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 third episode, we caught up with defender Ethan White to learn more about life after NYCFC.
In 2015, when Ethan White decided it was time for a change in his career, the stars aligned perfectly.
Hungry for a new challenge after a two seasons with the Philadelphia Union, the defender had his pick of suitors – but opted for a new life in New York, signing for the newly-formed NYCFC.
It was a decision inspired by several key factors in both his personal and professional life, including the once-in-a-lifetime chance to be coached by a childhood hero in Patrick Vieira.
“I had decided I was going to leave Philly…” Ethan explains. “I talked to the coach [Jim Curtin] at the end-of-the-year meeting, and I said I wanted a different challenge.
“I wasn’t sure where exactly I was going to be landing. I know there were a few Clubs interested, though none I was crazy about. I decided to come to New York for the off-season because my girlfriend at the time – my now-fiancée = lived in New York.
“I thought: ‘I’m just going to go to New York for the off-season for a few weeks, and we’ll see where I get traded.’ Then Patrick Vieira took the job, and there was my college coach Rob Vartughian… so I was like: ‘I want to go to NYCFC if possible.’
“Vieira was the reason I became an Arsenal fan. He was the captain of that squad. It was huge for me.
“There were a few touch points that I found interesting, and then my agent reached out, and told me they’d expressed interest. Three days after that, I was traded to New York City!”
Working under Vieira took White’s game to a new level, inspiring a renewed passion both on and off the pitch, with a new understanding of the beautiful game, and the opportunity for the defender to step back into his preferred position.
“I walked into the facility on the first day, and he knew my name,” White recalls. “He called my name before I’d even seen him, and I was like: ‘That’s crazy! Patrick Vieira knows my name!’
“Him being Patrick Vieira, you instantly listen to him. He has that captain energy, he’s a leader of men, and that was one of the things I was looking for at that point in my career, which is why I was super happy that I ended up coming to New York.
“He helped me to look at the game in a different way, and appreciate the game differently. At that point in my career, I was learning how to appreciate the smaller things within the game, the occupation of being a professional footballer.
“That helped to mold me into appreciating things differently, and looking overall at what you do for a living in a different way – you have to respect everything, you have to be passionate about what you’re doing, and I think Patrick is one that instils those values.
“[As a highlight], just finally being able to play my position honestly. I grew up playing right-back my entire life, and then when I got into college, and then played MLS for the first five years, because of various team needs, I got converted into a center-back.
“The first thing Patrick said when he saw me was: ‘You’re not a right-back, are you?’ and I was like: ‘No, I’m a right-back!’ I’d played defensive mid when I was like 15, 16, and he instantly could tell, and we started training that way.
“It was nice to have someone spend the time to understand, to look at your strengths and weaknesses, and look at where you could go as a player, and train that. That had been missing at the beginning portion of my career.”
White clocked 37 appearances for the City Boys, departing the Club in 2017. Though he admits the initial adjustment to life in NYC took time, he loved the city so much that he never left – and is still recognized by the fans in the streets!
“It was a big adjustment,” he admits. “I spent most of my time either in the house, or at the training facility, so I didn’t really explore New York until after I retired.
“I’m from the D.C. area so that was like home. That wasn’t too much of an adjustment – just in terms of going from regular homelife to a professional environment. Philly felt like a bridge between New York and D.C. in terms of the size of the city, and being on my own…
“I stayed in New York, I never left. I’ve received some messages on Instagram and Twitter, and people see me in the street but they don’t say anything, or they’re not sure if it is me!"
Now retired from playing, White’s creative passions have come squarely to the fore while living in the Five Boroughs. A photographer with numerous credits, including time spent as artists in residence with Italian side Venezia F.C., White also recently celebrated the launch of a creative agency - STADE - alongside collaborator Matthew Stith.
In their own words, Stade is, “Dedicated to immortalizing moments in and around global sport, telling engaging visual stories and campaigns.
“We elevate diverse voices and imagery to powerfully communicate with audiences. We study the culture and bring its truth to life.”
Speaking on this new venture further, Ethan added, “I think soccer and sport in general shapes culture in ways that I would say most people don't realize."
