Fan stories: Atlanta United support from around the world

A few months ago, we sent out a message on Twitter for any Atlanta United fans who followed the team from afar -- afar hereby deemed “Not the South” or at least “Really far away from Atlanta” -- to respond and tell us their story. Some had recently moved from Atlanta, some began following the team based on their connections to Atlanta, some genuinely asked if Virginia counted as the South and whooooo boy did y’all miss some things in history class. The larger point here though is this: There were too damn many of y’all.

Instead of the handful of responses we expected, messages poured in from...literally everywhere. In the end, we were just missing two continents on our global bingo board and if anyone has the hookup for an Antarctica Supporters’ Group, please let us know.

In our correspondence, we ended up asking everyone mostly similar questions, although some stories stood out more than others. Nearly 10,000 words of responses later, we realized we might actually have too much information. So we started wading through all of them. And then we realized that we liked all of them. Each story a unique perspective, a unique location, a unique reason for being there all tied to the central action of caring, for their unique reason, about a Major League Soccer team in Atlanta, Georgia.

So, instead of making this about a 2,000 word article where we had to cut *a lot* of the stories and mercilessly chuck them into an editorial furnace, we kept *most* of the stories and attempted to organize them (and edit them for clarity) into a 3̴̤͕̯͉͛̄̂̓8̷̲͇͍̋̇5̷̳̜́̍ͅ2̷̨̞͕́9̸̫͇͛ word correction with a barely necessary intro section. Take some time with it. Let it breathe. Enjoy it. Come back to it if necessary. There’s a lot of good stuff here not written by anyone from DSS, guaranteeing its goodness.

Transitions are hard.

Here’s a map we spent too much time making showing you where everyone mentioned is vaguely located:

Why Atlanta United?

Folks in Sydney, Australia, Missoula, Montana, Kesennuma, Japan and plenty of either place each have their own reason for following Atlanta United.

I lived and worked in Atlanta in 1995, hence my connection to the city through the Atlanta Braves. I moved to Australia in 1999 and in 2007 I set up my first Supporters Group for RCD Espanyol (La Liga). I mention Espanyol because over a decade this experience gave me invaluable the know-how and contacts when setting up ATLUTD Sydney in early January 2017.

What attracted me to Atlanta United were 4 things.

1. Having lived and worked in Atlanta (1995)

2. The Club / Front Office just seemed to operate from a mindset of excellence. Everything flowed effortlessly.

3. At the kit reveal (late 2016) I was pleasantly surprised, the colours were exactly the same as my English team AFC Bournemouth and

4. The supporters. They were like long lost family members to me. Their enthusiasm and passion for the new club was contagious.

What I did during the first few months (Jan and Feb 2017) was to go and look for ATLiens in Sydney. I joined a few Sydney-based American Facebook groups, hosted a Watch Party for the Falcons (vs Green Bay Packers), searched high and low on social media and when I created the ATLUTD vs NYRB poster (our first ever game at Bobby Dodd) I was putting this up on community notice boards across the city.

All up there were 6 of us at Cheers Bar watching with the rest of you guys in Atlanta.

- @Sydney17, Founder of ‘Sydney 17’, an ATLUTD Supporters’ Group in Sydney, Australia

I’ve been in NYC for 6 years now. I was born and raised in Atlanta, so I have always been an Atlanta sports fan. I was pumped when they announced Atlanta United because I’ve always loved soccer. After the disappointment that was the Super Bowl, I tossed all my support behind ATL United and haven’t looked back.

I was born and raised in Atlanta. I love the city, bad sports teams and all. I couldn’t even imagine cheering for another city’s teams. All I’ve ever known is life as an Atlanta sports fan. I think my friends and family would disown me if I went against that

- Lauren, New York City

I’m currently stationed in Newport, Rhode Island and will transfer to San Diego soon (so yes, very much out of the South). I was born in Snellville though and grew up in Norcross/Duluth before I went out of state for college and naval service. Still feel connected to the A though and have flown back specifically to attend AUFC matches when I could get some leave.

I was born and raised in Gwinnett County (Duluth ‘07) and as much as my mom wanted me to go to Tech and use that HOPE, I decided to go north to Boston to BU due to the professors and the fact that I wanted to leave ATL for a bit. Didn’t realize how much I would miss it.

