Play By Players

This week Bobby sits down with Nashville SC's Sean Davis. They discuss Sean's upbringing in New Jersey, his time at Duke University, and his MLS career with New York Red Bulls and Nashville SC - including the role free agency played in his career. Sean also discusses the importance of his Asian heritage and how Japanese culture has influenced his life on and off the pitch. As well as what it's like having a TikTok star in the family!

Sean Franklin grew up in a large athletic family where all sports were accounted for, except soccer. That changed when the two-time MLS All Star picked soccer over basketball and discovered his natural passion for the game as a result. Franklin recalls high school as some of his best memories playing soccer while basking in a competitive high school rivalry, but it wasn’t until he was called up to the U-20 Men’s National Team camp that he realized he had the potential to play professionally. Tune in this week to hear more about Franklin’s soccer journey where he received various accolades and played over 300 professional games in MLS. Bobby Boswell and his former D.C. United teammate, Franklin, also touch upon a variety of key soccer topics including the importance of team coercion, coming back from injury, and addressing racial inequality both on and off the field. 

This week, Bobby Boswell sits down with St. Louis City SC’s multifaceted right-back Jake Nerwinski to talk about his soccer journey. Coming from a big soccer family, Nerwinski talks about the natural love he found for the game while playing under the same coach his father had growing up, Tab Ramos. Before getting drafted by Vancouver Whitecaps FC, it wasn’t until Nerwinski’s senior year at The University of Connecticut (UCONN), that he considered playing professionally. Between injuries and working to improve his game over the years, Nerwinski describes how shocked he was to be selected 7th overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. Once drafted, he reminisces on how quickly his MLS career began and how Vancouver will always feel like home to both him and his wife.Spoiler Alert: Stay for the incredible COVID wedding story! 

It’s showtime for Play By Players Season 3, and your host Bobby Boswell is kicking it off with FC Dallas defender Sebastien Ibeagha. Beginning his soccer journey back home in Nigeria as part of an exceptionally athletic family, Ibeagha came to the United States at a young age and continued his soccer career there. Ibeagha has played over 200 professional games and received various accolades throughout his college, USL and MLS career.In this week’s episode, the two sit down and discuss the mental and emotional aspects that play into an athlete’s ability to perform while Ibeagha pinpoints the common thread of feeling as though you need to prove your worth in the league. Listeners will get a candid look into Sebastian Ibeagha’s life prior to his MLS debut and where it stands now in addition to how Ibeagha motivates himself to break down barriers and deliver his best performance.

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.