys, you know, just, just a person, you know, just,
00:22:53
Speaker
I just play soccer, you know? And so it's very, very surreal. And it's honestly a very, very proud moment for for you as ah as a player. I have to imagine that as long as you were here and as well-known as you were among Sounders fans, that you probably didn't have anything experienced quite like that in Seattle where you were out at a restaurant and you just got mobbed by people. Yeah.
00:23:19
Speaker
No, I don't think I ever... Yeah, I think people in Seattle are very respectful and they wouldn't come to you now. I'm not saying like people in Mexico or somewhere else are respectful, but I think the the soccer, the game is lived at different level in Mexico.
00:23:41
Speaker
So how much of adjustment was moving to Madrid? That's obviously a huge city. It's a world city. ah It's not like you were living in some village before that, but relatively speaking, it's a different, it's a different level, right? yeah What was your introduction to Madrid like? and And were you also being recognized just sort of on the streets of Madrid?
Lifestyle comparison: Madrid vs Seattle
00:24:03
Speaker
Yeah, we have ah in Madrid, Atlético has a similar solid setup than like ah Seattle. So we have our training, our training grounds in one city in one area, which is a smaller, smaller city like, like Renton, like Long Acres. So most players live in that area.
00:24:22
Speaker
And then we have our stadium in Madrid, like similar Seattle, like our stadium in Seattle. Yeah. So honestly, when I was in Seattle, I didn't live in the city or I didn't live anywhere near the the chaos. so I liked it better that way.
00:24:37
Speaker
And now in Madrid, it's the same way. I don't live in the city. i live 20 minutes away, 20 or 30 minutes away. So it's kind of more, a its for me, it's easier. Life, life i I like to be calm. I like to take it like a,
00:24:55
Speaker
low-key life. I like to do my have my routine. so It wasn't that hard to to get into get into that in Madrid because it's similar. very similar that and honestly It's honestly better over there because I drive less. I'm closer to the training ground.
00:25:13
Speaker
The stadium is max 35 away. So um It was easier in that in that aspect. And then obviously the people, I speak Spanish, so i was able to get along with the people, find the food. um I've never had any issues with with any food. I enjoy it all all kinds of food. And so for me, it's been easy. you know the The club helped me find a place.
00:25:38
Speaker
They provided me with a car. So everything was was pretty smooth getting in over there. You know, so my ah my my wife is is Mexican. And when we went to Spain, she was identified pretty quickly as being Mexican.
00:25:54
Speaker
Have you had that experience there where like there's there's just sort of like cultural things that are people like, oh, yeah, even if they didn't necessarily know who you are, they know that you're, ah you know, even though you speak the language fluently and that it's. the I mean, they definitely know that you you're not from Spain.
00:26:10
Speaker
um they might assume you're Mexican. I don't know. I haven't had any like real in encounters like that, but um I would say like in the stadium, there's always Mexican flags. There's always people um from Mexico, which is amazing to see that people go and bring their flags and they're kind of not there for because obviously they're there for the team as well. But while they're there for the team, that they're there supporting you as well.
00:26:37
Speaker
Have you found anything that you've really ah come to appreciate about about Spain?
00:26:45
Speaker
The weather. a little but little better than than Alaska and Seattle. Is that you're suggesting? the The months I was there, the summer months, it was amazing. Like sun every day until like 9 p.m., which is similar to Seattle in the summer. It's the same. yeah um Honestly, there's no lakes, though. and There's no water. So I miss that.
00:27:10
Speaker
But i think being able to speak Spanish and get along with the people that I appreciate that from um the country. Any cultural experiences you're looking forward to having or that you've already had that you were sort of impressed by?
00:27:27
Speaker
no and I like to keep my own like my my personal or my family's culture very strong in my household so i don't plan on like changing something because i'm in different countries the one thing it's hard to change to if you want to go eat dinner there somewhere in spain you have like the earliest resation reservation is at eight 30.
00:27:48
Speaker
So everything's so, everything's so late. yeah You kind of have to deal with that. If you want to go eat and you show up at eight 30 and the restaurant's empty, there's no one there. Um, so people started eating dinner, like 10, 9, 10.
