Jonathan Spector's life was turned on its head in May 2002 when scout Jimmy Ryan spotted the hastily converted defender playing for the US Under-17's and returned to Old Trafford with glowing reports.
At the end of a week's trial in September, the Illinois 16-year old had become a Manchester United player. After his blooding in the Premiership and Champions League for the Red Devils, Spector began a season-long loan at Charlton Athletic this fall and is now in the running for a place in Bruce Arena's World Cup 2006 roster.
In part two of this exclusive interview, Jonathan Spector tells YA about Manchester United and Charlton, their coaches Alex Ferguson and Alan Curbishley, and how he spends his life away from soccer.
Manchester United has been down in the dumps recently. Slipping from view in the title race, England's biggest club has been beset by allegations of player strife as its fabled manager and captain find themselves surrounded by tabloid vultures.
Until the recent defeat of Chelsea, Old Trafford gave the impression of being a tense workplace what with Roy Keane's televised verbal attack on his colleagues and the revelation that their locker room was being bugged.
I start by asking Spector if he feels immune from the Manchester maelstrom in South London or if he has a Red Devil heart that skips a beat every time he hears the word 'United'.
"Well I still watch all their games and I am interested to see how my former teammates are doing," he replies. "And yes, I still support Man United and hope they are successful this season. I still ultimately want to break into their first team."
So that clears that up, but the recent history of American dreams in Manchester is one of false starts, that of Jovan Kirovski, John Thorrington and Tim Howard. Although Spector brims with confidence, a phrase here and there reveals he knows the score - that there is still some way to go before he can call himself a ManYoo regular.
"It would be a massive accomplishment for me to do that and that is still my main goal, but it could be a long-term one," he states categorically.
"There is, of course, a lot of competition, but that is healthy. Competitive nature is a good thing as it only strengthens the team as long as you are professional about it. Competition can only help me become a better player, which is why I am down here."
These words seem to sum up this young player's mentality: a competitor who will do what he can to win, but is aware of failure and would accept it as being for the common good. In other words, a model professional.
"You never know," he shrugs. "I am still young and have a lot to learn in the game. Ferguson is still following how I am doing and keeping an eye on me, so that is important."
The more Fergie watches, the more Spector could be back in a Man U shirt in as little as a few weeks if Sir Alex exercises the recall clause in his loan deal (which he must do by New Year's Day, at the latest).
"I do not know what is going to happen, but while I am at Charlton, I am staying focused on helping the team be successful. But if I get called back, I get called back and there is not much I can do about that."
He speaks from experience; last year, Jonathan had a celebration on his first trip home since joining United unceremoniously interrupted by the big man himself, who hastily summoned the defender back to England.
"He allowed me home last Christmas for a break," he recalls, smiling. "And I was sitting down with my family in the Chicago Brauhaus, the famous German restaurant in Chicago and it was a big family get together with parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters all there. And then my cell phone rang."
"It was Sir Alex and he just said 'you're on the next flight to England, Jonathan', so I went home, packed my bags and went to O'Hare. I respected him for doing that, though, and you know coming directly from him, that it is probably the right thing to do."
This mutual respect bodes well for the future. "I have a pretty good relationship with him," Spector confirms.
"He is someone you can talk to. Some people might have certain views about him, but from my personal point of view he is a good manager and someone I feel able to talk to."
"I saw Ferguson while I was in Manchester getting my stuff together to come down here and I actually ran into him in a restaurant. He was happy to see me and asked me how things were going and told me to let him know if there was anything he could help with or any advice I needed."
"I respect him telling me things personally. That is almost a self-induced vote of confidence."
So while Spector may be looking over his shoulder every time he goes out for a meal in case Sir Alex is on the prowl, I wondered how he got along with the players at Old Trafford, most of them much older, more experienced and more famous than he.
"I was a young kid, but when I trained there they treated me in the same way as any other professional," he explains. "That is the whole reason Ferguson has set up the training ground the way it is."
"A lot of English clubs do not have the youth players training with the professionals. What he is trying to build is a straight track from the youth team to the first team and it has clearly been successful."
"With some of the players he has brought through like the Nevilles, Paul Scholes and Beckham, he is obviously doing the right thing."
But with all those big names don't big salaries and big egos follow? There are countless stories emanating from the bush telegraph around Old Trafford, after all.
"But it is not always true what you read!" he gleefully corrects me, before putting the record straight. "When it comes down to it, everyone wants to play."
"That is understandable as they would not be at that level if they did not want to, but they do understand that the team comes first. If you are at Man United, you are already one of the top players in the world so you would think that there would be some egos."
"But they were always really helpful and willing to give me advice. And who better to learn from?"
