TUKWILA, Wash. — Tuesday marked the first day of full training for new Sounders left back Danny Earls. Hailing from Wicklow Town on the east coast of Ireland, the former Aston Villa player joined Seattle in a trade just one day after his Colorado Rapids won the 2010 MLS Cup. Earls was not in the 18 that day and looks forward to a fresh start in Seattle, where he hopes to push Leo Gonzalez for a starting position.
The 21-year-old left-footed attacking fullback caught up with MLSsoccer.com after the team’s first official day of training camp.
MLSsoccer.com: We’re all eager to meet the new guy. Tell us about yourself.
Earls: I'm from Wicklow Town in Ireland, a little town south of Dublin. I’ve been playing professionally for five years; I’ve been in the country for—this is going to be my fourth year. I’ve been in New York for two and Colorado last year. This is a new city, a new place and I’m excited to get going.
MLSsoccer.com: How does an Irish player make his way to the United States?
Earls: It’s a funny one, really. I was training at Aston Villa and Steve Guppy, now the assistant manager at Colorado, was training there as well because he was going to be a player-manager in Rochester. He liked the way I played and basically asked me if I wanted to go over.
My time at Villa was coming to an end and I wanted a new start, a fresh start. He asked me did I want to come over to Rochester. I jumped at the chance to come over, and it has taken off from there.
MLSsoccer.com: Are you happy with the way your career has progressed?
Earls: Yeah, of course. My time at Villa was invaluable to me. I feel like I learned a lot there.
[inline_node:300540]I took a different route than a lot of my friends back home who are still in England, but, I mean, I wouldn’t change it for anything. A lot of them have had different experiences and everyone goes through football in different stages of their career, playing different places. The experience I’ve gathered—living in new places and playing against different players every year—has me in good stead. I can’t complain; it’s been great in America so far.
MLSsoccer.com: Talk about the trade from Colorado to Seattle. Did you know that was going to happen beforehand?
Earls: No, it was a funny one. We won the final and the day we traveled back from Toronto—the day before I was going to go home—I was told I was going to be traded. It was pretty all-of-the-sudden. I was expecting to come back. My place is all packed still for next year in Colorado.
But that’s football. You have to expect it. When I knew Seattle were in for me, I jumped at the chance. They are an unbelievable club. Playing against them here last year was such a great chance for me to show what I can do out here. I loved it; there were no hard feelings with any other clubs. I’m excited to get out here and get going with my career.
MLSsoccer.com: What are your impressions of Seattle?
Earls: Brilliant. Last year we came out here to play and I said to one of the lads I play with, “Wouldn’t it be nice to play here every week in front of 35,000 fans?” Hopefully if everything goes well I can get my place in the team and see how that goes.
Obviously everyone in the league knows it’s a great club. It’s professionally run and the fans are second to none, best in the league.
MLSsoccer.com: Do you know how you’re going to fit into the mix?
Earls: That’s professional sports for you, isn’t it? There are spots up for grabs all over. You can’t go into a team not expecting competition. It’s healthy—it makes for better players all around. I’ve seen Leo [Gonzalez, Seattle’s incumbent left back] play last year. He is quality, he brings a lot to the team, but I feel I bring different stuff. It depends what the manager sees.
I feel like I have a lot to bring and hopefully I can knuckle down and show them all what I can do.
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