Play By Players

Play By Players brings Sporting KC defensive midfielder Uri Rosell, to the podcast this week!  Uri and Bobby talk about the influence of his childhood in Catalonia, adapting to the different culture in MLS and finding your role in the soccer world. Born and raised in a small province in Spain, Puig-Reig, Catalonia, Rosell grew up playing soccer in school and realized his love for the game early on. As Bobby shifts the conversation in and out of MLS, listeners will learn how Rosell’s culture, childhood, and experiences have led him to versatility and prosperity as a player. Off the field, Rosell spends time running camps back home in Catalonia for young aspiring players. Additionally, he was recently elected as the first international player on the MLSPA Executive Board, marking a substantial milestone for the MLSPA. 

This week, Bobby and Play By Players bring Orlando City SC and Canada Men’s National Team forward Tesho Akindele to the podcast. Akindele boasts over 280 games played throughout his Major League Soccer career, 19 Canadian International Team representations, and two Open Cup championships. Listen in to hear more as Tesho sheds light on his life off the field, including the importance of education, exploring other interests as a professional athlete, and athletes using their voice for greater change.Akindele grew up in Canada and then moved to Colorado where he spent most of his adolescent years. Brought up with a large family influence, his father guided him to find his passion for soccer while both his parents taught him to maintain discipline through both his athletic and academic career. With an emphasis on academia, Akindele describes to viewers how pursuing a degree allowed him to mature and build as a player and seek his full potential in the league. This episode, listeners will have the chance to see Akindele’s interests on and off the field including his active real estate investor status and efforts towards providing affordable housing through the “Yes in my back yard” movement.

On this week’s episode, Cristian Roldan of Seattle Sounders FC and the U.S. Men’s National Team talks with Bobby Boswell about the driving forces behind his midfield domination over 250 professional games, two MLS Cup Championships, and MLS All-Star status. Cristian spent much of his youth in Pico, California learning what it meant to build yourself from the ground up and remain loyal to family, community, and teammates. Playing soccer with his brothers at a young age, Roldan has never been a stranger to competition. While reiterating the importance of fan and community devotion as a professional athlete, viewers get to see how he fulfills his “rinse and repeat” lifestyle and how this translates to his role in the league. 

Bobby Boswell sits down with FC Cincinnati’s dynamic forward Brandon Vazquez, to talk about his unique and ‘meteoric rise’ to MLS. Growing up in Chula Vista, California, Vazquez spent many days of his week crossing the border from the U.S. to Mexico where he played for Club Tijuana. From playing across the country on dirt fields and training long hours every day, Vazquez worked his way up to his leading role on FC Cincinnati with no plans to stop there. Through the lens of Vazquez, listeners will be able to see how perseverance, family, and frustration come into play while navigating the MLS. *Recorded September 1, 2022

Austin FC's Diego Fagúndez joins the latest episode of Play by Players with Bobby Boswell.

Brad Stuver joins Bobby Boswell on the pod this week. Brad, who was recently nominated for the 2022 Muhammad Ali Sports Humanitarian Award, shares his passion for community involvement and giving back.

Houston Dynamo homegrown Memo Rodríguez joins Bobby on the podcast.

"To go in there and play in front of 74,000 fans at a stadium I grew up going to... it was unreal." Bobby is joined by Charlotte native Jaylin Lindsey to hear all about what it's like to play for your hometown club. Listen in to learn more on how Jaylin's soccer journey brought him back home.

Play by Players is back for season two! To kick things off, Bobby is joined by DC United's Steve Birnbaum. The former teammates and old friends cover all of their history together, going all the way back to the RFK days.  *Note: Episode was recorded in June 2022. 

Bobby Boswell catches up with former 15-year MLS veteran Justin Mapp on the latest episode of Play by Players. Justin walks Bobby through his career, from going pro at just 17 years old to signing the first free agent deal in MLS history. 

Bobby is joined by 17-year MLS veteran Drew Moor on this week's episode. Fresh off his 400th appearance, Drew takes Bobby back to where things began when he was scoring 100 (literally) goals for his high school team. You'll hear about all the major moments; from what it was like to sign as Generation Adidas, to the moment he found out he made the All-Star team just 11 months after tearing his ACL. Plus, you won't want to miss the story of when Drew was a player coach for the week. 

Bobby Boswell speaks with his friend and former teammate Clyde Simms. 

Minnesota United defender Chase Gasper joins the podcast this week. In the episode, Bobby gets the scoop on his collegiate career all the way up to his first national team call up. Listen in to get the inside look at where Chase thought he was getting drafted before ending up in Minnesota and what life in MLS has been like so far.

Miguel Berry joins the podcast this week and talks with Bobby about bursting onto the scene with the Columbus Crew this year. Miguel also shares what it was like to move to the U.S. from Spain at a young age, and how he finds strength from a close personal loss.

Portland Timbers goalkeeper Jeff Attinella joins Bobby for a conversation on his journey to the Timbers, and how he became an author and t-shirt maker off the field.

After 16 MLS seasons, Jeff Larentowicz announced that he was hanging up his cleats in 2021. Now, the man notorious for having no social media is back to catch Bobby up on his life after the game. The two-time MLS Cup Champion takes Bobby through his MLS tenure, including the simple things that kept him motivated to play more than 400 games and his time on the MLSPA Executive Board.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner joins Bobby on the latest episode of Play by Players. Listen in to hear about Matt's journey to the league, the funny story of when he got the call from the New England Revolution, and his experience with the USMNT. 

Houston Dynamo center back Tim Parker joins Bobby Boswell this week. Tim and Bobby cover his life on and off the field, from starting his pro career in Vancouver to how he ended up on the runway in New York Fashion Week.

Zarek Valentin joins Bobby on the podcast this week. The pair cover everything from his experience growing up in Lancaster, PA to all of the best "only in MLS" stories from his career.

Play by Players is back this week with Diego Rubio joining Bobby Boswell. Listen in as the guys discuss Diego's family of soccer players, his time in Europe and the decision to make the move to MLS.