Former Sounders goalkeeper Michael Gspurning discusses the diverse range of music that shaped his globetrotting career.
Full Episode
A veteran of top-flight soccer leagues in the U.S., Greece, and Austria, former Seattle Sounders’ goalkeeper Michael Gspurning joins the podcast to discuss the music that’s influenced his life and career.
The fan-favorite breaks down how a German post-punk band gave him confidence as a youth player, the delights and frights of Greece’s Super League 1, what makes MLS a one-of-a-kind league, and the historic rise of his current club help coach, Union Berlin.
Beyond telling insane stories such as fans throwing darts at him in Greece and Union Berlin’s connection to Stasi police protests in East Gemany, Gspurning offers sage advice to young and old alike on how to always make the most of life. Give the episode a listen and maybe, like us, you’ll have a new Bundesliga team to root for when German soccer starts up again this weekend.
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Time Stamps
Start – 18:00: Importance of Falco to Austrian music // Breaking into professional soccer as a teenager
18:00-33:30: Finding confidence as a pro // Raining darts, cell phones, and beer bottles on the pitch // Beaches and warm hospitality in Greece
34:30-50:00: Becoming a Sounder with the help of “Pumped Up Kids” // Super League Greece versus M.L.S. // Learning the definition of “playoff monkey”
50:00-End: Coaching at Union Berlin // Life at a “rebel club” // A historic promotion push
Highlights
Striving to be better with help from “Zu Spät”
Dodging projectiles in Greece