00:28:02
Speaker
nine ten I also found hot sauce was hard to find in, in Spain. Yeah. I mean, they have the basic ones like Valentina, I think. And torura so yeah,
00:28:15
Speaker
It's not like other other European countries where they literally don't even have that. have teammates on national team that play in Belgium or, um I don't know, other countries, and they they don't have anything. And so they bring it from from home.
00:28:29
Speaker
And honestly, I wouldn't say um I need that. like I'm fine. Fair enough. fair enough Yeah. Well, so you guys are getting ready to, I guess you said preseason has already started.
Goals for the upcoming season
00:28:43
Speaker
ah When, when do you, when do you head back out there and, and what's the sort of what's, what are your goals for this year? Yeah. So preseason started on 13th, heading back this weekend and I'll start training um hopefully Monday.
00:29:01
Speaker
And well, as far as my goals go is, you know, going with that same humble mindset, that growth mindset, trying to learn, get better, and then just earn more minutes. I want to make my debut in a Champions League game. That would be dream come true.
00:29:17
Speaker
um Start more games in La Liga and continue to to grow in the team, you know, become if not a starter, one of the best, one of the first guys that come off the bench and then slowly,
00:29:32
Speaker
and break into the starting lineup more and more. i think that's that's kind of how you have to start. You have to be realistic to ah where I'm at. I'm not starter or anything established yet, so i know I know where I'm standing. I know I have a lot of work to do, so...
00:29:50
Speaker
I'm very excited for that, actually, the process and and learning and seeing what comes from from giving everything. else And starting a season over there because I came in halfway through through the season, seeing how how that goes, being there from the from day one is it ah is exciting.
00:30:08
Speaker
Did they give you any sort of, any kind of notes or things that they wanted you to, like, did they lay out a plan for what they envisioned for you or what they want to see from you? not Not now because the season ended and went straight to the World Cup. and um Well, my vacation is now, but i have i think we got eliminated on the 5th.
00:30:33
Speaker
Yeah, July 5th. And head back this weekend, I think the 18th. I've had maybe a week and a half, so they're kind of just letting me be. Yeah.
00:30:46
Speaker
have my mental recovery, physical recovery. And then I think once I get back there, then we'll see what, what plans, but as far as now, I'm, I'm just excited to to start preseason and being the team.
Gratitude towards Sounders fans
00:31:02
Speaker
Absolutely. Well, ah I know one of the things that we wanted to be able to do was give you an opportunity to just sort of say goodbye to or to say, i don't know, just to have like a some parting words for Sounders fans ah and and the organization, I suppose. But anything you you you feel like you you want to say that you haven't maybe had a chance to say until now?
00:31:24
Speaker
Yeah, well, I had that little video that they made, but, um, uh, I just want to say to so fans, thank you for everything. Um, honestly, it was dream come true for me to be able to play in Seattle and, and start my career there. And I think Seattle have the best fans in the league and,
00:31:46
Speaker
that's what pushes the team honestly to try and compete for every tournament so I would say never never stop that because the fans are a huge part of the team and it I think the team only has goes as far as the the fans push it so um I hope that they keep supporting the team and obviously ah I'll keep supporting the team and then for the organization I think I've said it to them but I'll say it again um I think they gave me a really good base.
00:32:17
Speaker
They taught me everything I needed to know from um when I joined the the academy at 14. And they started developing me me as a person, as a player for me to get to that first team level. And then obviously at a first team level, I think I had amazing coaches in Precky and Brian and Freddie, Andy.
00:32:36
Speaker
And they kind of... more more than just wanting to win games and everything, I think they took the time to to really develop me as a young player. You know, it's hard to trust a player when I think I was 16, 17, 18, you know, playing important games for the club. And they really took the time to give me the the trust and, know, the games that I needed to develop. And to become the player I am now and be able to take a step to a team like Ateco Madrid and not be all lost and frightened. You know, they gave me everything I needed. So for that, always be be thankful. And then obviously the staff, everyone, they're such great people. Honestly, the culture, the the team is amazing.