I did Navy ROTC at BU and commissioned in 2011 and ended up in San Diego for 5 years. Transferred to Upstate NY and started following the team there. As for soccer, I mean, I’ve always watched the world cup since 2006. I looked into MLS after 2014 but I really didn’t have an investment in it. I saw on my friends’ timelines when they posted about AUFC in 2017, and I was intrigued because of how popular it was, although I was very busy so I couldn’t really follow. I looked into MLS and AUFC right before the 2018 world cup, and hearing what they’ve done for the city, the players, the impact it was making in MLS, I was hooked, even with the bounce out in 2017 to the Crew. I started following that summer and really got into it.

- Jon, Newport, Rhode Island

I lived in DC for 15 years and never got into the team or MLS like I have the last two years with Atlanta.

1. I was born and raised in Atlanta so there is the hometown element.

2. I don’t think DC United does a good job of energizing the fan base. Conversely, the ATL front office didn’t just want to winner games, they wanted to take over the city. I could feel from hundreds of miles away something special was happening. My brother lives in Atlanta still, and he’s a super fan and his energy about it was infectious.

3. I loved how the club went about putting a team together. Bucking the aging DP tend and finding young exciting players from SA, and mixing that with experienced MLS hands like Parky and Larentowicz (who I love for being a bastard on the field in the best kind of way)

4. You know Uncle Arthur wants to win. This isn’t a side hobby for him. He wants titles and he’s willing to invest what it takes to win them. Top facilities, top people, both backroom and in the field, and maximum effort to get the city engaged.

- @cntrmid, St. Louis by way of D.C. by way of Atlanta

I’m an ATLUTD fan living in Seattle. I love that we keep breaking the Sounders attendance records

I’m from Atlanta originally and have followed all of the sports teams on and off for most of my life. My interest in football and baseball has plummeted and I love soccer but never had a team to draw me into the MLS. I moved to Seattle for a training program 3.5 years ago and actually bought season tickets to the Sounders my first full year there. Turned out to be 2016, when they won the title. It would have been so easy to stay a Seattle fan but I decided to stay true to my city when ATLUTD rolled around the following season.

- Jono, Seattle

I’ve been in Barcelona since 2012, but I’m originally from Atlanta. When I heard Atlanta was getting an MLS team, I was happy, though not much interested in MLS. After I heard they hired Tata Martino, who I watched coach Barça, I was more interested, as they really seemed to be taking things seriously and I tuned in for the opener mostly out of curiosity and was hooked. The team was really fun to watch, and the crowd blew me away.

- Zach, Barcelona

I’ve been rooting for Atlanta sports from afar for most of my life now. We moved out of Atlanta when I was 5 but Atlanta has always been home for me, at least with regards to sports. It’s a treat to come home and be the home fan, and I’ve developed a thick skin being the away fan, but I’m at the stadium with the team when they come by. New England fans usually jump straight to 28-3 jokes, which is rough since I do care about the Dirty Birds too.

- Eric, Connecticut

I’ve lived in Indiana my whole life. I’ve been a Falcons fan for awhile. Love soccer and there really isn’t a mls team very close. So when ATLUTD began playing I gave them a try because I love Arthur Blank and how he runs a team. Fell in love from game one.

- Jason, Indiana

Hey I’ve been in Texas for about 18 years altogether. My dad was in the army, so I was actually born in Ft. Stewart. I’ve been a diehard Atlanta/Georgia fan since I was old enough to realize I was born in Georgia. I actually never played soccer or watched it growing up at all. When I heard Atlanta was getting a soccer team I thought it was cool, but I didn’t think it would grow on me like it has. I have a buddy at work who loves soccer but isn’t all too familiar with American football. So we kinda helped each other learn about the other sport. I became a huge fan after seeing the turnout in Bobby Dodd stadium first game.

I’ve watched the falcons since I was a kid. I’ve watched the Hawks, Braves and Bulldogs. I’ve never seen a crowd so into a game. Cheering together that loudly for their team. It gave me an immense sense of pride in my state. With that and the team the front office put together, who couldn’t love those guys. The sport I had never payed attention to became my biggest passion.

Last year on a whim me and my wife for her birthday packed up drove all the way to Atlanta from Waco Texas to see them play the New England revolution. We hit the stadium hours before kickoff to buy gear, take pictures, and of course get to “Bobby Boucher Slap hands” with the players walking in. I can’t wait to do it again this year.

