Talking Soccer with Hall of Fame Coach Charlie Inverso

 

 

In an interview during halftime of the Northeast District Championship hosted by MCCC, Mercer’s play by play Announcer Steve Schechter, “the Voice of MCCC Athletics” interviewed former MCCC Men’s Soccer and Hall of Fame Coach Charlie Inverso, who offered some great insight into changes in the game he has observed.  Inverso coached Mercer men’s soccer from 1980-2009 and led the Vikings to five National Championships.

 

One of the biggest changes Inverso discussed was that the speed of play has increased significantly, in large part because there are more turf fields compared to when there used to be more grass fields.  Another change that Inverso has observed is that the speed and power of athletes is much faster than it used to be, due to more knowledge of training, etc.

 

Inverso also brought up how there were fewer pathways and options for junior college players when he coached than there are now. There was no MLS (Major League Soccer) or professional leagues like there is now, so a lot of very talented international players had few options but to play junior college soccer.  Inverso coached two players who played in the World Cup, including Stern John, who was inducted into Mercer’s Athletic Hall of Fame in the summer.

 

Schechter asked Inverso about style of play today.  “Globally everyone is trying to build out of the back like Man City, which I think is too back heavy and causes a lot of careless goals” as Inverso acknowledges that not all teams have the quality of Man City to pull it off.  Inverso is more of a fan of “possession” style soccer.

 

When asked about the challenges of coaching international players, Inverso told Schechter, “Players respond well to positivity, chuckled and added “they also respond to negativity.  I used a lot of generalized comments so that all players could understand.”

 

Inverso coached two undefeated teams while at MCCC, including the 1988 National Championship team, which was inducted into Mercer’s Athletic Hall of Fame this summer.  Schechter asked Inverso if he could tell when he had a “special” team to which Inverso responded, “You can start to sense when a team is special as a season goes on but you still never know how it’s going to play out until it’s over.  We had 23 guys from that 1988 team come to the Hall of Fame Induction this summer, which shows you what a special group that team was to have that many players come back that many years later.”

 

Inverso was watching the District Championship game with one of those 1988 team members, Dave Paguido, further illustrating that special connection that team had.  Inverso is also enjoying watching the success of current MCCC Head Coach Widmarc Dalce, who played for Inverso.  

 

The special connection of the MCCC Soccer Family remains regardless of the year.

 

For the latest on MCCC men’s soccer, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_men_soccer.shtml

 

For more on Mercer’s Athletic Hall of Fame, visit: https://www.mccc.edu/athletics_hof.shtml