Mike Grella's journey from Glen Cove to England and Denmark and finally back to his family and his hometown Red Bulls has been a winding, decade-long trek that would've made Odysseus dizzy. And it's one that almost didn't happen, so now that the 28-year-old attacker has his chance, he plans to make good.
"(I have) a lot of excitement to play in New York, play back in America,'' said Grella , who could actually start Sunday's opener at Sporting KC . "I really feel like I want to get myself back on the map, show people where I am, what I can do. Just excited to play in my home town, set up with my family, where I grew up is the most exciting thing for me.''
The well-traveled Grella will get that chance, having come to the Red Bulls on trial having to prove himself and earn a contract, and doing just that last month. Grella had to convince coach Jesse Marsch and a staff that had its initial doubts, but he won them over with his work rate and finishing.
"I'll be honest with you. We almost didn't bring him in, because I'd heard mixed things, and one of my jokes with the staff was I'm waiting for him to make a bad play, because he's been so good, in training, in games,'' Marsch said. "He started scoring goals right from the beginning.''
Maybe the fit Grella suits the fast-paced, dynamic style that Marsch is transitioning the Red Bulls into during the post-Thierry Henry era. One the other hand, perhaps he's just at a point in his life – with a wife Jessica and baby son – where coming home suits him.
Whatever the case, on a striker-starved roster – with Henry retired, Tim Cahill departed and Bradley Wright-Phillips the only experienced forward and no proven options on the left flank stepping forward – Grella is seizing his chance.
"Grella has been such a pleasant surprise in a lot of ways. He's been sharp, he's scoring goals and he can play anywhere in the top four,'' Marsch said.
"The way we play where we play a bit more uptempo and we run and cover ground fits Mike well. He's been excited to be here. I've only seen positive things, from his mentality to his commitment to the way he's played. So ultimately what's got him here is the skill and talent he showed on the field; but it's a whole package that's led him to this moment in his life and he's ready to take advantage of it.''
There was a time Grella was pegged as a can't miss prospect, the national high school Player of the Year by the NSCAA who led his club team (the Albertson Red Storm) to the 2003 and 2004 USYSA national championships. He went on to play for the Long Island Rough Riders and be an All-American at Duke, but turned down MLS for a shot a Europe, as had Glen Cove predecessor Peter Philipakos.
He had his longest stay and most success with Leeds, but then came stints at Carlisle United, Swindon Town, Brentford, Bury and Scunthorpe, before leaving England for Denmark's Viborg, and finally coming back stateside last year with the NASL Carolina Railhawks. But he was never as excited as for this homecoming.
"Oh, my God; my phone won't stop ringing. I have a big family and I a lot of friends from here I grew up playing with … In Glen Cove everyone feels like a large family, so there's a good stage to work hard and get it if you really want it. The platform is there if you have the right determination and devotion,'' said Grella, who sees a perfect fit in Marsch's system.
"The main things are we play high energy and we play together. I cover a lot of ground, I can be dangerous with the ball in the attack. (Marsch) demands hard work, he demands an honest, hard shift and as long as everyone does that we'll be OK … I've always played most of career toward the center of the field, but out wide is just as comfortable. Because I can cover so much ground, it's been positive, a lot of 1v1 and creating. Whatever they need.''
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