00:33:20
Speaker
is probably elite to, to any other team. So, um, it was honestly one of the best things I think I'll ever play on. And I hope that one day i can go back and experience that all over again.
00:33:36
Speaker
Well, look, you had, quite a 2025, twenty twenty five uh, 26 sort of campaign. You, or I guess 26, uh, you, were there for the 26, 25, 26 season, but quite 20, 26 so far. Well, I would say 25 was good. That's good point. That's a good point. We had one of leagues cup. We had the club world cup. We, we went least cup.
00:33:59
Speaker
Um, and then, playoffs, I missed a penalty. I'll never forget that. I'm sorry to all Seattle fans, to everyone there. I missed the penalty and that's my fault. I take responsibility. um So yeah, but the season was was a good was a good one Really, really fun one. and obviously was even more you full more of full of more adventures i would say
00:34:30
Speaker
Yeah. It's been, i mean, it's been ah it's been an amazing ride to to sort of see you take this thing to kind of talk about how, you know, this, this kid from Alaska ah has, has made these, these strides and these moves.
00:34:45
Speaker
You're blazing trails for, for Alaskans, you're blazing trails for, for former Sounders. It's, you know, it's, it's a pretty amazing thing that you've gone through. and it's been a real joy to watch you go through it and to handle it, honestly, with such maturity and class, uh, you know, it's not a given at all that, uh, when, when folks like you, ah go through this, that they continue to to be humble and that they stay grounded and, and, and you really can't even blame them when it doesn't happen because this is a lot going on, you know, when you're, uh,
00:35:18
Speaker
standing in in Azteca doing the national anthem and you're getting feeded by, some of the, the great names in the sport. It's, it's tough. So, uh, congratulations, Obed. Uh, we wish you the best of luck and, uh, and hopefully, uh, you remember us, uh, you know, when you, as you continue to, uh, to fly through this career of yours, that is on. Obviously, look, I still have the, the signage shirt. Look at that. that hey Look at that. well
00:35:50
Speaker
Well, we, we love that about you and, and hopefully you continue to rep the Sounders when you're in your Madrid. I'm sure there's some majisas that would, ah that could, that could look for an MLS team to follow. yeah but For the record, I try to get Griezmann to go to ah to Seattle. i I told them.
00:36:08
Speaker
And what did he say? Oh, he said it was far from further than Orlando. That's true. so That is a good point. To Europe. So I tried.
00:36:20
Speaker
Stay in guys' ears because you never know when when that might help out a little bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. yeah That's awesome. All right. Well, thank you, Obed.
00:36:32
Speaker
And yeah, we'll continue to watch. and And I guess one thing I just, have they talked to at all about, ah like, I know one of the things people have talked about here is, ah or not here, there was a lot of speculation that you might be sent out on loan. Have they talked to you at all about anything like that?
00:36:48
Speaker
No, not at all. We'll see. Yeah, well, I mean, i hey, look, you played something like 900 minutes for Madrid after showing up at the end of the season. That seems to me to suggest that they want you to stick around.
00:37:04
Speaker
So, it it look, it it's amazing to see all this. it's Yeah, you when you go into a team like that, I think you have to understand maybe – um how many players are in a position, whether you're going to get a lot of minutes or not. So we'll see. i think everything depends on how preseason goes, how you do, and and then we'll we'll make a decision based on that. But I think the club will always look for what's best for you, and um I will too. So I think either way is is's good, you know depending on what the team wants and what you need as a player and to develop.
00:37:48
Speaker
Absolutely. Well, thanks again for doing this. Thank you. Obed. ah We're going to continue to watch and we're going to continue to be impressed. I'm sure it's ah its it's quite an achievement, everything that you've done to this point. And we can't see you can't wait to see what you do next.
00:38:03
Speaker
But with all that, I should i should sign off. I'm Jeremiah Shan. This is No Study At This, part of the Sounder Heart Podcast Network. And we'll catch you next time.
00:38:40
Speaker
Let's go fucking at Sounders.