San Jose Earthquakes legend Chris Wondolowski has been guiding Cade Cowell, 17, for years; now the teen is shining in MLS

The primary time Chris Wondolowski met Cade Cowell, the San Jose Earthquakes legend wasn’t in a superb place.

It was 2018, and the Quakes had been within the midst of a wretched season by which they’d end useless final in MLS. Wondolowski wasn’t within the beginning lineup both. So when he was put with the reserves in a crew scrimmage, together with a smattering of academy youngsters he assumed had been heading to school, he wasn’t shocked. He quickly observed Cowell “completely destroying” Joel Qwiberg, one of many crew’s left-backs, however the participant’s crosses had been approach off, constantly lacking Wondolowski within the field.

“I keep in mind yelling at him,” Wondolowski informed ESPN, though maybe aware of his legendary depth, he shortly famous, “However not too unhealthy.” And but, he was impressed sufficient with what he noticed that he went as much as technical director Chris Leitch afterward to present his critique, fully unaware of who Cowell was.

“I used to be like, ‘That child’s not unhealthy. However when he will get to school, he’s obtained to ensure he finishes that closing cross. He’s fairly good. Who’s that child?’ Chris was like, ‘Yeah, he’s in eighth grade.’ I used to be like ‘He’s obtained somewhat little bit of time. He’s doing OK.’

“I vividly keep in mind Cade at that follow. I’d by no means heard of him, by no means knew about him. However driving house, I smiled to myself. I used to be like, ‘Yep, he’s one thing.’”

The grasp and the apprentice

As if there have been any doubts about the place Cowell and Wondolowski are at of their respective careers, one want solely take a look at their hair. Each are multi-hued, however for various causes. Cowell is sporting a blond dye job, as a result of that’s the type of factor you do if you’re 17 years outdated. For Wondolowski, there are splotches of grey in his beard. All of the extra purpose for Wondolowski to make it his mission to take the younger ahead underneath his wing.

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Not solely is Wondolowski in what he says is the ultimate season of his profession, however with Cowell already on two targets and three assists in six video games this season, scouts are sniffing round, attempting to deliver the teenager over to Europe. Which means there’s solely a lot time to impart 17 seasons’ value {of professional} knowledge.

Wondolowski’s mentoring of Cowell takes many varieties. He’s half cheerleader, half technician; he’s a psychologist, and likewise only a teammate. Wondolowski is fast to level out that he and Cowell “aren’t joined on the hip,” however there are many probabilities to speak store, whether or not it’s on the sphere, watching movie or within the locker room. Video games present these alternatives as effectively.

“At half-time, in the course of the recreation [Wondolowski] is yelling from the bench, or he’s all the time saying issues like, ‘You may like blow by this man,” Cowell informed ESPN. “He’s all the time simply [giving] that confidence. He’s superior with that.”

There are extra refined, technical pointers, too. Wondolowski has been displaying Cowell some great benefits of the double run, the place he fakes towards one put up and drives again to the opposite. Wondolowski additionally famous that when Cowell made a run throughout the again line, he was working throughout each center-backs. “Attempt to go [by] simply one of many center-backs and go in between them, and so they’ll have lots more durable time selecting you up. Then nobody’s going to stick with you,” he mentioned.

Then there’s the artwork of the one-touch end, a Wondolowski staple. In a current recreation in opposition to the Seattle Sounders, Cowell channeled his inside “Wondo” first-timing an Eric Remedi cross on aim, solely to be denied by Stefan Frei’s glowing save. Whereas the top end result was disappointing, Cowell noticed progress.

“With out ‘Wondo,’ I wouldn’t even have gotten that shot on course, actually,” mentioned Cowell. “I’d have swung and missed that ball, for positive. He’s taught me a lot, simply being within the field, creating house for myself within the field, transferring. Clearly, I’ve a lot to be taught, however simply little issues like that — which is a large — it’s because of him.”

Cowell provides that the most important facet he’s picked up from Wondolowski is mentality. Regardless of how mundane the drill, regardless of who’s on the sphere, Wondolowski completely hates to lose. There isn’t any such factor as taking a play off, no misplaced trigger value giving up on.

“‘Wondo’ goes on the market and can kill himself to get a contact on the ball and rating for us,” mentioned Cowell. “That’s the factor. Simply as quickly as he steps on the sphere, it simply clicks and he simply turns into like a lion. That’s what I really like about ‘Wondo.’ He’s tremendous good about that stuff.”

Cowell isn’t the one one grateful for the recommendation. At simply 17, he’s going through all method of distractions. He’s a small-town child as effectively, having grown up in Ceres, California — inhabitants: 48,000 — about 5 miles south of Modesto. It’s his first time dwelling away from house.

“For ‘Wondo’ to have the ability to take that point and educate Cade issues, not solely about soccer, however about life? I imply, I’m eternally indebted to him for that,” mentioned Debin Cowell, Cade’s father. “It made it a lot extra comfy for us to have individuals like that in his life. With us not simply being dad and mom, however being dad and mom away from having a son in one other metropolis, it’s exhausting so that you can be a mum or dad each single a part of the day. For him to have optimistic influences like that in his life the place he can go to and discuss issues, greater than even soccer, I imply, it’s very uncommon for anyone that could possibly be like that.”

Quakes supervisor Matias Almeyda is equally appreciative of Wondolowski’s steering to Cowell. Almeyda has spoken up to now of how troublesome the pressures had been for him as a participant, and the significance of bringing younger gamers together with care.