- Reno, Texas

My decision on becoming an Atlanta supporter was complicated. I was born in California and grew up in Ohio, but I never really got into the Galaxy or the Crew. I mostly followed foreign leagues, and after the US was eliminated from the World Cup qualifiers, I actually swore off MLS completely.

But the thing is, my dad’s family is from Atlanta, going all the way back to the 18th century, and I’ve always loved the city. So when I found out Atlanta was getting an expansion team, it caught my interest

However, I was cautious at first, since as I said, I had sworn off MLS. But there was something about the fans, the full stadium, the beautiful soccer, the huge Argentinian contingent on the team. I decided to give Atlanta a chance

I went to MBS for the first time in July of last year with my girlfriend and parents while I was visiting the states. That happened to be the game against DC United when Josef scored his record-breaking hat trick.

From that day, I’ve been hooked.

Also, the fact that my grandfather, who loved everything Georgian, died last year helped me decide. Atlanta will be my team until the day I die.

- Danny, Libertador San Martín, Argentina

Totally Legal Streams and Life in Enemy (and Enemy-free) Territory

Following the team outside of the Fox Sports Southeast umbrella can mean finding creative ways to watch matches and reminders to surrounding MLS fans about which team took home MLS Cup in 2018. Or, ya know, letting them know MLS exists.

Overall the fans in New York are ok. NYCFC fans know we are better than them in every way. Red Bulls fans like to talk some trash, but since we beat them in the Eastern Conference Finals, that has stopped. I get a lot of positive reactions from people who are Premier League fans just because of how well Atlanta United has done in terms of attendance.

- Lauren, New York City

I’m currently in Newport going through Department Head school before I head back out to the fleet in San Diego. I’m already looking at the schedule to see what matches I can attend up here (obvs. the Revs v. AUFC) and back in the A.

There are a few MLS fans out here. Some of AUFC, others of other MLS teams so it’s cool to watch and see. Social media has been a great way to stay in touch with fellow supporters and it really does feel like family. I wish I could be in Atlanta and really support the team, but there is a family outside the city and it’s fun to meet up with them during away matches and there is a special intimate feeling being “alone and unafraid” in the middle of the opposing supporters. I look forward to traveling to away matches in the West Coast when I get out there.

- Jon, Newport, Rhode Island

People in Seattle are very chill about it, I get a lot of comments on my Miggy jersey and most of them say they love watching our team. Also, the whole city was rooting for us to beat Portland for the Cup, so that was fun.

Some of them are a little sad to not be the league darlings anymore but that’s a minority.

- Jono, Seattle

I have to use not super legal streams to watch the games, but I usually find them no problem. I’ve watched all but a handful of their games since they started. The bigger problem is that their games usually happen in the middle of the night here, so I’m up watching a game that starts at midnight, or 2 am. To watch the Herediano game in Costa Rica last week, I set an alarm to wake up at 4am, watched the game, then went back to bed after it ended around 6am. Other than watching the games, I read as much as I can about them on MLS’s website, DSS, whenever they pop up on ESPNFC or AJC, to which I don’t have a subscription, but I follow Doug Roberson on Twitter.

- Zach, Barcelona

Of course nothing compares to attending games at MBS and I definitely miss watching games with other ATLUTD fans, but I’ve been able to make it work from St. Louis. I’m pretty reliant on DSS for tracking down where I can watch livestreams of games, so thanks for that!

St. Louis doesn’t have an MLS team (although there are whispers of an expansion here, not sure what’s up with that) so most people are indifferent. I do know some Sporting KC fans here but they’re usually just excited to meet someone they can talk about the MLS with even if we support different teams.

Now I’ve got friends here who root for United even though they’ve never been to Atlanta. I mean, after several instances of “No I can’t go out, I have to sit on my couch and watch soccer on my laptop but you’re welcome to join me,” they decided they’d just start watching with me.

- Paola, St. Louis

What’s it like? It’s tough. Like being the kid in the bubble watching everyone have fun. Being in Missoula I meet mostly Portland and Sounders fans so it’s been fun chatting with them. I love the energy MLS fans have, but I mostly love getting to brag on my team. Between launch events, attendance records, food prices, and being the champs it’s easy.

