Photo courtesy Duke University
BY DYLAN BUTLER
A few days removed from his lifelong dream becoming reality, Mike Grella returned to his family's Glen Cove, L.I. home. But the former Duke University standout won't be there for long. He's off to England on Friday and he's not looking back.
"I'm so excited about it, in terms of getting in there, settling in and working hard every day in training," Grella said in an exclusive interview with SBI. "I waited for a really long time to have my job be playing soccer, to wake up, train well, take care of myself and do well. I'm just excited about the whole situation."
The 22-year-old forward signed an 18-month contract with English League One squad Leeds United at the January transfer deadline following a successful two-week trial. He returned home to collect a few things, to see some friends and family and will fly back on Friday morning to begin his professional career.
While Grella will be in the air soon, his head is not in the clouds.
"It feels great, but at the same time while it feels like I've accomplished a lot in my college career and I've finally made a professional team, I've done nothing on the professional scene yet," Grella said. "My feet are definitely grounded, although it does feel really good. I'm very focused on doing well for the team. That's the most important thing."
Grella, who holds an Italian passport, wowed Leeds manager Simon Grayson during his trial, scoring a hat trick for the Leeds reserves in a 4-0 victory against Barnsley at Elland Road. That performance also drew the attention of several Championship scouts in the stands, but Grella wasn't about to rest after that magical outing.
"I just remember after the match thinking about the next day, thinking about what I had to do to continue doing well and continue trying to convince them that I deserved a contract," he said.
Grella toyed with the idea of going pro after his junior year at Duke. He had a few oversees options and Major League Soccer offered a Generation adidas contract. Instead he returned for his senior year, a decision that, while he admits he had mixed emotions about at the time, he doesn't regret.
"I was 100 percent confident I'd have this opportunity afterward," Grella said. "If I didn't feel that way I would have definitely gone and done something after my junior year. I'm excited that I did (come back) because I finished school so it's the best of both worlds."
Grella, who was named a first-team All-American after leading Duke with 14 goals and eight assists, was again offered an MLS contract. This time, he said, it was harder to pass up.
"It's weird because first I said I'd never play in MLS because I wanted to play in Europe. That was my dream, something I wanted to pursue," Grella said. "But when MLS came across with such a good offer considering I was a senior and, at the time, Europe was a very big gamble, it was certainly enticing at the time. But I'm glad it worked out this way."
Grella didn't go into specifics about what MLS offered, but sources say it was a deal in the low six figures. As for his contract at Leeds, Grella only said, "it's a lot better."
"It was a phenomenal contract from MLS," Grella said. "But Leeds is, both competitive-wise and financially, a better decision for me."
Grella hasn't shut the door completely on playing in MLS and Toronto FC, which selected him in the third round of last month's MLS SuperDraft, holds his rights for two years. But right now Grella's sole motivation is success at Leeds and helping the club gain promotion to the Championship.
"One day I'd love to come back and play in MLS," Grella said. "I don't have anything against MLS at all, but the dream of playing in Europe, the fans there are so much more passionate and it's so much more real to me."
As for those who are critical of Grella's decision to play in a lower division in England than the top-flight soccer in America, Grella doesn't give that thought much credence.
"Someone who can't undertand the decision of bypassing the MLS to go to a lower division team like Leeds, I think doesn't really know much about the game," he said. "Leeds is a fantastic club, a Premiership club in the wrong division."
While some have suggested playing in Europe will be a better road for him to play for the U.S. National Team, Grella, who was a regular on the U.S. Under-18 squad a few years ago and had some caps with the U-20s, said those things will take care of themselves.
"I didn't really think about the national team when I made my decision," he said. "I just thought that wherever I went, if I played well and worked hard enough that the national team would one day call."
One person who isn't surprised that Grella has gone this far in his career is David Price, who first coached Grella at the age of 12. Price coached him on the Albertson Storm, the Storm Academy and the New York Red Bulls Under-20s.
Price said the skill was evident from a young age, but Grella just needed to hone his ability to benefit the team. And when Grella scord the winning goal in the Jefferson Cup on the U-16 level, Price knew that Grella had a chance of playing professionally.
"He hit it from 25 yards out and he hit it like a pro," Price said. "The pace of the shot, the direction of the shot and the eventual goal was something I haven't seen on that level. Once he hit that, it just convinced me even more that Michael could be a pro player."
That's a reality now for Grella, who is ready to take the challenge, like the Leeds trial, with both hands.
"I know those trials are difficult because they last a week and a half, two weeks and every day is like your last day," Grella said. "Every day I went out to training I didn't have time to think about adapting to things, there was no room for excuses. I just went out there and worked my ass off, played well and did what I know how to do."
