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This week on The Back Stick Podcast, Dom Okus and Jamil Roberts are joined by Paco Craig, former West Ham Academy standout and current North Carolina FC defender, for a conversation packed with stories, insights, and laughs.

We delve into Paco’s incredible football journey, from his early days in London to lifting multiple USL Championships with Louisville City, finding love and leadership with Miami FC, and now writing a new chapter in the USL Championship with North Carolina FC.

Paco opens up about:

• The move from West Ham to college soccer in the U.S.
• D2 vs D1 in American college football
• The reality of USL contracts and salaries
• Special memories from Louisville’s golden era
• Coaching aspirations and how he sees the game from a manager’s lens
• Life beyond football: family, love, and personal growth
• The impact of COVID-19, aging as a pro, and what’s still to come at NCFC

Chapters

00:00 Intro & Welcome Paco!
04:30 Paco's Journey in Football
05:56 The Influence of Family and Background
08:55 West Ham To Young Harris
12:20 The Reality of D2 Soccer vs D1 Soccer
15:09 Football Development in England vs US
17:52 Making the Jump to Louisville City
21:00 Salary Disparities in the USL
25:30 Navigating the USL Transfer Market
27:33 Special Memories from Louisville
31:49 What Kind Of Manager Would Jam & Dom Be?
33:58 Paco Craig: A Future Manager?
37:54 The Impact of COVID-19 on Paco's Career
43:42 Finding Love and Life in Miami
47:30 Transitioning to North Carolina: A New Chapter
50:47 Adapting With Age
53:42 Early NCFC Expectations
01:00:22 Extra Time

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This week on The Back Stick Podcast, the boys welcome former Napoli and current Union Omaha defender Marco Milanese to the studio.
We delve into Marco’s incredible football journey — from training with Napoli’s first team and witnessing Dries Mertens' magic up close, to the heartbreak of a fallen Serie A contract due to agent drama, and the leap to the American college system.

We discuss his experiences with Italy’s youth national teams, how a bold move to Akron kick-started a whole new career path, and what it’s really like to defend in the USL.
Marco also reflects on a huge 2024 season with Union Omaha and opens up about his future ambitions in American soccer.

We Cover:

• Early days in Italy and coming through youth academies like Napoli, Torino & Parma
• Training with Napoli's first team & what made Dries Mertens so special
• Representing Italy at U15 & U17 level
• Why Marco's agent cost him a pro deal in Serie A
• Transitioning from Europe to NCAA D1 with Akron & UNCG
• Behind the scenes of US college soccer (including shaved head traditions)
• Pedro Dolabella appreciation moment
• Omaha’s playoff run, team culture, and future ambitions
• Marco's mindset on leadership, growth, and going pro in the US

00:00 Intro & Shoutout Friends Of The Pod

03:58 Early Football Days In Italy

09:10 Napoli: First Team Training Nightmares

11:54 Mertens Influence On The Young Players

14:35 Italy Youth National Team Experiences

16:03 Reece James' 'Grumpy Celebration' For England

17:46 Why Akron & Why Not Continue In Italy?

18:54 "Napoli Contract Fell Through Because Of My Agent?!"

24:25 Transitions & Adjustments To US College Soccer

27:38 Akron Shaving Heads Tradition...

31:02 Pedro Dolabella: A Word For The Legend

31:58 Reflecting on a Special 2024 Season for Omaha

36:12 Omaha & Chattanooga Players Watching The Game Highlights Together

37:34 Future Ambitions With Union Omaha

44:00 Extra Time

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This week it’s just Dom & Jam in the studio! We delve into the home nation, and discuss the England National team under new leadership. We chat about the future of England football with Thomas Tuchel at the helm as they approach the 2026 World Cup. We break down Tuchel’s first squad selection, and who we believe should be in the starting 11. The conversation highlights the excitement surrounding the current squad, the tactical approaches of Tuchel, and the expectations for the World Cup 2026. With a mix of optimism and realism, we share our predictions for England's performance and reflect on what England Football really means to us die hard England fans.

00:00 England Football - It's A Drug!

03:03 Should England Have An English Manager?

07:27 Tuchel's First England Squad Selection

13:00 Albania Reviews

15:48 Is Harry Kane Going To Start For England?

17:57 Can Tuchel Give England A Style Of Play?

20:15 What Is England's Best Starting XI?

27:21 Could Eze Be England's Answer At Left Wing?

31:37 The Rise & Fall of Jack Grealish

34:33 Will Dele Alli Make It Back To The Top?

35:33 Is Premier League Bias Real?

37:30 Predictions for World Cup 2026

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