One of the biggest complements I get is just how much coverage our teams gets from fan generated sources, not a lot of teams get that. Atlanta is all in on this team and it’s incredible to watch. Most sports teams I follow are a burning dumpster fire so it’s unreal to follow a team from creation who has goals they can achieve. Ive been let down so many times by the teams I love, but this team is different, this team delivered.

- Alec, Missoula, Montana

I teach English so it has been especially difficult for Sunday games as they happen on Monday here (when I’m at school). Sometimes though it’s super easy. Like, the CL 2nd leg started at 10 a.m. and I had a day off - no problem.

People know about LA Galaxy and the Beckham move etc., but most still think MLS is a retirement league and know nothing about ATLUTD.

Usually the response is like “ You like soccer? That’s not popular in the US”

-Sean, Kesennuma, Japan

Supporting the team from a distance last season was great! ESPN+ was only 5$/mo and covered all out-of-market games, which in Indiana was pretty much every game that wasn’t nationally televised. I’m also very lucky because my brother bought two season tickets almost as soon as they went up on the market for the 2017 season, and he shares the second with whoever is available. So I was able to catch one game at Bobby Dodd Stadium (the 4-3 banger against San Jose), and a few games at MBS since then. The highlight was definitely going to leg 1 against RBNY, although I had a flight back to Indiana that night and a class to teach (with a very hoarse voice) the next morning.

Most people in Bloomington don’t think much about MLS --the closest pro team is the Indy Eleven (and I know a few folks who follow them). But friends who join me to watch a game usually have a good time. I’ve also encountered some other ATL fans here: one guy who plays in the local pick-up soccer league just graduated from Georgia Tech and always wears an Almiron jersey.

- @Toadmen, Bloomington, Indiana

First of all, it was not ideal to have just left Atlanta and miss out on going to the Championship game and celebrating the victory afterwards. However, being an avid fan here in SF has given me reason to make a point to see the boys whenever they are out this way. Last year I went to the Colorado game and four days later I was at that miraculous San Jose comeback game. This year I plan to go to Portland. For all the other games ESPN+ and the other streaming sites have been crucial.

Another positive of being out here is that there are no broadcast blackouts! All in all following the team is not too hard here. The reactions of people here in SF have been overwhelmingly positive. There are many who don’t follow MLS at all, as there is no team in the city, but those that do recognize my shirts or flag and have always spoken highly of their view of ATLUTD. It seems that suffering through San Jose’s down years has many watching ATLUTD to itch their scratch for the beautiful game.

The team has offered me ways to make connections here. I found out my upstairs neighbor just moved here from ATL because of my flag, ha. Additionally, my coworker is originally from Alabama and he decided to go to the San Jose game with me and is now a fledgling fan too (he was given a Josef/Thanos shirt by another friend of mine.) So far in my experience, it seems people here see United as a unicorn of sorts. They hope ATL’s effect on the league positively affects their favorite teams and are appreciative that they are elevating fútbol for everyone.

- Josh, San Francisco

It’s a bit difficult supporting from a distance so I have to rely on social media to discuss team events. Reddit, Twitter, and Instagram are essential since I can’t make it to the matches and I don’t personally know many ATL fans in DC. However, there is a nice soccer community here! I often go to a popular soccer bar, called Lucky Bar, to watch games. For the MLS Cup, most people there were decked out in United gear. It didn’t feel like I was outside of Atlanta!

- Jordan, D.C.

I’m in the army. I had to buy the MLS package on Direct TV. Couldn’t get the local channels that air on Fox Sports South and or stations like that. I try to make trips back to Atlanta to catch as many games as my work schedule allows.

- Rick, Ft. Riley, Kansas

It’s been difficult at times. People in Argentina tend to see MLS as, in their words, “una liga de mierda”, or shit league. A lot of my friends here knew almost nothing about MLS except for the fact that Beckham had played in it for a few years. But whenever I told them that our coach was “el Tata”, they started to show a little more interest.

But now that Pity Martinez was signed by Atlanta and “el Mellizo” Barros Schelotto is the new Galaxy coach, the MLS has suddenly become a common topic of conversation here. I can actually watch Atlanta games on TV here, instead of having to find a way to stream them.

Their ideas of MLS in general are still somewhat negative, but they’re more interested in it now, which is a huge step forward. And if teams like Atlanta and New York Red Bulls keep playing at the extremely high level they’ve been playing, it will only get better. [Retroactive author’s note: Danny! I have bad news.] I’m hoping that Atlanta wins the CCL so that we could play in the Club World Cup and maybe play against an Argentinian team [Retroactive author’s note: Danny! I have worse news.]

