John Harkes | Greenville Triumph SC Head Coach

Episode 106: John Harkes | Greenville Triumph SC Head Coach & National Soccer Hall of Fame Member

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Rich Take On Sports

Show Notes:

  • Rich Spotlight: John Harkes
    • Very fortunate to have such a long playing career with great accomplishments being on the first team to qualify for 1990 World Cup and then in the inaugural season of the MLS in 1996
    • Loved building a club in Cincinnati and loves the challenge in Greenville with building the Greenville Triumph SC in it’s the inaugural season in 2019
    • He has always been an optimistic guy even with coaching
    • Played all the other sports but gravitated to soccer immediately growing up in Kearny, NJ (Soccertown USA)
    • Competing against the older guys was the biggest thing that helped them
    • Academics were the biggest challenge once he got to UVA and it was a tough decision to forego his senior season to play on the US Men’s National Team
    • Motivation comes more from having a chip on his shoulder and proving people wrong
    • Was accepted in Europe after scoring the “Goal of the Year” against Peter Schilling
    • Best players he faced were Romario, Roberto Baggio, Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Bryan Robson (Captian Marvel), and Mark Hughes
    • TV broadcasting was fun but Coaching is rewarding
    • Loves being in Greenville and the genuine warmness of people and clubs like Reedy River Riot are helping educate fans
    • Some of his favorite music on his playlist consists of AC/DC, U2, and soulful Blues
    • Words of Wisdom from John Harkes:
      • “You’re never bigger than the club.”
      • “You’re only as good as the next game.”
      • “You can’t expect other people to believe in you unless you believe in yourself first.”

Social Media:

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Twitter: @richtakesports

To Follow Richmond Weaver on Twitter: @richmondweaver

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Instagram: @richtakeonsports

To Follow Richmond Weaver on Instagram: @richmondweaver93

To Follow Rich Take On Sports on Facebook: @richtakeonsports

To Follow John Harkes on Twitter: @johnharkes6

To Follow John Harkes on Instagram: @jharkesy6

To Follow Greenville Triumph on Twitter: @GVLTriumph

To Follow Greenville Triumph on Instagram: gvltriumph

To learn more information about Greenville Triumph: Greenville Triumph

To learn more information about Reedy River Riot: Reedy River Riot

Featured Image Photo Credit: Steve Wallace | Creative Concepts

About the author, Richmond Weaver

Richmond, a graduate of Clemson University has been involved with sports for most of his life and developed a passion for basketball and sports at an early age. He currently lives in Greenville, SC with his wife Karen, founder of Upstate Esthetics and their three kids.

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