SPOKANE, Wash. — By no-one's surprise, the Spokane Velocity FC named Luis Gil as its first ever captain in the team's inaugural season.
"It's an honor," Velocity midfielder Luis Gil said. "To be a captain of a team, it's, you know, brings a lot of leadership, means you got a lot on your shoulders as well, which I'm up for the challenge."
One thing Gil has always been up for is a challenge. At 30 years old, he already has 14 years of professional soccer experience, including a near decade of representing America internationally.
"I was able to have the opportunity to represent the national team at the U17 World Cup in Nigeria, which is where I kind of, you know, my career kind of took off from there. I was able to sign my first professional contract at 16-years-old," Gil said.
While most of us were learning how to drive, Gil began his career in the MLS with Real Salt Lake.
"I was in Salt Lake for six years, which is probably where I kind of found myself as a player and really understood what it what it takes to become a professional and become a professional at such a young age," Gil said.
In nine seasons in the MLS, Gil had the chance to play against the best the world had to offer.
"One of my heroes, Landon Donovan was there, you know, you got Thierry Henry, you got David Beckham at those times, you know, and so these guys you used to see watching on TV, and now to be a part of it and be on the field playing against them," Gil said. "It's just it's such an incredible feeling."
Now, Gil is one of the names his teammates and opponents will refer to as captain. He's happy to lead the way.
"Luis brings obviously a depth of experience with where he's from different locker rooms, different environments, different challenges and different successes," said Velocity head coach Leigh Veidman. "We need those types of people who have been in those different environments to really push us when we need it, but steady the ship when we need it as well."
"It's a great feeling, though," Gil said. "I mean, when these guys can rely on you and really understand what you're trying to teach them and, you know, be that teammate for them."
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