Nanchoff bringing tenacity back to pitch
Midfielder’s work ethic and rich soccer background a winning combination, says coach
Michael Nanchoff has outstanding soccer bloodlines.
His father, George, and uncle, Louie, are both former University of Akron all- Americans and U. S. national team players who run the Internationals Soccer Club in Cleveland.
The 23- year- old Vancouver Whitecaps midfielder followed in their footsteps with his own outstanding career at the same university, helping the Zips win a national title in 2010 and being selected by Vancouver with the eighth overall pick in the 2011 Major League Soccer Superdraft.
But a serious groin injury last season kept Nanchoff from showing off his pedigree, as the North Royalton, Ohio native made just five MLS appearances and played a total of 137 minutes.
Expect more from Nanchoff this year, maybe a lot more.
His strong pre- season play has already turned heads and was one of the reasons midfielder Lee Nguyen was deemed expendable by the Caps last week.
“In terms of overall fitness and strength, I feel excellent now,” Nanchoff said in an interview. “I’m definitely over everything.”
The 5- 8, 155- pound leftwinger credits an intense offseason workout campaign for his physical condition and readiness to hit the ground running this season. He even added a couple of pounds of muscle, which was noticed by his teammates.
“When I first came into the locker- room and took my shirt off, the guys were like: ‘ Wow, look at those pecs!’” Nanchoff said. “I just laughed and said: ‘ Get real’ but I do feel stronger.”
He also got fatherly advice that helped him keep a positive mindset for his second MLS season.
“My dad said if you want to look at the past, you have to take positives from it,” Nanchoff said. “Even if it’s a negative thing, you have to learn from it and don’t dwell on it. He said looking ahead to the future is what makes you a better player.”
Whitecaps head coach Martin Rennie, who first saw Nanchoff play as a 16- year- old highschooler in Cleveland, said Nanchoff is tenacious.
“Sometimes guys that are skilful – tricky players – don’t have as much tenacity as you would like, but he does have that tenacity and work rate,” he said.
“When you put that together with his rich soccer background and love for the game, that’s a very good combination.”
Nanchoff remembers Rennie’s successful stint as coach of USL- 2 side Cleveland City Stars, which won a league championship in 2008.
“I really liked the system he implemented because he builds a ridiculously positive environment and an attack- oriented team,” he said.
Nanchoff, a natural leftfooter, said he feels comfortable on either side of the field and even playing a central position on occasion.
“We’re given the freedom to interchange when we want, as long as we’re balanced defensively,” he said. “I’m definitely happy about that.”
Nanchoff said he knows exactly what to expect in MLS this year – a faster, more physical game than he experienced in college soccer – and is encouraged by the Caps strong preseason record.
“It’s definitely a good sign but we know there are a lot of incredible teams in the league and we have a lot to prove,” he said.
“The season hasn’t officially started yet but when it does, we’ll be ready.”
SIDE KICKS: The Whitecaps have all but announced the signing of Carolina RailHawks midfielder Floyd Franks to an MLS contract. Rennie told the Whitecaps FC Daily radio show Monday there’s a “good opportunity” to sign the 27- year- old Alabama native as a depth player. Franks recently completed a trial with Vancouver and played for Rennie in Cleveland and Carolina.