Soccer. From SM Caen to Alabama, the extraordinary journey of Thomas Vancayezeele
Through Aline Chatel
Published on
Thomas Vancaeyezeele, 27, was trained in Stade Malherbe de Caen. After a year at Hérouville, then in CFA 2, and an experience in Spain as part of his studies, he moved to the United States. While returning to university in France after graduating in France, the midfielder has launched a professional career in the American second division. While dreaming of having, one day, his luck in Europe …
Sport in Caen: Thomas, we met you a few years ago in Caen…
Thomas Vancayezeele: I was born in Arras in the Pas-de-Calais. My parents moved to Caen when I was 11 or 12 years old. I try out at the Stade Malherbe like lots of little ones. I am taken. I do all my classes in Caen from the youngest to the U19s. I play with big players, Lemar, Guerreiro, Niang… In U19, they tell me that they don’t see me playing with the reserve, that I don’t have the level. They let me go. When you get kicked out of Stade Malherbe, people’s eyes are complicated. “He was in the center but he failed. You don’t feel very good about yourself.
You then leave for Hérouville.
Hérouville moved up to CFA 2 that year. It is the same level as the Caen reserve. I tell myself that I will try, even if they say that I do not have the level. It’s going well, I play a lot of matches and we manage to save each other. It’s an amazing year. I play with Samir Alla, Nabil Alla, Charles Masiala. A great team! I come across a group that makes me love football.
Is it a one-year experience?
At the end of the year, I can’t bounce back and find a professional club. I am in the second year of STAPS. I never really had a vacation when I was in Malherbe. In the third year of college, I have the opportunity to travel to Europe with a scholarship via Erasmus. I say to myself: “football doesn’t work great, I have to see the country”. I am going to Spain for my third year of STAPS. I don’t study too much, I party a lot, I enjoy life. The year is going well but I put the foot in parentheses.
Hence the desire to dive back into it when you return …
When I come back, I miss the ball. I am in the perspective of resuming football and in-depth studies. I learn that Paul Marie, with whom I was at the training center, is going to the United States. I really want to do the same. I inquire, I find a school and let’s go. I find myself in West Virginia, in the middle of nowhere. At first, it’s hard. When you think of the United States, you imagine yourself in New York, Los Angeles… I land in the depths of the countryside with my wobbly English.
Nevertheless, your integration is positive.
In my team, all countries are represented. There is only one American, but he speaks more Spanish than English. I manage to fit in. At university, things are going well. We won the college championship (NCAA II) in 2017. It’s an incredible experience with all my friends. I was voted NCAA Player of the Year and found myself invited to the MLS Combine.
What is it about ?
Before the draft, all the players get together to make matches and physical tests, so that the MLS teams (the American first division, note) watch them and can choose their players. It exists in all sports. For me, it takes place in Orlando in a crazy hotel. I meet Patrick Vieira, Rémi Garde… Frankly, it does something!
Comment is this happening to you?
I’m not familiar with MLS coaches because I’m in university D2 but I’m doing pretty well. Unfortunately, I am not drafted. But the American second division (USL Championship), draws players who have not been drafted. I get a call, Pittsburgh wants to see me on trial. At first, it doesn’t go very well but they end up taking me anyway. This is how I signed my first pro contract with Pittsburgh.
There, it’s the discovery of a new world …
My first game is against Nashville, which just created the team. There is the hype around them. 11,000 people in the stadium, national anthem, fireworks, it’s incredible. The second game of the season is in Pittsburgh. It’s snowing. There aren’t even 500 people. Pittsburgh in the snow, no one leaves their home. I stayed there from 2018 to 2020.
With, in the meantime, a highlight of your career.
In 2019, I joined the selection of Guyana. It’s crazy ! My mother is Guyanese. I never thought I would have the level to go to the national team and play international matches. The goalkeeper is Simon Lugier, trained in Malherbe. We play in the paradisiacal Caribbean islands, Belize, Saint-Kitts and Nevis, Grenada. Playing in Guyana, where I still have family, is incredible.
Everything is going well, too, in the United States.
In 2020, I am elected to the typical USL team. I tell myself it’s time to leave Pittsburgh. I’m leaving for San Diego. It is not going very well. The coaches put a lot of pressure on me and I don’t play my best football. When I leave for Guyana, they call my agent and tell me that they want to pass it on to me without having told me to my face… During the internship with the selection, I sign in Birmingham, Alabama. This is the team where I play now.
What is your daily life like?
On a workout every morning. The trips are often made by plane because everything is too far. We leave on Friday morning to play on Saturday evening. It’s a bit of a hassle because we take commercial flights, we have to be at the airport 1h30 before… It’s cool too. On Saturday evening or Friday before the match, visit the city.
I do not get bored. A large part of the day is devoted to training. The rest of the time I often try to study on my own. Maybe I would like to do a masters in finance later. I got my accounting degree at the end of my university course. I have just started training as a trainer. Frankly, it’s cool as a life. I have a lot of free time, I do what I love. It is the most important.
Do you dream of MLS?
Frankly, it’s complicated. Clubs are allowed eight non-American players per team. They recruit either promising young players in South America or experienced players in Europe. It’s really hard to earn your place coming from ULS. It is a goal, but it seems unattainable.
I’m still under contract next year. My season is ending soon. If I can find a try in Europe, I can’t see myself closing the door. I want to go as far as possible in football. I was lucky enough to have some great experiences, but I don’t want to stop there. I would like to see what I am worth in France and in Europe.
What did your overseas experience teach you?
I grew up, I matured, that’s for sure. I went to university with a lot of nationalities. I have met a lot of different cultures, I have learned from people I have crossed paths with. I have traveled here a lot. With the selection of Guyana, I saw very poor places. Here there are very rich places. It makes you put your life into perspective. In Caen, you see the United States as an incredible land and there are a lot of flaws in that country, you see them when you arrive here. You realize that France is a great country and that we are really well off.
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