“I feel it’s all the time essential to have good mentors that may information him alongside the correct path with affection and expertise,” the supervisor informed ESPN. “On this case, I feel that Cade has the historic ‘Wondo,’ and might see what he did and attempt to match or surpass what he’s achieved.”

Almeyda added, “[Cowell] is aware of every thing about how I consider him, and he is aware of the massive future that awaits him if he’s sensible.”

Turning off the firehose

Wondolowski is aware of rationing the recommendation he offers Cowell. There are limits to how a lot data anybody can absorb, no matter age. The pressures of being knowledgeable are immense, the wrestle to fabricate confidence by no means ending, and expectations surrounding Cowell are already beginning to attain stratospheric ranges.

“It’s like attempting to drink out of a firehose, particularly with a lot data coming at him,” mentioned Wondolowski. “So I feel that at instances, maintain it easy, silly. It really works and so that actually is discovering that steadiness the place I do attempt to give him a number of data, but in addition, I simply need him to get pleasure from it as effectively.”

Cowell could also be simply 17, however he already has some profession calluses. He’s somebody with an infinite urge for food for understanding. At one time, his father had arrange a weight-training space within the yard that was dubbed, “the jail yard” (it has now been moved again into the storage). At any time when he had spare second, he would hit the weights. However he practically give up the sport when he was 13, and it wasn’t the bodily toll, however quite the psychological aspect — the infinite grind of practices, video games and journey — that obtained to him. He by no means missed a follow, regardless of the 70-minute drive every approach between Ceres and Pleasanton, the place his youth membership Ballistic United educated.

“It was so severe,” Cowell mentioned. “Like soccer each single day, each weekend. I had no free time. Like all my mates would exit and like, fiddle simply be like youngsters, and I might by no means try this.”

Cowell had dabbled in different sports activities, too, be it baseball or flag soccer. On condition that Debin was a soccer participant at San Jose State College at one time, the lure of attempting one thing totally different, and following in his father’s footsteps, was robust. However Debin satisfied Cade to present it another yr.

That yr proved to be turning level for Cade. He’d been a right-back since he was eight after he marked a quick winger out of a recreation at a match. On the time, he didn’t really feel like he was lacking out on the enjoyable of the assault.

“To today, I generally suppose protection is extra enjoyable to play, for me,” Cowell mentioned. “I like going into tackles, I wish to slide-tackle on a regular basis. There’s simply one thing that I get pleasure from lots on protection.”

However forward of the 2017-18 season, Ballistic United U15 coach Andrew Ziemer, who’s now the lads’s coach at School of Marin, wanted a participant to go up high. Given Cowell’s bodily attributes — his pace particularly — it made an excessive amount of sense.

Cowell proved to be a fast research.

“Our first two video games, two groups from L.A. got here in,” mentioned Ziemer. “I feel he had, like, 4 or 5 targets. He embraced it straight away. However that’s the type of child he’s. He’s humble and he needs to enhance. So if he thinks it might probably make him a greater participant, he’s gonna do it.”

After scoring 33 targets in 32 league video games, the Quakes quickly got here calling and Cowell’s been rising by way of the ranks ever since, altering his tune on what sparks his ardour for the sport. “There’s nothing higher than scoring a aim,” he mentioned.

But that have of practically quitting left an impression on Cowell. He’s discovered his personal strategy to flip off the firehose. Days off will see him head again to Ceres to spend time with household, or go fishing at Lake McClure when he’s in want of solitude.

“Simply being on the market within the water; nobody’s harassing me. Nobody’s calling stuff. It’s simply actually stress-free,” he mentioned. “Simply getting away from every thing.”

The proper ahead?

Wondolowski shakes his head when requested what he was like at age 17. At the moment, he was a full 5 years away from signing his first skilled contract. It was one other six seasons earlier than he was a full-time starter in MLS. He had but to even begin his faculty profession at Chico State. Every thing about his recreation, from his physique, to realizing what runs to make, to his contact, wasn’t prepared for the skilled ranks.

“I’d have pooped my pants,” he mentioned concerning the prospect of being a professional at 17. “I’d have. I’d have been so intimidated. It will not have been a superb scenario for me.”

But Wondolowski has maximized his means throughout his profession, getting by on guile and smarts. A lot so that there’s a line of pondering that should you might fuse the attributes of each Wondolowski and Cowell into one particular person, you’d have the proper ahead. To a level, the concept does a disservice to each gamers.

Wondolowski is legendary for by no means lifting a weight, however his athleticism is underrated. At age 38, he received the dreaded beep check throughout preseason, beating out Cowell within the course of. And Cowell is proving to be extra of a pupil of the sport with every passing day. On the aforementioned play in opposition to the Sounders, he famous that if he had timed his run higher and been on the transfer, as a substitute of standing nonetheless, he would have generated extra energy on the shot, which could have been sufficient to beat Frei.

However the place the 2 have appreciable overlap is their competitiveness, work ethic and eagerness to take in as a lot data as potential. That could be a crucial basis for every thing else. And if Cowell retains soaking in Wondolowski’s data, the probabilities are attractive to consider.

“There isn’t any ceiling for him proper now,” Wondolowski mentioned about Cowell. Cowell is aware of it, too.

“I’m in a stage proper now the place there’s so many issues that I have to get higher at, and that’s simply going to take me a lot increased,” mentioned Cowell. “Simply maintain going each single day. I really feel like each time I like get higher at one thing, there’s one different factor. Simply strikes on to this, transfer on to that.”

If Cowell retains that up, in time the apprentice will eclipse the grasp.