In January 2012, the New England Revolution announced an affiliation with the Rochester Rhinos of the USL-PRO. The year-long partnership requires the Revolution to send at least four players out on loan. The goal is to allow these players to get regular playing time which will help the coaching staff track development and potential. Players that are succeeding in the lower division can be recalled at any time as long as a replacement is sent in their stead. The collaboration is a huge shift in the way that the Revolution has operated in the past since the team will no longer send players out on short-term loans or partake in the MLS reserve division.
The initial participants in this experiment are defender Bilal Duckett, forward Matt Horth, midfielder Gabe Latigue and defender Tyler Polak. To get a better idea of how this new system compares to the old system, I spoke to former Revolution forward Ilija Stolica.
From Starter to Loanee
Stolica signed with the Revs on July 30, 2010 after receiving advice from his friend and compatriot Marco Perovic. The Serbian was asked to contribute immediately with his first appearance taking place on August 8th against DC United and his first start happening a week later against the Houston Dynamo. Stolica would become a regular starter for the Revolution and finished the 2010 season with 3 goals and 1 assist in 14 appearances.
Stolica explained that he was excited to have an immediate impact, saying, “The most important thing is probably to have a good start, in whatever you’re doing. It gives you motivation, it gives you confidence and, of course, it immediately gives good connection with fans, with team, with coaching staff, with everybody.”
Despite having positive moments in 2010, Stolica knew that he could do better if given a full season to gel with the team. The 6’1 forward would never get this opportunity, however, as he became a bench mainstay in 2011, failing to see the field in the team’s first three games. In the fourth game, Stolica made the best of his limited minutes by scoring a late equalizer against the Vancouver Whitecaps. He would only make one more appearance for the Revolution as the arrival of Benny Feilhaber meant that something had to be done with Stolica and his large salary.
“In the next season, my expectations were really high and I was thinking ‘okay, I’ll do preseason now with the team.’ I can say I have one season, or half season, behind me and it will be much better result. Unfortunately, the club decided to bring Ben Feilhaber and they needed money for the budget.”
Stolica discussed options with his agent and the Revolution front office which led to a loan to FC New York. Stolica had options to return to Europe or play in China, but ultimately decided to try New York because his family liked the United States. At his point in his career, it didn’t make sense to subject his family, included young children, to continent jumping.
“I wanted to buy time because it wasn’t easy for me to find immediately a new team. The season had just started and I have a high salary. So I said, ‘Okay, I will go there’.”
Stolica believed that the loan would allow him to stay sharp while he pondered his next career more. Furthermore, the trip wouldn’t disrupt his everyday life very much.
“We had kind of an agreement where I could come one day before the game and practice with them, one practice, then after that play the game. For one part, it was a good thing for me because I could stay in Boston with the family. On the other side, it actually brought me to the situation where I was getting injured and I was losing the sharpness and the fitness.”
Stolica only played one game with FC New York before returning back to the Revolution full time. The Serbian struggled with his next step. On the one hand, he wanted to continue playing for as long as he could. On the other, mounting injuries and a desire to stay in the United States made retirement a realistic option. When a new, exciting business opportunity arose, Stolica decided that it was time to hang up his boots.
“I was in process to adapting and we decided to stay to live in Boston. So I decided to play as long as I can, until I have all other things sorted out. When I get the new job, I said, ‘Okay, then I really stop’.”
Comparing Loan Experiences
These days, Stolica works for Munich X, a company that produces on of the best futsal shoes in the world. Despite his busy schedule, the player-turned-businessman still finds time to follow MLS and the Revolution. Stolica believes that there are a lot of positives related to the structure of the league and finds the new loan system that has been adopted by four MLS teams especially encouraging.
“The loan is always good for any player, anywhere in the world. The most important thing is to play. You have to go on a loan where you have conditions to develop, conditions to play. The loan is always good solution for young players.”
Stolica was quick to note that his situation with FC New York was different than the current method being tried by New England. For him, it was about staying in shape while he considered his next options. For the current Revs crew, it’s about adjusting to being a professional and getting regular playing time.
“The guys that play in MLS have a first professional season when they are 22, 23 after college. That’s already a late age to play a professional game. To start immediately, that kind of jump from college soccer to professional MLS (is hard).”
Stolica believes that time at the lower division will help players gain valuable experience as they prepare for life as a professional.
“If you’re asking me, I would always want a guy that had that type of experience in lower division instead of transferring him immediately to professional level. I think reserve games can be a great thing for young guys, young kids to adapt, especially to professional thinking, professional approach to the games. Also, like I said, the travel is one of the difficult thing things; when you have to travel all over the country, that’s really not easy.”
For Stolica, however, all loans are not created equal. It’s important that the club finds the right setting to ensure that players will get the appropriate about of attention and playing time. If the new system goes to plan, all parties, the Revs, Rhinos and players, should benefit.
“Sending a guy who knows how long he will stay, where he is going, to a good club, good system in that kind of a loan, I’m always for it. Everyone can only have profit. The players will play. The club will have players that are always ready to come back.”
The advantage of the new partnership between the Revolution and the Rhinos is that it will provide players with a consistent, yet challenging, atmosphere. Players will have the opportunity to play real game minutes on a weekly basis instead of rotting on the bench.
“If you staying on the bench or if you do not participate enough then you lose your fitness, sharpness, feeling for the game. You always need a few months (to get into game shape). At a professional level, in most of the cases there is no time to wait for anyone. It is always good to have kids, guys, players that are playing week-to-week.”
And for soccer players, that’s what it’s all about: playing.
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