- Danny, Libertador San Martín, Argentina

FOMO

Some missed out on the party that was Atlanta’s first championship since 1995, but everyone found a way to be connected to the city during MLS Cup. Even if that meant a $1,000 plane ride.

During 2018 we hosted another 10 watch parties at Cheer Bar culminating with our premier event, the MLS Cup Final Watch Party whereby 8 of us (Atlanta United) and 12-13 Timbers supporters met, again at our venue Cheers Bar.

8 Atlanta Supporters for an MLS Cup Final in Sydney may not seem much but believe me, it is.

- @Sydney17, Founder of ‘Sydney 17’, an ATLUTD Supporters’ Group in Sydney, Australia

Without a doubt that is the one thing besides family and probably food that i miss the most. Missing an Atlanta championship was not cool.

I wasn’t home so I watched it in a manga cafe in Sendai. It started at 10am. They were supposed to have the channel but didn’t so I found some stream. Not ideal but I was so happy it didn’t matter.

-Sean, Kesennuma, Japan

I don’t actually have a strong connection to the soccer community up here. I’ve generally just watched the matches home on my own. But a local Arsenal bar had MLS Final on, so I did go watch there.

I was the only one with a vested interest in the match, but by the end of the night the whole bar was rooting with me. I sat down in my car after, before driving home, and had a bit of a cry about a trophy coming home to Atlanta.

- Eric, Connecticut

I watched the Cup in my apartment. It was just me and my wife (who is has no interest in sports), so it was low key. It felt a little weird to be by myself for it and doubly so since it was at like 4pm PST.

I was texting my friends at the game throughout and they FaceTimed me at one point. When we won I was jumping up and down by myself. For the coming days I was living vicariously through my friends texting and FaceTiming me from the parade, etc. It was an amazing feeling to win and see everyone celebrating, but I couldn’t help feel a bit left out and like I was missing something.

All in all, I loved it though and was just happy to see the team go all the way. 10/10 and would recommend.

- Josh, San Francisco

I did fly down just for the cup final last year, saved every penny I had and made the trip. When the final whistle blew I screamed, cried, and got hit in the face by some women’s wallet which she threw in excitement.... who does that!? Everyone in that stadium was giving beer soaked hugs, wouldn’t have it any other way.

I’m currently attending the University of Montana and the Cup Final happened to land the week of finals. I actually convinced my professors to let me take them all early so I could fly out and be there. I was already planning to be home for my Christmas Break so I lied and told them I had a wedding that weekend. I doubt they would understand if I explained the truth. My friends in MT know I’m a soccer fan, but most just follow the national team. They understand soccer fandom, but I doubt they even know how much it costs me to fly home. My average flight is around $1000, sometimes more.

There was no way I could miss a chance to be there. I had two tickets next to my cousin, we went together, failed our tailgate attempt due to the weather, got soaked at the gulch, convinced two people to switch seats so the four of us could sit together, ate a whole pizza for $18, drank cheap beer, and had the most unforgettable night. It’s almost poetic lifting the Atlanta curse with ATLUTD. In the same building the falcons failed to bring back a Super Bowl and UGA lost in the second half to Alabama in 2018, but the young soccer team made it happen.

- Alec, Missoula, Montana

FILA

Wherever they are, the club keeps them close to Atlanta.

Most of all though, following this team has been a joy because whether they win or lose, it has connected me back to the city and metro area I grew up in and where many of my old friends still live.

I’ve been able to reconnect with some of my closest high school friends because of AUFC. I see the truly diverse community that Uncle Arthur just referenced last week in the Georgia Senate. I see a culture that truly embraces what it means to live in the ATL, Its world influencing Black American culture, Southern Hospitality. It’s unashamedly Atlanta and Georgia. Yet, it’s ready to embrace the world. From it’s inclusiveness at the Gulch to the business model embracing the world soccer market, to the players and staff. It’s what I know Atlanta is. It encompasses what I love about the Navy, and what I want the US to be more of. It’s truly beautiful.

- Jon, Newport, Rhode Island

I definitely think it keeps me connected to the city in terms of shared experiences and also as a draw to come home for games. I don’t get homesick watching but I do get some FOMO when there’s a big game and I can’t be in the crowd.

