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Uccellos proud to be
Made in Canada
If there are two words that encapsulate the Uccello family’s football philosophy over the last decade it has been sacrifice and determination. From father Frank, passed down to son Julian, and now youngest twins Michael and Luca, an uncompromising work ethic and integrity towards the sport of football has driven their approach.
With Luca in the midfield and Michael between the posts, at 15 years of age, they have arrived at the point where they are making the decisions that will determine their future in the sport. After their 2011 season with Klienburg Nobelton, that saw them win the National Championship, the family was at a familiar juncture they had almost a decade to reflect on when deciding what would be the next step in their development.
“We had a solid foundation at Klienburg,” recalls Luca, “they made us the players we are today. Coach (Rob) Lombardi and our dad (who was the assistant coach) took us to where we are now. We were there four years and they molded us as players, showing us the correct way to carry ourselves as a professional, even though it was a club team.”
“From 2007 to 2011, we were all one at Klienburg,” adds Michael, “The last two years though it wasn’t about the league or tournaments. For two years everyone on the team, and their parents, geared all the training and discipline for the one vision of winning the Nationals. After that we had to think what was next. We had made it to the Provincial level, we had won the Nationals at the club level, we felt we had done our job and everything we had set out to do.”
Michael and Luca were in familiar territory for the family. A decade earlier, at 15 years of age, oldest son Julian was lighting up Ontario as a striker and making headlines with trials at Manchester United and Bolton Wanderers. He ended up at AC Milan and spent ten years away from friends and family chasing the dream as a professional player in Italy. Luca himself has trained at both AC Milan and Juventus, however, the landscape has drastically changed for development in Canada and Ontario. The choices available now have improved to the point where the Uccello’s have thought twice about where to continue playing football.
“Going abroad, it’s not an easy path. If we had to do it again and Julian had the opportunities that are here today, he’d definitely not be going to Europe at 15,” reflects Frank. “Ten years ago though, there was not the right coaches in place, opportunities were minimal, and you had to take chances such as going overseas. Now, there is nothing wrong with being made in Canada then going to Europe later. We have the tools here to the point where I wouldn’t think of going abroad first.”
The option that was not available ten years ago in Toronto was a professional football academy attached to a club competing in Major League Soccer. Despite struggles in the organization’s short history, the chance to step up in competition and change their focus from club and provincial success to a professional environment was the difference in place today that wasn’t back then. While Toronto FC had a youth set up in previous years, it wasn’t until 2012 they opened the KIA training facility with a full academy program for Senior, Junior and U16/U14 and U12 teams.
This was the option now presented to the Uccellos, and Jim Brennan reached out to the twins in 2011 to see if they could be persuaded to come into the new set up. However, the decision to move up was easier for the players than their club, who had to evaluate what their mandate was in the bigger picture of Canadian soccer.
“We knew a lot of National Team players that went to Toronto FC Academy (“TFCA”),” says Michael, “Jordan (Hamilton) and Quillan (Roberts) were two we knew from the provincial team when we were on the U14 and they were on the U16 team. Knowing how good they were, gave us an indication of the talent level at TFCA.”
Luca goes further, “Knowing some of the guys from the Provincial program, their ability, told us what to expect and that was a big part of the decision. Knowing they were part of TFCA, we knew the best players in the province would be there. Going there you can see the difference between club soccer and a pro academy program – we’re with some of the best players in Canada, and definitely the best in Ontario.”
Frank, as an assistant with the Klienburg Nobelton club, knew this was an example of the sacrifice he instills in his sons, one that is made to reach a bigger end goal rather than bask in short term success.
“There was no hesitation on our behalf to move to TFCA at the start of season,” explains Frank, “At the start, TFCA had to basically go with the players that wanted to be part of the program. Across the province there has been hesitation from coaches, to not push their players up to, or promote, the program like we did at Klienburg. In 2011 we were the National Champions, in 2012 we sent seven players to TFCA and as a result were relegated for the following year, but the question should be, what are your priorities? Trophies and medals? No, it should be about development, and at Klienburg we are proud that we sent these players to TFCA because we knew it was the right thing to do for the players.”
Frank finishes, "Talents are very common when it is easy, everyone has them - but rare is the courage to follow our talents where they can be challenged by a better opponent."
The progression needed for Michael and Luca was to leave their comfort zone of success within their own age group and begin the challenge of competing against older, bigger and better players. They agreed to move to TFCA, which provided them the next step up in their development. Throughout 2012 they saw the difference immediately between club soccer and being part of an academy.
“When TFC came to us, it was almost an instant decision, we were very excited about it. We trialed in July 2011 and we got to experience how good the players are,” Luca recalls, “For me, I was training with Jim Brennan’s team at 15, they were 17, and experienced things like not having the ball as much, and understanding what the game is really about, that it’s not just about scoring.”
