Robyn McNeil / ISI Photos
A goal for the record books, bilingual eloquence or an admirably firm handle on what she stands for – some things can always be counted on with Raquel Rodríguez. Change, however, came in spades for the Costa Rican international once she arrived in the U.S. five years ago, ably accompanied by tribulation, triumph, precious times of silliness, and of course, a now-synonymous nickname. Read more →
At each of her significant junctures, it seems Sky Blue FC midfielder Raquel Rodríguez manages to find an opportune moment to sign her name over a little pocket of history. A national championship-winning Penn State University career helped make her the adopted American she is, but her Costa Rican pride beats in time with all she does, and it was right there when her most treasured elements came together in a blissful crescendo, one June day, two years ago. Read more →
Photo: Ashley J. Palmer / www.ashleyjpalmer.com
Sitting top of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) with Washington Spirit at this early stage of the season, Christine Nairn’s career so far has been as much about refining her thinking as learning to boss a midfield, with sounds around to step to in the haste, or heal to in the calm. Read more →
Beyond the dance-move celebrations and the headphone-clad player stepping off the team bus, lies a whole world connecting football and music. Beats & Rhymes FC tells the stories of how a song lights the fuse on match day, how bands and artists colourise a player's life outside the game, and how music itself can bond an entire team.
The nostalgia of a first album, the weakness in the knees before an initiation song, or even those who've swapped the stadium for the studio. Since 2011, the performers and the personalities from all around the men's and women's game have stepped into this arena to share their soundtrack and more. The features also cover career talk, the teammates, the memories and the lessons learned from a life in this magical game.
