As part of a new series entitled 'The Catch Up' NYCFC has partnered with Webex by Cisco to tell the stories of former NYCFC players both during and after their time in the Bronx. In the latest episode, we caught up with defender Joe Scally to learn more about his time with the Club and move to Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach…
Joe Scally is living the dream.
Aged just 20, the New York native has already realized his childhood ambition, forging a career in European soccer, competing in one of the world’s greatest leagues in the German Bundesliga.
New York City Football Club’s second Homegrown player was the first to have graduated from the Club’s Academy to make the move to Europe. Having impressed at youth level, helping the Boys in Blue to the 2017 Generation Adidas Cup and 2018 U.S. Soccer Development Academy National Championship, he joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in a record-breaking deal.
Since then, he has also gone on to don the jersey of the United States Men’s National Team, earning four caps for the Stars and Stripes, and has been named in the 24-man roster for the upcoming Concacaf Nations League. Reflecting on his incredible rise to stardom, Scally looks back fondly at his time with NYCFC – the place where it all began – adding he would love to step out in the iconic Blue once again in the future.
“One day, I would love to come back and really play for NYCFC,” he said. “My first time was only five games, so I would love to come back and try to win more trophies for the Club and help them.
“The Club gave me a platform to show myself, to show the type of player I was. With the youth teams, there were so many people watching, and we were always competing for the Championship, so you had scouts from all over watching because each youth team was so good.
“I remember we won the GA Cup in Dallas, Texas; then the U19 team won the National Championship. We destroyed everyone, that Academy team was so good!
“The Academy days were great. I remember going to a trial. It was really good players – the top players in New York. I started out as a midfielder with the Academy team – a center midfielder in the 8 and 10 roles – for the first year, and then I moved to right-back!
“It was good. I’d look forward to going to training at night, and seeing all my friends. I still talk to all of them – Andres [Jasson], James [Sands], Tayvon [Gray], Justin [Haak], Nico [Benalcazar]… The Academy days were awesome.
“It was a great group of guys. We were all best friends, everyone clicked with each other. We were with each other for four years straight, and we were all such good players. Everything just clicked – we had great chemistry off the field, which was reflected in our performances on the field.
“At the professional level, NYCFC won the MLS Cup two years ago too, so the players that are there – the players that you’re training with in the First Team – are so good, that you just get better naturally as a player.”
Though the Coronavirus pandemic affected his early transition into life in Germany, Scally asserts he has now fully settled into life in Europe.
While he naturally misses some home comforts – most notably the ability to grab food at any time of the day or night! – the Long Island native insists the opportunity to test himself against some of the world’s best players is a fair trade-off!
“It’s been a fairly easy transition to be honest,” the midfielder explained. “When I first moved over, it was difficult because Coronavirus was going on, and a bunch of things were closed, but now it’s like home.
“I feel very comfortable here. I live in an amazing city (Dusseldorf), the Club is amazing, the fans are great, so there’s nothing to complain about! It’s definitely been a smooth transition.
“It’s one of the top five leagues in Europe and every week, you’re going up against the best forwards, the best wingers… You just develop your skills naturally. The players you’re playing with, most of them play on their National Teams – they’re some of the best players in the world – so every day you’re challenged, and these challenges make you a better player when you’re doing it every single day.”
With the 2022/23 Bundesliga campaign having drawn to a close, Scally is able to return home to New York for a well-deserved break.
Whilst planning to catch up with family, friends, and former teammates, he’s also hoping to fit in an NYCFC game, where he’ll certainly receive a warm welcome from all at the Club.
“We have two breaks – during Christmastime and then when the season is finished – where I always come back to New York,” he explained.
“I see the guys – Andres, James, Tayvon, Justin, Nico – when I can. I haven’t been able to see a game in two years, so this summer, it’s something I want to do: go back and see a game.
“I definitely miss going to Yankee Stadium, watching those games. I miss you guys!”