He continues, “On a club you have your team and really the goal is you’re trying to win a season. You’re practicing 3-4 times a week and have a game. Then we move to the academy and it’s 5-6 times a week competing with best players in your age group in Ontario. You have more players around you to help with and without the ball and being in competition with best players to make you better everyday.”
Both Michael and Luca had success at the club and provincial level and now they stepped into an environment where not only they are playing with, but competing for limited spots with the best players in Ontario. For Michael, knowing the development path for a keeper might not bear fruit until many years after outfield players, he remains focused on what his immediate priorities are rather than get caught up in looking too far down the road.
“It has become a lot more about short term goals, rather than focusing on one long term. For starters, being the best I can be in the moment, if I follow this short term goal, it will lead to the mid/long term goal.”
“For a goalie it’s more about consistency than anything, and especially here you can’t slack off. Once the other goalie gets a game in and does well, he’ll get the next game, the one after and the one after that. You have to really make sure you’re playing your best at all times, and knowing there is always a guy behind you waiting to take your spot. It’s important to remain confident and if goals are let in, pick up your head and keep playing. Every keeper has stretches in a season where they are down, but you can’t dwell on it, you have to move on and keep working.”
The 2012 season at TFCA was a huge step up and important learning experience for Michael and Luca, one that culminated in a history-making performance for the program in the MLS Academy Generation Adidas Cup. Having a full academy set-up that had been in place for under a year, the team was up against academies and players who had been together for four years or more. TFCA became the first program to reach the finals of both the U15 and U17 tournament, with the U17s losing to Philadelphia in a shootout and Michael and Luca’s U15 side losing to Chivas USA in extra time.
Luca would finish the tournament as the golden boot winner, netting five goals over the five games, while Michael would allow only one goal in over two hundred minutes of play. The ten days in Seattle against the top academy sides in the United States confirmed what they hoped moving into TFCA, experienced through the year and finished with an eye-opening performance to put the academy on the soccer map.
“The difference in 2012, that I think helped us, was our knowledge of game rather than just scoring goals,” explains Michael, “TFCA’s approach is not just focusing on winning games but on the smaller details of what we have to do to first win as an individual, then as a team, and once all the little things come together you get the desired result and the win.”
“Our preparation is much different than the other academies and I think that is why we were a step ahead,” confirms Luca, “We were all in the same hotel so you could see everything, and part of it was just little things. Some of these teams weren’t cooling down and in between games other teams were just lounging around the lobby. Meanwhile, we were preparing for the next game, stretching, taking ice baths, getting the right nutrition, going over tactics and strategies. There was discipline and focus and it really showed as we went through the tournament.”
The success in 2012 at TFCA will be tough to beat in 2013, however there is room for improvement. With both Michael and Luca at 15 years of age, they still have plenty of goals in front of them and room for improvement.
“I’d say for me, as goalie, it’s improving my mental part of game. It’s about morale, confidence, and after a goal it can change the whole game. You have to bite the bullet and say “guys my fault”, pick your team up, encourage them,” Michael continues, “After that, definitely distribution. It is a real asset to first be a good goalie, but then a good player as well, to be that extra man for the defence.”
For Luca, who has had success scoring goals at every level, it has transitioned into becoming a more complete player.
“Right now I need to focus on trying to cover as much of the field as I can. To defensively be a good player, but continue to offensively be an asset. We play a 4-3-3 formation, a very counter attacking formation, so I’m pushing forward but at the same time need to get back and help the defence,” Luca adds, “This year I need to have more patience on the ball. Sometimes I get it and try to rush too much, but some instances you need to hold onto the ball and maintain possession for your team.”
The Uccello’s understand what it takes to get to a high level in the sport of football. Personal sacrifice and uncompromising work ethic has been the hallmark passed down from Frank to Julian and now to Michael and Luca. Added to that is challenging yourself and knowing that remaining static in terms of competition will not help or improve development. All of these have been considered in their move to Toronto FC Adacemy, where so far, their goals have been met.
For 2013 it will be one to watch in terms of progress, both Michael and Luca have set their personal goals, but also weigh in on their expectations for themselves when it comes to where they will be playing this upcoming year.
“For both of us, the goal is to make the U17 Canadian National Team,” Michael says, “At Toronto FC, I need to grab a hold of and maintain a starting position.”
“Definitely the U17 National Team”, agrees Luca, “but this year I’ll be with Anthony Capotosto’s TFCA U17 team. I’m really looking forward to this season, and after this year I hope to excel to Danny Dichio’s team.”
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