The rivalry between New York City FC and Red Bulls is caused by a variety of factors.
Sure, the two clubs are in the same geographical location, but beyond that proximity, the rivalry adds an element to it.
This season, the local talent of both teams' most important players has become even more evident.
The Red Bulls have a number of players who grew up in the New York/New Jersey area, and NYCFC makes a similar claim.
Sean Niels (brother of Red Bulls captain and defender Dylan Niels) is from Long Island, midfielder Daniel Edelman is from Warren, New Jersey, and defender John Tolkien grew up in Chatham, New Jersey.
NYCFC defender Tyvon Gray is from the Bronx, midfielder Justin Haak is from Brooklyn, defender Kevin O'Toole is from Montclair, New Jersey and is a Red Bull Academy graduate, and NYCFC star goalkeeper Matt Freese is from Wayne, New Jersey. Birthplace
“I think the local element is new and energizing.” [the rivalry] Similarly, AppleTV+ broadcaster Steve Cangiarosi told the Post.
Both clubs appear to have successfully tapped into the local talent pool over the years, with many first-team players having played alongside or against each other since their academy days.
Tolkien, for example, played with Red Bulls midfielder Peter Stroud from Chester Township, N.J., and Roald Mitchell from Montclair and Daniel Edelman from Warren, N.J., all of whom have played together since their academy days. I've been playing.
That meant he became quite close with fellow players like James Sands (from Rye, New York) Gray and Haak.
“We played each other all the time through the academy, so we all kind of grew up together and came up through the ranks together,” Tolkien told the Post. “We're just on the big stage right now. It's fun to go head-to-head and do it again. … They always beat us in the academy, so any time we beat them now it feels really good.” is.”
Developing local talent who play a key role in the Hudson River Derby is a point of pride for locals who grew up playing soccer.
Gray felt it showed just how much the sport has grown in popularity over the years.
“I think soccer has definitely grown since I was a kid,” he told the newspaper during a conversation at the club's practice facility in Orangeburg, New York. “I think there's definitely more people playing, especially in the New York area.” I think it was almost weird playing soccer when I was a kid. I think people are definitely drawn to soccer, especially in New York. ”
Both clubs have invested heavily in their academy programs over the years, developing talent who reach various levels of professional football.
New York-bred Christian MacFarlane, a product of the NYCFC academy, is expected to sign with Manchester City after making his MLS debut earlier this season.
The Red Bulls Academy produced a phenomenal kid, Julian Hall.
In a roundtable discussion with local media earlier this year, Red Bulls sporting director Julian de Guzman called the New York/New Jersey area a “treasure chest” in terms of talent potential.
“You just open it and there's so many gems inside,” he said in June. “It's important to find the right one and take care of it. This is a special market, it's a competitive market, and it's probably one of the most exciting markets not just in North America but around the world. I think, if you look at the men's national team and identify the number of players that come from this particular region, the number is huge.”
He added: “We see that many successful athletes, legendary players and coaches also come from this particular part of the world.”