- Jono, Seattle

I have friends and family back home who follow the team, talk to me about how crazy the city is for them. One of my friends is in the leadership of Resurgence. My brother went to the Cup final. My dad, a square suburban white guy in his 60s — who’s been kind of soccer curious since I moved to Barcelona and got into the sport — loves United and we talk about them every weekend, probably more than we talk about any other local sports team.

It’s probably the worst thing about not living in Atlanta anymore, but it’s a link with everyone I know back home that kind of keeps me plugged into the city.

- Zach, Barcelona

My folks live in the suburbs but when I visited for Thanksgiving I was lucky enough to go watch leg one against RBNY.

Not to be dramatic but watching ATLUTD win spectacularly at MBS feels like coming home.

Also one of my favorite moments was watching the livestream of the parade after we won MLS cup. I would have loved to be there but it was so sweet seeing the team being paraded around my old stomping grounds, you know?

- Paola, St. Louis

It’s more in the conversations I have with people. My girlfriend (an Atlanta native) is a huge Gressel fan so we fight over who loves him more. My cousin lives in Jacksonville and is also a season ticket holder so it creates opportunities to see him if we both make a game. Even the older generation In my family is following the team. My aunt, who is a wonderful teacher, is not a sports fan. Nut she can now tell you what strategies the team uses and how it wins or loses us the game. It’s incredible.

Being over 2,200 miles away isn’t ideal, but to have a team that radiates positivity and community is unbelievable. When I bought into the club this was more than I could have ever imagined.

- Alec, Missoula, Montana

My family was 33rd to pick season tickets for the Thrashers in ‘99 (hockey runs in the family blood), and the team leaving was brutal. We still root for the Jets, with my mom’s sweater being number 19 and having “Atlanta” for the name plate, and mine being number 99 and having “Thrashers” for the NOB, but AUFC is another connection to where I grew up.

I don’t have many, and having moved around and always been on the outside of things - as a hockey fan first not all sports fans get me, my refusal to root for any of the north eastern teams, I’m a huge geek, and I’ve never been afraid to show my colours or what I care about - but AUFC has been another strong bond back to childhood and to the city. I don’t have many friends from my K-12 days I still keep in touch with anymore, but I always look forward to coming back.

- Eric, Connecticut

Most of my friends are still there and many of them are pretty invested in the team, so it’s given us something to stay in touch about. In fact, the Colorado/San Jose trip was something all of us did together and the Portland trip in August will be the same thing.

- Josh, San Francisco

The connection to the city and using ATLUTD to help define my sense of self as an Atlantan — even 700 miles away — is absolutely a huge part of following the team.

- Colin, Columbia, Missouri

It keeps me connected with my friends down there. Very few days go by that we’re not texting something about the club.

- Trevin, Pennsylvania

ATLUTD has made me feel so much more connected from far away. It’s hard to explain. But when I see my friends at the games on social media I have serious envy.

My most active GroupMe conversation is all my friends from high school talking Atlanta United.

- Drew, Chicago

My favorite thing about it is how the city fell in love with the team. There are lots of die hard sports fans in Atlanta. And it’s great seeing the stadium filled and everyone getting into the games. Makes me proud of my hometown.

Yes to both. Having been to a few games every time I watch a match at the Benz makes me miss the atmosphere and makes me miss Atlanta. Always say the reason I move back home would be for my sports teams.

- Rick, Ft. Riley, Kansas

It actually doesn’t make me feel connected to my roots at all in a weird way. Atlanta is not a sports town. Growing up there was no fanfare for anything outside of college football, but the Atlanta United explosion is nothing like I’ve ever seen from my city. When I watch the games I can hardly believe it’s the same town I’m from. ATLUTD has flipped the script on Atlanta sports. When I’m visiting and I drive around and see the flags, car decals, signs, etc., I barely recognize the place. I love the transformation this city has undergone because of this team. Hell- my mom couldn’t care less about soccer years ago but is now a season ticket holder and calls me after every single match.

- Jordan, D.C.

There’s nothing in the world that unifies better than soccer. When I came here to Argentina, I barely spoke Spanish. I had no friends and no idea of what I was doing. The only thing I had in common with the people here was my love of soccer. That was enough for them to accept me.

- Danny, Libertador San Martín, Argentina