In a special edition of The Soccer Journal Podcast, Brooklyn FC midfielder Taimu Okiyoshi joins Andrew Leigh for a wide-ranging conversation about Taimu's remarkable path to being a professional soccer player with New York's newest expansion team.
From growing up in Japan to making the move to the United States on his own to play college soccer and chase his pro soccer dream, Taimu walks us through his unique route, beginning with a stint playing at a junior college in Utah, to then starring for Marshall University as The Thundering Herd made a run to the 2024 College Cup.
We discuss what he learned from his first professional season, which was split between Rhode Island FC and Westchester SC, and how that difficult year helped prepare him for the challenges and opportunities in front of him as he tries to establish himself with Brooklyn FC and in the USL Championship.
After living in Japan, Utah, West Virginia, Rhode Island, and now New York, Taimu has seen a lot, and he's candid, compelling, and honest when discussing topics like living in New York City, the state of American and college soccer, emulating the legendary Yasuhito Endō, and his long-term MLS ambitions.
He also sheds valuable light on playing under Brooklyn head coach Marlon LeBlanc and GM Brian McBride, what it means to have a coach who trusts him to play freely and without fear of mistakes, and what Brooklyn is collectively focused on as the club tries to turn their form around following a slow start to life in the USL Championship.
Listen to the full conversation at the top of this post, or find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or anywhere else you get your podcasts.
