Danny Karbassiyoon (second from left) and teammates celebrate his debut goal
Catching up with Danny Karbassiyoon
Danny Karbassiyoon joined Arsenal in August 2003. After starting his career as a striker, he moved to left-back while playing for the Reserve team and found the position to his liking. His first taste first-team action came in a Carling Cup match against against Manchester City where he joined a list of players like Freddie Ljungberg, Samir Nasri, and Thomas Vermaelen to score in his debut match. Knee injuries cut his playing career short, but he certainly has not left football, or Arsenal behind. Danny is now serving as the Club's North American scout
Arsenal.com's Kevin Mooney caught up with Danny to talk about his playing days with Arsenal and what being a professional scout in North America is all about.
Arsenal.com: Danny, How did you come about playing for Arsenal?
Danny Karbassiyoon: I was lucky enough to be seen at the adidas ESP camp in the summer of 2002. I'd been waitlisted for the camp and was just happy to get the chance to be there. My coach at ESP was Paul Mariner, and he was such a great guy to play under even if it was just for the week. I'd never had someone coach me with so much playing experience and it was a pleasure listening to what he had to say. He must have had a connection with Arsenal still, because after two or three days, he made a phone call to England and Arsenal's Chief Scout flew out to North Carolina to watch me. I finished the camp as the Offensive Golden Boot winner, multiple scholarship offers, and most importantly, a trial in London.
Arsenal.com: How do you look back on your time playing for the Club?
Danny Karbassiyoon: I have really fond memories of playing for Arsenal. I obviously knew how big of a club it was when I was there, but you don't really appreciate everything until you’re on the outside looking back in. I was both lucky and cursed to be at Arsenal during a time that was so special. The first team didn't lose a single Premiership game in my first season, so the likelihood of the Boss throwing in inexperienced youngsters was very low. I wouldn't have traded it for anything, though. The team was composed of some of the classiest, top-level professionals the world has ever seen. To be a part of that for two years was incredible.
Arsenal.com: Your debut with the first team was the stuff dreams are made of. Can you describe that goal against Manchester City and how it felt?
Danny Karbassiyoon: One word can describe the goal: Cesc. I never would have scored the goal had his pass not been perfect. Looking back at the clip of the goal, I like to think that his pass in that game was a taste of what was to come for the fans and the Club alike. The timing and weight of the pass were both perfect, and my movement off the ball was enough to cut Danny Mills out of the play. I made sure my first touch gave me several options, and when I looked up and saw City's keeper catering to his near post, I knew I could score. I smashed the ball towards the far post with my left foot and was pretty pleased when I saw it hit the net.
Scoring for Arsenal on my debut was definitely one of the happiest moments of my life. I'd been through a lot in my first year in London with the transition to a new country and playing at such a high level. I never would have thought I'd be making my first team debut, let alone scoring on it, if you'd asked me during my first season. Even though it took a whole year and several months for me to be involved in a proper first team fixture, I never stopped working hard in training. I was just happy to see that I'd won the confidence of the Boss and the rest of the staff. Knowing that they believed in me was almost as important as scoring the goal.
Arsenal.com: What was it like being one of the few Americans playing for a Premier League club at the time?
Danny Karbassiyoon: It was definitely really exciting to be mentioned in the same list as Brad Friedel, Claudio Reyna, Carlos Bocanegra, Kasey Keller and Tim Howard when people were speaking about Americans playing in England. Jonathon Spector and Kenny Cooper also signed for United the year I went to England, but I never really got to see them. Frankie Simek was at Arsenal when I was there, but he'd been associated with the Club from an early age. In my second year at the Club, Frankie was named as Reserve Team Captain and started as either a center back or right back. I played left back and we'd always joke with the English kids that our back line was composed of Yanks. When we played against Manchester United in the Carling Cup Quarterfinals at Old Trafford, Frankie and I both dressed, and I even got on the pitch for ten minutes. Tim Howard played a full ninety for United. I never would have thought that three Americans would be involved in an Arsenal/United match.
Even though there aren't too many Americans playing in England currently, many more Americans are starting to head overseas before, during, and after college. More and more of our national team players are playing in England and Europe, which makes it a very exciting time for US Soccer.
