Brian McBride on His St. Louis Roots and Columbus Glory
Former U.S. Men’s National Team standout discusses his collegiate success with St. Louis University before winning 2002 U.S. Open Cup with Columbus Crew
Ahead of Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup Final between the Columbus Crew and St. Louis CITY SC, former USMNT goalscorer and current Brooklyn FC sporting director Brian McBride reflects on his soccer journey, from his standout collegiate career in St. Louis to helping Columbus capture its first trophy, and shares where his allegiances lie heading into Wednesday’s showdown.
Thanks for taking a few minutes to chat with us. You grew up in Arlington Heights, in the Chicago area, before going down to Saint Louis University (SLU). What did you know about the school's history and soccer success, as well as the city of St. Louis?
Brian McBride: Growing up in Arlington Heights, we would travel down to play tournaments in St. Louis. Our club team was pretty solid, so we would go to regionals and always run into either Busch Soccer Club or Scott Gallagher Soccer Club. That opened my eyes to St. Louis soccer. They were always good and competitive.
As I got older, you started hearing more about SLU, and the history of St. Louis was really impressive. When we would go down to play at Busch’s tournament, there would be fans who weren't there because their parents were playing. They just wanted to watch soccer. They loved soccer, so I knew a lot about the history there. It was just a hotbed for talent.
You were very successful at SLU. What are your memories of your time in St. Louis?
Brian: It was pretty interesting because when I made the U.S. U-20 team, our liaison—when we went down to Mexico to play a couple of friendlies and have a training camp—would have conversation after conversation with us about the school, the tradition and the number of professionals who came out of St. Louis when the NASL was around. He talked about the history and, of course, [how many St. Louisans] were part of the 1950 USMNT that beat England. It raised my interest and awareness.
The thing I remember most about SLU is the people and how great they were. It was the perfect school for me because I learned so much about soccer from not only the players and my teammates, but I also developed a ton of respect for so many people. That part was really eye-opening to me.
When I came from Chicago, [St. Louis] was kind of like your enemy. When I got to SLU, they opened my eyes to the idea that you can have respect for your opponent. It helped me understand people better and build some great relationships and friendships.
Shifting to your time in Columbus and specifically the Open Cup, you and the team had a good run in 1998 and 1999, scoring goals and making it to the 1998 Final against the Fire.
From your perspective as someone who played in both the USL A-League with Milwaukee before MLS existed, what was the perception of the Open Cup in the early '90s, when the professional landscape was still shifting?
Brian: It was a big deal because there wasn't a big league, per se. At that point in time, a lot of players would have to play six months indoors and then go play in the USL for six months. You had this big national tournament with a story behind it and a tradition that was already there.
I had known about it before going to Milwaukee, just because it was a big deal in St. Louis back in the day. St. Louis had won a lot of Open Cups. The easiest way to put it is that everybody wanted to win it. Back then, you would hear about the FA Cup and the Cinderella stories and all that other stuff, and the U.S. Open Cup has always had that same lore for me.
Brian McBride takes the ball from Mexico’s Rafael Marquez during the 2006 World Cup Qualifying match at Crew Stadium on Sept. 3, 2005 in Columbus, Ohio. | Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images
Shifting to 2002, it was a busy year for you. With the USMNT, you won the Gold Cup and made a deep run in the World Cup. Later, you jumped right back into league play with the Crew and then won the Open Cup later that year. Can you talk a little about what that year was like for you as a whole and how you managed it?
Brian: By then, it was either MLS Cup or the Open Cup. Knowing we had come close a few different times, the Open Cup became a bit of a focus for us. The tradition of the Open Cup and its importance weren't lost on me. It's a trophy, and it's a big trophy.
I had been out with the National Team and came back in time [for the Open Cup Final]. I remember the guys who got us there, so I was really happy to be able to play in it, knowing its importance. It was also an opportunity for us to win our first trophy for Columbus.
You also played in England’s FA Cup and Germany’s DFB-Pokal. From your perspective, how did those competitions compare to the Open Cup? Why do you think domestic cup competitions are important to the soccer ecosystem of a country?
Brian: First of all, the Open Cup has been hugely impactful for U.S. soccer because, for the longest time, it was really the only tournament. There wasn't a professional league. Every big club—and back in the day, a lot of them were ethnic clubs—took pride in trying to win what was then America's trophy and still is.
Comparing them is difficult because when I went and was part of Wolfsburg in the DFB-Pokal, I didn't know much about that tradition or its history. Certainly, it's a big tournament. It gave us the opportunity to play Bundesliga teams since we were in the 2. Bundesliga, so that was the enticing part for me.
We got to play against Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, and we made it to the Final. All those things were really exciting. But growing up and hearing the stories from Harry Keough, or from Joe Clarke when I was at St. Louis, about the old days and the early days, gave me a really good understanding of the Open Cup's history.
What do you remember about what they were telling you about those old days? The guys at SLU had a ton of experience back in the day, do you remember how they presented those stories and that history of the game?
Brian: The stories tended to be about a certain player or a particular experience. I think the overall thing you take away as a player is how important and impactful winning the Open Cup was. Having the opportunity to help build that type of tradition was the exciting factor for me.
I wanted to talk a little about Brooklyn FC, your role with the club, what you do, and how you got involved there.
Brian: I'm the sporting director of both the men's and women's teams. I oversee our general manager, Samantha Johnson, who is the GM of the women's team, and I'm also the GM of the men's team. We work closely with our staff and coaching staff. Marlon LeBlanc and I put the team itself together, and it's about trying to keep improving and building on our standards. We need to create higher standards and be proactive about that.
For myself, it's about trying to provide as much stability and as many opportunities as possible for our players to succeed and for our coaching staff to succeed.
You have the perspective of having played with a USL team in the Milwaukee Rampage, and now you're the GM of this USL club on both the men's and women's sides. Why do you think it's important, within the larger soccer ecosystem of the country, to expand beyond just those MLS and NWSL markets?
Brian: I think it's important because it gives smaller markets, or markets that don't have MLS teams, a pathway for their young players. It also allows them to see high-quality soccer and know that there's a need and a desire to be part of it, and to build soccer fandom across the U.S.
I think it's a necessity. You can see it happening, and I'm fortunate to be a part of it.
Brian McBride and his family stand at midfield as McBride is inducted in the Crew's Circle of Honor on July 16, 2011 at Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio | Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
Finally, let’s look at this year’s Open Cup Final. Columbus hasn't won the Open Cup since 2002, and St. Louis hasn't had a winner since 1988. What’s your prediction for the Final?
Brian: I'd love to see the Crew take home the victory. Certainly, St. Louis is near and dear to my heart, and I've got a lot of great friends there, but my allegiance is to Columbus. I hope we're able to bring the trophy back.
It's always fun. I've been a stalwart of MLS clubs and have really made sure they put an emphasis on the Open Cup and played in it. I thought that basically showed the importance of the cup to them, and certainly I'm sure St. Louis is in the same boat. I'm anxious to see how the Final goes.