I cried as I told mum I’d had it with baseball .. that’s when my love of soccer really took hold
MATT POLSTER ON LEAVING LAS VEGAS
football, that’s for sure. But the sport is growing there, even if we still have a way to go before getting to the level that I see now at Rangers. “My parents sheltered me quite a bit growing up. They didn’t let me go down to the strip. “And they didn’t let me leave the house after a certain time. It was pretty strict – my mum was terrified. “Even though I was born in Milwaukee, all I know is Las Vegas. “When I was young, my mum always said I would play soccer but my dad said absolutely not. “I was playing dual sports, baseball and soccer. “But apparently one day I came into the car crying and said I didn’t want to play baseball anymore. I just wanted to play soccer. “From there, I’ve had a passion and a love for it. I’ve always liked British football, I’d watch the Premier League constantly. And we still had pretty good facilities in Vegas. The biggest one is Bettye Wilson, which has about 11 all-grass pitches.
“The club I played for there, Downtown Las Vegas, host the biggest international tournament in America. It’s something like 250 teams from 80 countries, which is quite impressive.
“And I had great coaches through the system there as well. I got very lucky with them.
“Playing in Europe has always been the first step for me. I really wanted to make the move.
“When I got the interest from Rangers, I was like: ‘Holy s***. Wow, this is a big opportunity for me.’
“It was something I wanted to do, to challenge myself.
“I want to play at a high standard where there’s real expectation. That’s what this club is all about.
“And having Gerrard as manager was just an extra add.”
They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes. But that doesn’t apply to Polster and the Rangers manager.
As a teenager, he grew up watching Gerrard rip up the English Premier League from the States. When the Liverpool legend moved to the MLS with LA Galaxy, Polster got to play against him and effectively earn this big move to Ibrox.
He said: “He can bring a lot as a manager because his knowledge of the game is so impressive. Everyone can learn from him and soak up as much information as possible. “I met him for the first time at a January camp with the US team before a match with Canada.
“He was doing his pre-season with the Galaxy then my Chicago side played against them in the MLS.
“I had always admired him. He was someone you looked up to and strived to be like when you were young.
“Now things have changed. I’m a player and he’s my manager – so my goal is to work hard for him and fight to win a spot with this club.
“I’m excited to work with him and the rest of the staff here.
“The move was a long process that started in December, which seems like a lifetime ago.
“I enjoyed the winter break in Tenerife and there was no doubt in my mind that I wanted to come here and become a Rangers player.”
Polster is a central midfielder by trade but carved out a role as Chicago Fire’s right-back after the arrival of players such as German icon Bastian Schweinsteiger.
He was just one of the big-name stars he shared a pitch with in the MLS and Polster believes he can hold his own in Scotland as well.
The American said: “I feel comfortable as a midfielder but I’ve played more at right-back.
“With Schweinsteiger, Dax McCarty and Juninho coming in, it pushed me out of midfield.
“And even in that situation, I felt I did really well. Here, I just want to do well in either position to help the team.
“Schweinsteiger was the best I played with. His understanding of the game helped Chicago progress.
“But I’ve played against the likes of David Villa, Sebastian Giovinco, Andrea Pirlo, Frank Lampard – and of course the gaffer.
“They raised the level of the MLS and made American players better.
“I know the Americans who have been at Rangers in the past have done well. I know there’s an expectation to replicate what they’ve done – and that’s what I want to do.”
I was like: ‘Holy s***’ .. Rangers are interested