Between 2003 and 2007, Chris Gbandi was a fixture in the FC Dallas backline. The top overall pick in the 2002 MLS SuperDraft out of the University of Connecticut, he played in 111 games with three goals before going across the pond to play for FK Haugesund in Norway in February 2008.
Now, after spending the last two seasons in Norway, Gbandi is mulling a return to MLS.
"I have a little bit of stuff here and there in Norway but I want to see if I can come back to the U.S. I think the best case scenario would be playing in the U.S. next year," he said.
Returning to Norway is still a viable option for Gbandi, and he looks on the experience there with mostly positive feelings.
"It was interesting to say the least. My first year was great," he said. "We had a coach and GM that brought me in and it was great. Then, the coach decided to leave and we had a new coach and new GM. They wanted to bring their people in, so the second year wasn't very good. I played in 34 or 35 games last year and then this year, with a new coach coming in, he wanted to go in a totally different direction. At the end of the day, I decided and they decided it was best to figure out a contract buyout. No hard feelings. Other than that, it was a great experience.
"If I had it to do all over again, playing in Norway, I'd do it again. The fans are crazy about their sport. It was a great, great experience. It's funny because I see Nate Borchers and guys like Robbie Russell who played over there and then came back and won a championship (with Real Salt Lake)," he continued. "Hopefully, one day I will get that opportunity. It's a neat experience and I'm sure if you talk to those guys, they'll tell you the same thing. You're always developing as a player if you play there because they're all about just trying to develop players and getting you better for the other leagues."
Gbandi still has a house in Frisco but admits returning to FCD is not a likely scenario for him.
"I don't want to close any doors but I would probably want to have a new challenge. Obviously, I keep up with them and with the new guys they've brought in, they've done well," he said. "You never want to close any doors but I would want to play somewhere else. I was a Dallas fan growing up because there was no team in Houston then and figured I would play my whole career. Now, I'm just looking for a new challenge, something that I really look forward to if I can get that opportunity."
However, the Houston native wouldn't rule out going to Houston or to any of several other league destinations.
"That would be kind of weird, having the orange on. You never want to close any doors," he said. "I think if they were interested, I'd love to go play there. Obviously, there are a lot of other teams that need a left back or center back help in MLS. If I were to have an opportunity to go there also, I would welcome it."
Being abroad made it a little tough to keep up with the exploits of younger brother Sandy, who plays for Puerto Rico of the USL's top division, but Gbandi still found time to keep up with his little brother's exploits under former FCD head coach Colin Clarke, who also coached Chris.
"Yeah, I was up there in Norway watching games at two or three in the morning. I can't believe it because when he was in Dallas with me, his level wasn't what it needed to be," Gbandi said. "Now with him going to Puerto Rico and getting the confidence with playing every day, it's just amazing. I think he's taking over the mantle in our family right now of being the top player. I'm just so proud of him. Just watching him and seeing him grow has been unbelievable because from when he was in Dallas to now, it's just night and day."
Another of his former FCD teammates who has done well since going abroad is fellow defender Clarence Goodson, who has played for IK Start since 2008 and has since become a U.S. national team regular.
"When Dallas didn't protect him and then San Jose wanted him, he wasn't sure if he wanted to go overseas. I think obviously he made the right decision, going there and playing in Norway," Gbandi said. "It's such a great league for other countries to come and watch. I heard he was getting interest from Germany and maybe even France. If he's fortunate and if everything goes well, he could play in the World Cup. I'm just so happy for him because he went through a tough time here in Dallas not knowing what he wanted to do and wondering if the team really wanted him to come back. For him to go to Norway and prove himself like that just shows the kind of person and character he has."
Since he lives in Frisco, he still keeps tabs on his former team. However, Gbandi isn't exactly surprised that one of his former FCD teammates, goalkeeper Dario Sala, is the only remaining holdover from when he was there.
"I think if we had won a championship, most of the guys from those teams might still be around. We had some opportunities, really good players and never took advantage of it. At this level, it's all about winning and winning championships," he said. "We weren't able to do that. So, from that standpoint, I'm not surprised that no people from my time are still there. I think with the way the club is going right now, you see a future. Hopefully they can kind of pick up where they left off at the end of the season. It's a bright future for FC Dallas and the people associated with the organization."
While the 30-year-old Gbandi would like to play at least several more years, he admits he has already started looking at his options after playing, which include coaching maybe even in another sport he used to play: football.
"Well, yeah, I played a little bit of football in high school. I think ideally if I were to be realistic, my coaching career would be in soccer but you never know," Gbandi said. "I feel like I learned a little bit in high school football and could do a little bit coaching but realistically, it will probably be in soccer."
Steve Hunt is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
