HOOS LIFE: My Favorite Player with UVA Men's Soccer
In this men’s soccer edition of Hoos Life, we asked member of the men’s soccer team who their favorite athlete is. Check out the answers below.
F – Philip Horton – Freshman – New Albany, Ohio
Favorite Athlete: Ronaldo Fenomeno
Claim to Fame: Three-time FIFA World Player of Year (1996, 1997 & 2002) and two-time Ballon d’Or recipient (1997 & 2002). Scored 62 goals recorded 92 caps for the Brazilian National Team. Scored 352 career goals in his club career and widely regarded as the greatest soccer players of all time.
How and why: “He in my opinion is the best player to play soccer. I also try to implement his game into mine. Finally, he’s Brazilian… my favorite country so that’s a no brainer for me.”
D – Henry Kessler – Junior – New York, N.Y.
Favorite Athlete: Cristiano Ronaldo
Claim to Fame: Often considered the greatest soccer player in the world and one of the greatest of all time. He’s a forward for Juventus and is the captain of the Portuguese National Team.
How and why: “This is not just because he’s the best player in the world but because of how he carries himself and the dedication that he shows. On the pitch, he’s brilliant. He always delivers, especially in big games and in the biggest competitions like the champions league. He’s constantly a threat and as a center back I can see how difficult it would be to defend a guy like him. But also off the field. I don’t know if any other player that is more of an example of soccer being a lifestyle than Ronaldo. Everything revolves around the sport. What he eats and drinks (avoiding sugar, abstaining from alcohol, among other things), what recovery he does (swimming in his mineral pool and spending “2 hours in the spa each day”) and then the extra work that he puts in (there are countless stories, a famous one being lunch with Patrice Evra that turned more into another training session). There are plenty of things that I’ve left out but the point is that everything that he does, every decision that he makes, is to improve and be the best player that he can be. This is something that I strive for, thus making Ronaldo my favorite player.
GK – Colin Shutler – R-Junior – Middleburg, Va.
Favorite Athlete: Marc-André ter Stegen
Claim to Fame: Current goalkeeper for FC Barcelona and is a member of the German National Team.
How and why: “He has been one of the best goalkeepers in the world for the past few years and plays for Barcelona. He has very good foot skills as a keeper and has changed the style of play for his position in the sport.”
Andreas Ueland – Freshman – Byrne, Norway
Favorite Athlete: Harry Maguire
Claim to Fame: Current center back for Manchester United and member of the English National Team. Also born in the same town (Sheffield, England) as current Cavalier Nathaniel Crofts.
How and why: “Plays for my favorite team, he is also a center back like myself. I look up to him because he is good at what I also focus a lot on.”