Chicago Fire second-year defender Jordan Russolillo saw his first minute of Major League Soccer action on June 3 in the Fire's 3-2 victory over the Columbus Crew. Russolillo spent his first season in MLS on the Chicago Fire Reserves, starting in nine of the ten games throughout the 2006 Reserve Division campaign. The Fire selected the five-foot eleven-inch defender from Southern Connecticut State University in the third round (34th overall) of the 2006 MLS SuperDraft. At Southern Connecticut State, he earned NSCAA /adidas NCAA Division II All-American Second Team honors along with being named Northeast-10 Conference Player of the Year in his senior season. Russolillo was a three-time Northeast-10 All-Conference First Team member. Fire Insider had a chance to catch up with the 23-year-old a few days after his MLS debut against the Crew.
How does it feel to have your first MLS minutes under your belt?
"It's an awesome feeling. It is a little nerve-racking coming into a big game like that. The feeling is a lot of energy. It's like a butterfly feeling; you feel nervous about it at first."
What has your mindset been after June 3?
"It really hasn't changed. I've just been going to practice every day and I just keep going at it. It's just about getting that chance and if not then I'm fortunate enough that the coaches are getting a look at me a little bit more. So I just keep fighting and pushing."
What did the coaches tell you before you went in the game?
"My whole thing getting into the game was follow Frankie Hejduk and make sure he doesn't touch the ball. That was the biggest threat that Columbus had."
Did the coaches give you any feedback following the match?
"I didn't really get much feedback. They thought I did a pretty decent job."
What aspects of your game have you focused on developing during your first two years with the Fire?
"Considering I've been central back all four years of college and growing up, I really tried to focus on getting good crosses into the box and playing more of an attacking role on the left side."
When did you first start playing soccer?
"I started playing when I was three. I started playing organized soccer when I was about nine years old."
What other sports did you play growing up?
"I played baseball and basketball."
Why did you choose soccer as opposed to baseball and basketball?
"Well I had to choose between soccer or baseball my freshman year of high school. Soccer interested me more just because of the activity involved with running. Athletically that is how I got started."
Who has most influenced your soccer career?
"Not really anybody, I've always been into it. I watch a lot of Italian soccer so if you really want to say somebody-Paolo Maldini."
What do you do in your down time?
"I hangout with some of the guys on the team, play some video games. I relax, more or less, and go to the gym."
Do you have any pre-game superstitions or rituals?
"No I don't. It's not really my thing."
What advice would you offer to youth soccer players who want to play professionally?
"Keep practicing. Practice as much as you can and keep on sticking with it. Essentially choose school and soccer because that is what's going to get you to the next level."
What is the best soccer-related advice you have ever received?
"Try to maintain focus and keeping my head. Trying not to let the little petty stuff bother me. Stay focused and play my game."