Arsenal.com: You are currently working as a scout for Arsenal in North America. How far has soccer in America come since you were playing in the youth leagues? Have the players improved?
Danny Karbassiyoon: Soccer has grown massively in the States since I left in 2003. The US Federation has now implemented a new Academy system, which aims to improve the overall quality and standard of our country's youth players. I think the players have improved because more soccer is being shown on television now and more kids are getting the chance to watch and emulate their favorite players more often. It doesn't take a genius to see that more and more players are leaving the US to go try their luck in Europe. The fact that more and more clubs are coming here to find those players makes me believe the standard is getting better.
Arsenal.com: What qualities are you looking for when you scout players?
Danny Karbassiyoon: If you watch Arsenal's first team play, you can see exactly what I'm looking for when I go watch games. The Boss is always looking for players that are technically gifted as well as intelligent. If a player lacks proper technique, he will probably find it very difficult at Arsenal. All 11 players expect one another to be able to keep the ball, and it's very easy to get found out if you don't possess the tools to do so. From a physical standpoint, it is very important that players are in top shape. Size isn't a dealbreaker if a player is very special (look at Arshavin - he terrorizes the Premier League and is shorter than I am!), but all players are expected to give 150% every game.
Arsenal.com: Would you say there are any differences between American players and European players?
Danny Karbassiyoon: I think European players are generally just hungrier than Americans are. This doesn't stand true for everyone, as there are exceptions to every rule, but it's more of a cultural difference than anything. Soccer in our country isn't very cheap to play with all the traveling and club fees and is often looked upon as an upper class sport. That isn't really the case in Europe and the rest of the world for that matter. Many kids see soccer as a way out, not as an afterschool hobby. A lot of players leave school at 16 or 17, which means their education may not be the best. They know they have to make it in soccer because many don't have anything to fall back on. This gives a lot of the players that 'do-or-die' mentality.
Arsenal.com: What kind of support do young players receive as they develop in the Arsenal Academy system?
Danny Karbassiyoon: The young players at Arsenal receive a lot of support from the coaching staff as they develop through the system. The coaching is all top class and the work they put into each and every kid in the Academy is evident through the success the Club has enjoyed at the youth level recently. The atmosphere around the training ground creates a positive and natural form of competition that makes everyone work that much harder.
Soccer aside, the kids are able to continue their schooling as long as they want as long as soccer is the priority. I was able to get a tutor for Italian when I was playing without any hassle. The players are encouraged to take coaching courses and media training is completed as well. The Club makes sure that the players are ready for almost any situation, on and off the field.
Arsenal.com: What would you say the perception of Arsenal is among American players and fans?
Danny Karbassiyoon: I love going to events around the country and hearing people tell me how incredible it is to watch Arsenal play. A lot of people tell me they don't really know what the difference is between a team like Arsenal and other top teams, but they can definitely tell something is different. I'm hoping that they are appreciating the style that we play. A lot of my friends that play in the MLS always send me texts and messages saying how great Arsenal played on any given day. People are definitely noticing the way we play. I've definitely seen a lot more Arsenal jerseys in airports and at events than I did when I started my job, which obviously makes me feel good about our situation in the States.
Arsenal.com: What advice do you have for young players in the USA who have aspirations of playing in Europe?
Danny Karbassiyoon: My advice comes in three pieces:
1. Practice, practice, practice. Then practice again. Whether it's on your own or with your friends, you should try to get the ball out for at least an hour a day. The best pros focus on the basics every day. If you can't pass a ball from a to b, then being able to a do a rainbow won't help anything.
2. You never know who is watching, so play every game as if every scout in the world is at your game to watch you. I went to ESP camp hoping to get a college scholarship and knowing very well that college coaches were watching me. Never would I have thought that an Arsenal scout would be sitting amongst those coaches.
3. Dream. I used to think about playing in big stadiums every day as a kid. It excited me and motivated me. If you aspire to play at the top level, then I'm sure it'll excite you. When it does excite you, you'll be a lot more inclined to restart the cycle and go back to number 1: Practice.
