In a new series on SportingKC.com, we'll be catching up the men who laid the foundation for the club we are today. Where Are They Now? will revisit former Kansas City Wiz/Wizards players to give you a glimpse into their current life as well as look back at their top moments as a member of the club. Is there a particular player you want to hear from? Let us know in the comments section below or tweet us @SportingKC.
In our second edition, we spoke with Alex Zotinca, defender for the Kansas City Wizards from 2003-2006.
Tell us about your time in Kansas City.
I spent seven years in KC — three of them playing indoor soccer for the Comets / Attack. After my three years playing indoor, the Kansas City Wizards came calling. Bob Gansler was the coach at the time and it was an easy transition for me. I played there for four years after and had a great time there.
How did you initially find your way to Kansas City from Romania?
I don't know if many people know this but when I first moved here, I won a green card lottery. I actually ended up in Chicago where I had an uncle. From there, I was trying to find a team to play on so I moved to Milwaukee. I was with the Milwaukee Rampage at the time. The coach there knew [former Comets head coach and current Sporting KC assistant coach] Zoran Savic. I came on a trial and I never left.
Was it a difficult transition coming from Romania to Kansas City? How was your English at the time?
Playing indoor was something I played for fun but never at the pro level. It was a little different and I enjoyed it as a player, but if I would have had it my way, I would have gone straight to playing professionally outdoors. Unfortunately, it wasn’t an option for me then. Regarding my English, I wouldn’t say I struggled but it took me a while. You learn English in school but unless you are speaking it every day and listening, it is really hard. What helped me a lot was the fact that I didn’t have a lot of Romanians to speak with, so I had to adjust rapidly.
You were part of the 2004 team that won the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Is that the moment that most sticks out in your mind during your time in Kansas City?
I have a lot of moments that stick to my mind. The same year we could have done the double, so it’s a little sweet and sour. The Open Cup was obviously a good achievement. I didn’t realize at the time how big it was. It was great to just get a Cup, and the team was full of very talented and experienced players. The locker room was good. Then in the same year, we went to MLS Cup. And I could never forget that time because we actually lost that final 3-2 and the third goal that D.C. United scored was an own goal, just a redirected shot by me. So it’s a little bittersweet, but I do look back from time to time, and 2004 was a very significant year in my career.
What do you remember most about the 2004 Open Cup Final?
I remember playing at home against a very good Chicago Fire team. They were on a high at the time. We knew we had the home-field advantage. I remember the goal that Igor [Simutenkov] scored toward the end of the game. I remember it was a free kick and I believe I was part of the wall and helped push the wall away. Igor had a very good shot, low on the ground and he beat the keeper. So that was the deciding moment.
Tell us about your post-playing career.
There have been some ups and downs. Being a professional soccer player, it’s hard to find that same environment and passion you had when you were a player. That’s all you know. I tried different things to fulfill that goal that I had after I retired. Obviously, I stayed involved with soccer coaching numerous teams at local clubs in California. I went to school to pursue a major in kinesiology at Cal State Fullerton. I believe my English got even better after going to school and having to read and write essays.
Along the way, I started to scout about four years ago. I really enjoyed that part because all of the sudden, I was around the type of players that I enjoyed watching. Last year, I was asked if I was interested in a technical advisor job with U.S. Soccer, and it was a very easy answer for me. I was very interested in pursuing that role and learning more about the job, the players and the clubs. I’m just hoping to help in any way I can for our national teams to eventually win a World Cup.
How did you first get into scouting?
I began scouting for U.S. Soccer. I went to Academy games on the weekends as well as major showcase events for the Development Academy. Everything I do involves youth soccer players.
How have you seen soccer in America grow since when you arrived in the early 2000s?
Like everyone else, I see things moving in the right direction with the growth of the league, the teams and soccer-specific stadiums. There is more financial stability. I do believe there are more kids playing soccer than 10 or 15 years ago. They have more opportunities. We are still not 100 percent there, though. I think we need more teams underneath MLS, but that is probably on the horizon.
In your role with U.S. Soccer, how many games do you watch a week?
It is not a set number. By the end of the season, my goal is to know the whereabouts of every player. Clubs have different philosophies and styles of play with different player profiles. I am watching to see if there is any way I can help the environment to get better. I have a team of scouts — currently 11 — that scout from Arizona to Las Vegas and obviously here in the Southwest division. We do scout quite a few players and recommend them to the youth national teams. Last year, I was also involved with the U.S. U-19s as an assistant coach. I really enjoyed it and got to know [U-19 head coach] Brad Friedel quite a bit and develop a relationship that I really respect.
Are you surprised at all by the growth of soccer in Kansas City?
Of course. That is one of my biggest surprises every time I watch Sporting KC on TV. One of the main reasons I decided to leave Kansas City at the time was because the city did not pass a bill to build a stadium. I thought then that this was not the place I wanted to be. I wanted to be around people that believed in soccer and at the time, that was not the place. And years later, look where we are right now. I’m very surprised but also very happy to see that.