Indeed, one of the most charming Spector anecdotes recalls when he first arrived at United's training ground in Carrington, their Dutch master made a point of coming up to him and introducing himself. "'Hi, I'm Ruud van Nistelrooy,' as if I did not know who he was!"
It is quite ironic that when we met up, Manchester United sat struggling below Charlton in the Premiership table, and the Addicks were flying high in the European places.
"Man U have struggled this year as they have had a lot of injuries so it has been difficult for them, that is right, but they are still one of the best teams in the world," he says, almost defiantly.
"Once they get their players back they will start putting some wins together and get out of the position they are in at the moment. I am sure of that."
Ironic also is that November 19th will see Charlton host Manchester United in the Premiership. Although Spector cannot play in this match, I have to ask him whose goals he will be cheering the loudest.
"I am not necessarily torn between the two," he hints. "Well, I can't play in that game, so I'll certainly be watching that with a lot of interest!"
I suggest a compromise of a seat position equi-distant between the two team benches. Spector breaks out in laughter at my idea: "No comment on that!"
For now, he is a Charlton Athletic player and this has given him the chance to work with the highly regarded Curbishley. Indeed, when it comes to learning from the masters, he could have done much worse than to have played under two men who have coached their clubs for years.
"I am lucky to have played under three fantastic coaches," says Spector. "The two longest-serving managers in the Premiership, as well as Bruce Arena for the National Team. Yes, I have been very fortunate to have done that."
"Alan has been in charge, for what? Fifteen years? So he must be doing something right. He has done a great job in building that team up and we have had a fantastic start to the season."
"Alan's coaching style is pretty different to Sir Alex's, but I think they have both been successful in their own way."
So if the pair have different styles of coaching, and Sir Alex is perhaps the last of the old school of tough nuts, does that mean Alan is more co-operative than confrontational?
"Every manager has to be somewhat tough to survive at this level," explains Spector. "He certainly has the respect of his players, which you obviously have to have to be one of the top managers, and I think he is one."
"He is very honest and straightforward with you, and he has also been someone I have been able to talk to and ask what I needed to do in order to improve."
"I was very excited to come on loan to Charlton," he makes clear. "Sir Alex Ferguson spoke to me in person and told me he could not guarantee me enough first team football at Old Trafford and that was what I needed most. So it was his idea really."
"A number of clubs were interested in me, but he said Charlton would be the best fit for me as he has a lot of respect for Alan Curbishley. He liked the set-up and the way that they play and I can understand why he thought that."
Curbishley was suitably impressed by his acquisition and named Spector as his side's best defender in the preseason. Yet, just like when he arrived at Old Trafford only to be told he was unable to play, Spector found himself sidelined at Charlton, this time through injury.
"It was a combination of things, and I would not just attribute it to the weights," says Spector. "I had not had a break in so long."
"I had played through the summer with the National Team and it was my body just telling me I needed to take a little bit of a break. It was a little bit too much for me that was all."
"It was really frustrating for me having played in all the preseason games to get injured just before the season opener. Then we got off to a great start, which was fantastic, but at the same time I was on the bench."
"But I could understand that as the team was doing so well. Now, I have finally got my break so I hope I can get a run of games."
Until Wigan assumed the mantle of 'The People's Champion' (i.e. the team with the best chance of catching Chelsea), it was Charlton who set the early pace and surprised many a neutral, although Spector was not one of them.
"I am playing in a good team who deserve to be up there," he insisted. "Darren Bent has been grand. He has scored so many important goals for us. You can't take that away from him."
"Danny Murphy is also an important part of the team and he makes a lot of things happen, makes a lot of assists and is a great passer of the ball."
That duo happen to be the players highlighted in media calls for England recognition, but Spector refuses to be drawn into that debate."
"I am sure Sven has a tough job as there are so many talented players in England and I don't get to pick the team," he answers, diplomatically. "But all I can say is Danny and Darren have been playing great for their club and I hope they continue."
National team call-ups or not, Charlton Athletic does appear to fit Spector like a glove. "The team spirit has been fantastic and all the players have been very supportive even though each player wants to play," he noted. "Everyone goes about their way in a professional manner and I think that is the main thing here."
If that is one reason he can go far, another is his conscientiousness. "I think there is always something to improve on physically, mentally or technically as a player," Spector asserted. "If I stop doing anything particular, then I will lose certain aspects of my game."
Spector has played most positions on the field, and this could be a potential ace up his sleeve when it comes time for Arena to make out his World Cup squad.
"I think my versatility is an asset," he agrees. "I can play anywhere along the back four, and my left foot is as good as my right as I have worked on that a lot in training."
"Hopefully I will find a position and be able to stick with it whether it is center back, left back or right back, but I am just happy to be on the field, to be honest, and getting the experience."
