Adam Jahn was the Gatorade High School Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008, while earning NSCAA All-American honors. He went on to play for four years at Stanford University, tallying 24 goals and 12 assists over that span. After being named to the All-Pac 12 first team in his senior year, Jahn was selected 15th overall in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft by the Earthquakes. He has also played for the U.S. U-18 national team and attended the U-20 national team camp in July 2010. The forward spoke with SJEarthquakes.com about his stellar rookie season.
SJEarthquakes.com: How did you feel when you were drafted by your local team?
Adam Jahn: It felt great. It worked out perfect because I went to school 20 minutes down the road and that made it really easy to jump right in. I was really thankful.
SJE: Who was the first person to call you ‘pillow feet’ and how do you like the nickname?
AJ:The first time I heard it was from our goalie coach, Jason Batty. I don’t mind it – I guess it’s good in a way. It reflects my good touch.
SJE: All four of your goals have been scored at home. How much do the fans at Buck Shaw Stadium help you?
AJ: Immensely. All four goals were on the Ultras’ side and I don’t think that was a coincidence. They’ve been great and I hope they continue to support us.
SJE: The Earthquakes have yet to pick up a league road win. What does the team need to work on to pick up points away from home?
AJ: We just need to grind out an ugly win. It doesn’t have to be pretty, we just need a result. We need everyone to work hard for the full 90 minutes and stay focused to get the result. Once we do that, it will start to get easier and we can get on a roll.
SJE: Who is the one defender on the team you hate having guard you in practice and why?
AJ: I’d say Victor [Bernardez]. He’s very physical and he’ll catch you a few times. He’s also very good technically. It’s great to practice against him because that’s how other defenders in the league will play. It really helps us a lot.
SJE: Who have you learned the most from on the team since joining the club?
AJ: I couldn’t put that on one person, but I’d say all the forwards – especially [Alan] Gordon, [Chris] Wondolowski and [Steven] Lenhart. They’ve taught me a lot just by watching them practice and play. I’ve learned a lot about making good runs and making smart decisions.
SJE: Who did you admire on the soccer field growing up and how have they affected your style of play?
AJ: My favorite two players growing up were Thierry Henry and Zinedine Zidane. I tried to model my game after Zidane because I played midfield and loved to make beautiful passes. Henry has such a great scoring touch and a knack for goal. I’ve tried to mimic him as best I can.
SJE: What is the most memorable moment so far in your soccer career?
AJ: Scoring the first goal at Buck Shaw against the [New York] Red Bulls. I wasn’t expecting it and I couldn’t believe where I was at the time so it was really something special.
Adam’s favorites
Favorite food: Filet Mignon
Favorite hobby other than soccer: Watching TV
Favorite travel destination: Costa Rica
Favorite band or artist: Mumford & Sons
Favorite movie: Gladiator
