Many ex-MLSers find a career in soccer after their playing days are over, but most do so as a coach or in the front office (See: John Doyle, Frank Yallop and Ian Russell).
Kelly Gray went a slightly different direction. After winning a Supporters Shield with the Quakes in 2005 and returning for two final years on the pitch in San Jose in 2008 and 2009, the former soccer jock exchanged his cleats for a keyboard.
Gray is no stranger to the Silicon Valley lifestyle. He grew up in Palo Alto, home base for Facebook and countless other tech-based companies. Now Gray is known among the online soccer world as founder of TheTotalFootballer.com and TheSocialFootballer.com.
SJEarthquakes.com caught up with Kelly on Monday and asked him about life after MLS.
SJEarthquakes.com: How’s life away from the MLS?
Kelly Gray: Life away from the game is great. There is something to be said for having control over your life and knowing that I am going to be in San Jose for a long time. I do miss many things though. The biggest thing is just the actual playing of the game. I love the sport and I miss just messing around on the field with my friends.
SJEQ: You were a member of the Quakes in 2005. That was the last team from San Jose to reach the MLS Cup Playoffs until the Blue Collar Boys returned in 2010. What was it like watching the Quakes last season?
KG: I really liked the attitude that the 2010 Quakes had. They definitely embodied what the 2005 Quakes were all about. Nothing takes the place of hard work.
SJEQ: What do you remember from that 2005 season?
KG: I remember everything! It was one of the greatest seasons of my life. In my first appearance for the Quakes I scored a goal in front of the home crowd and all of my friends and family. It was amazing. However, the biggest thing that I remember was just how good that team was. We were undefeated at home and only lost 4 games all season. It was a shame that we didn’t win MLS Cup that year but in my mind the Supporters Shield is a much more difficult feat.
SJEQ: There were a lot of talented attackers on that team – Dwayne De Rosario, Alejandro Moreno, Mark Chung, Brian Ching, Ronald Cerritos. Who was the best goal-scorer of the group in your mind?
KG: That is a tough question. All of those players have such different styles. I think they all bring a little something that all of the others don’t. Alejandro works harder than anyone I know, Ching is an amazing point man and is unstoppable in the air, Ronald is incredible at being in the right place at the right time, DeRo is amazing at attacking from deep, and Chung had a left foot that couldn’t be stopped.
SJEQ: Do you keep in touch with any of the guys from ’05?
KG: Yes. I keep in touch with many of the players from that season. The soccer world is a very small one and it is quite easy for all of us to keep in touch. Brian Mullan and Craig Waibel are two of the players that I speak to the most.
SJEQ: Tell us a bit about your blog, TheTotalFootballer.com.
KG: TheTotalFootballer.com is a site that I started to reflect the lifestyle of a footballer. I started it as a place to show all of the different aspects of the lifestyle that I love and it has turned into a place where others can comment and contribute to those things.
SJEQ: How does a soccer guy like yourself get into all the techy stuff needed to run a blog like that? Do you do your own coding?
KG: I’m not really sure. I have always been interested in computers and technology so it was almost inevitable that I would start my own site at some point. As far as coding goes, I do very little coding myself. I can do enough to get by, but if there is something really important I will get someone to do it for me.
SJEQ: Did the guys on the Quakes know you were a closet nerd while you were playing?
KG: Yes they definitely did. I was always the one anyone came to with a computer issue.
SJEQ: As a social media expert of sorts, tell us one trend in sports that you think will take off amongst athletes in the near future?
KG: The trend that I think is going to take off really isn’t a new idea. I think athletes will get much more involved in the media. I see a ton of MLS players starting their own websites and finding new and creative ways to connect with their fans.
SJEQ: On that note, let’s talk about your new project, TheSocialFootballer.com. What’s that site all about?
KG: This site was born out of an issue that always bothered me as a player, which was that fans had to go through the teams front office to connect with the players. I wanted to create a place where players and fans could connect and share their thoughts and vision of the beautiful game and all that it has to offer. I wanted there to be a place for all footballers to unite.
SJEQ: What’s the coolest feature about TheSocialFootballer.com?
KG: I think that the coolest thing is the ability to share your personal vision of what the footballer lifestyle is all about. Members profiles are 100% customizable and all members can upload videos, photos and music to further express themselves through their profile. I also really like the accessibility of all of the professional players on the site. Members have a direct line to many MLS stars.
SJEQ: Do you have any of the Quakes signed up? I hear Wondo has a Twitter account now - maybe you can convince him to join.
KG: Right now only Chris Wondolowski and Chris Leitch are members, but I am sure that many more will sign up in 2011.
SJEQ: Better goal scorer – you or Wondo?
KG: Wondo…no contest!
SJEQ: Better Tweeter – you or Wondo?
KG: Definitely me (@kelg22). Again…no contest! Wondo never tweets!
SJEQ: What current Quakes player would you most like to see on Twitter?
KG: I want to see Sam Cronin on twitter. I love that guy and think his tweets would be hilarious!
SJEQ: Final sales pitch: Why should soccer fans join TheSocialFootballer.com?
KG: Fans and players should join TheSocialFootballer.com to connect with others who share their love of the beautiful game. From game highlights to fan photos, members can find and create anything they think is part of the true footballer lifestyle.
SJEQ: Cheers!
KG: GO QUAKES!!