Left back seems to be the position he is edging towards, which brings up some interesting competitive scenarios with both Manchester United and the US.
"Even though I have only had a short career, I have played left back for the National Team, for Man United and for Charlton," pitches Spector. "I am fairly quick and good in the air, so those are obviously good for a center back. But at the same time I like getting forward as an outside back, so that could be why I am torn between the two positions right now."
Whatever happens on the field, the next few years will also see Spector develop as a young man off the field. Our conversation turns to his life outside football; the answers might disappoint the tabloids, but will impress Sir Alex.
"I take college courses from Indiana University," he reveals. "They keep me busy. I like reading magazines and books, all sorts of stuff. I have just finished the Da Vinci Code."
"Now I am on my own I do all the cooking, cleaning and domestic duties that most people my age don't have to do. I am starting to enjoy cooking and my mom sends me new recipes."
"Even though it is a shorter working day than most people have, it is an exhausting day so every once in a while I have to take an afternoon nap."
You can hear the tabloids buzzing already.
"Musically, I listen to a little bit of everything," continues Spector. "I like Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr. and I used to play the trumpet, so I like jazz. I also like fat bass and punk."
"They mainly play hip-hop in the Charlton dressing room, which I can listen to although it is not my favorite. I am not sure who it belongs to, but it is the same CD and I am starting to get sick of it!"
I suggest he should play under punk fan Stuart Pearce then - "Well, I could, but I do not know if it is a good idea to move from United to City!"
Given his relocation to England, I ask what cultural aspects, if any, of UK life might be rubbing off on him.
"Well, cricket I just don't get!" he kicks off. "But I am beginning to appreciate English food, I hate to say."
"When I first came over, I stayed away from the entire Shepherds' Pie, and fish and chips. We had a dietician at Bradenton, so I know all about that unhealthy eating!"
What about the accents? Will Jonathan emulate Brad Friedel, who sounds as much Lancashire as Ohio these days, and develop a Cockney twang?
"Some people do tell me when I go back to the US, my American accent is starting to disappear," he sighs. "And I say a few things in an English way and use certain British phrases, but they said after I had spent time in Bradenton that I had picked up a bit of a Southern accent."
"Hopefully, I will keep my own identity," he says with mirth on his mind.
Visiting family and friends apart, the only Americans Spector sees are the other Yanks Abroad, with fellow Arlington Heights boy Brian McBride a particular source of help.
"They are all really friendly guys and I go to them if I have any questions as they have been through it all over here, especially Brian who comes from the same town as me," he says.
"I have talked to him a few times and he has been extremely helpful. He is a great person and player and always has some good advice to pass on."
Looking back across the pond, I was keen to hear his views as a Chicago Cubs fan on the recent World Series, but he stops me dead in my tracks.
"I was not very happy the White Sox won, so I do not really want to talk about that right now," he cracks. "I am still bitter about it!"
He is also a Chicago Bulls fan and cites Air Jordan as his number one hero outside soccer.
"I grew up watching Michael Jordan," recalled Spector. "I looked up to his approach and his mentality even though it was a different sport. He is one of the greatest athletes ever."
I mention that most English know Jordan only through Nike sportswear, which draws us obliquely into discussing the rabid commercialism of English soccer and the American in charge at Old Trafford.
"That is not really my field of expertise," Spector confesses. "I am here to play the game."
"A lot of people have asked me about Glazer taking over Man U and it is not really for me to deal with. There is nothing I can do, but accept it. My job is to play and help the team become successful."
Coming from some players' mouths this could seem a denial of responsibility, but with Spector it is hard not to like him. It is rare you encounter a 19-year old so polite and level headed, Premiership footballer or not.
While his work ethic is beyond question and he has enjoyed a fair slice of luck ("I feel very fortunate in my short career to do what I love, especially playing professionally in England, which is the place to do it"), I leave thinking what success he may achieve in the future will be as much down to the soccer gods smiling on him as anything else. In other words, he is someone who will make his own luck.
I suggest that his famous halftime conversion to playing defense in the presence of a Manchester United scout there to watch his opponent was one such stroke of serendipity.
"That happens quite a bit," says Spector. "Maybe if he had not seen me there, someone else might have seen me eventually, but I was just happy he had in that game."
Even if we hear no more of Jonathan Spector, he has at least already made his mark on the Premiership with what in London slang is called 'a dodgy barnet'. I am referring to his hairstyle, that has been described as 'screaming out country singer.'
"I don't listen to much country," he laughs. "And it is not a true mullet anyway! But it is my own personal style."
"I am not one to go along with the pop culture and what everyone else thinks is right. I am my own person and I am sticking with it!" |
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