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Interview with French soccer player Eric Hassli by Djuradj Vujcic
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“One positive thing about Toronto FC’s 2012 MLS season was watching Eric Hassli play for the club. Hassli joined the club on July 20, 2012 and scored three times in seven league appearances. His stay with TFC was short and sweet. Hassli is now with the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions and he has also been suiting up to play indoor soccer from time-to-time with the Las Vegas Legends. We recently caught up with him to see how he is doing.” – Djuradj Vujcic, Canadian journalist, editor-in-chief of the Urban Book Circle.
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Interview with French soccer player
Eric Hassli
Eric Hassli
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One positive thing about Toronto FC’s 2012 MLS season was watching Eric Hassli play for the club. Hassli joined the club on July 20, 2012 and scored three times in seven league appearances. His stay with TFC was short and sweet. Hassli is now with the NASL’s San Antonio Scorpions and he has also been suiting up to play indoor soccer from time-to-time with the Las Vegas Legends. We recently caught up with him to see how he is doing.
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Djuradj Vujcic: Eric, it’s always nice to talk to you. You joined San Antonio in March 2014 after parting ways with FC Dallas. How have both teams treated you?
Eric Hassli: I’m having a great time here in San Antonio with whom I won the Soccer Bowl in 2014. I parted ways with Dallas mainly because of my injury – which I totally understand. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Oscar Pareja and Mr. Clark Hunt and for the whole staff – both technical and medical.
Djuradj Vujcic: How were you contacted by Vancouver in the first place back in 2011? You immediately made an impact there and became a fan favourite.
Eric Hassli: The way I joined Vancouver was through Alain Rochat. He signed there a few months before me. Vancouver needed a striker and Alain pushed for me. I owe him big time because I had a blast in Vancouver. The fans were amazing to me and they still are! We had a great connection. I loved their passion and I think they loved mine.
Djuradj Vujcic: How memorable were your two amazing goals that you scored while in Vancouver?
Eric Hassli: It’s the repercussions after those two goals that was amazing. I had the chance to represent the Whitecaps and MLS at the ESPYs! I mean, how amazing was that?
Djuradj Vujcic: You were also a fan favourite in my city of Toronto. How fondly do you look back at your time with TFC?
Eric Hassli: When I played for Toronto FC, it was just bad timing. The organization is outstanding. Paul Mariner is a great person. He’s real, very honest and straight up. I wish I could have had more time to work with him. He’s passionate! His knowledge of soccer is unbelievable. The TFC fans were great to me. They did everything possible to make me happy over there. They deserve the best.
Djuradj Vujcic: Do you plan an MLS comeback?
Eric Hassli: An MLS comeback would be great if somebody still believes in me.
Djuradj Vujcic: When did you begin to be interested in soccer? What year did you begin playing for Sarreguemines FC?
Eric Hassli: I think I started playing soccer when I was born (laughs). I started with Sarreguemines when I was three and a half years old. In some places, my name would be listed as Éric but the correct spelling is just Eric (laughs).
Djuradj Vujcic: Were Jean-Pierre Papin, Enzo Francescoli and Chris Waddle your idols growing up?
Eric Hassli: Yes, of course! JPP and Enzo Francescoli because they were tremendous goal scorers but Waddle because on and off the field he was special! His left foot, technique and vision were the best I’ve ever seen. The best player of all-time however is Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima! He changed the game.
Djuradj Vujcic: Why is the number 29 important to you?
Eric Hassli: The number 29 was the first number in my professional career. 11 was my lucky number but when you first start as a professional you can’t choose your number so I chose 29 because 2+9=11.
Djuradj Vujcic: How was it playing in UEFA competitions?
Eric Hassli: It’s amazing to play against the best teams in Europe but the difference between the Europa League and the Champions League is huge! Being able to play against Ronaldinho, Kaka, Maldini, Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo was amazing. That’s a high level.
Djuradj Vujcic: How have you been enjoying indoor soccer?
Eric Hassli: Indoor soccer was fun. I’m thankful that the Las Vegas Legends gave me this opportunity. They have a great organization with a president who’s really passionate, loves his team and will do anything for his team.
Djuradj Vujcic: Would North American soccer be better with a relegation system?
Eric Hassli: Yes, I believe so, because if you’re not making the playoffs then you’re already on vacation. Look at Europe – they are crazy until the last game! Nobody wants to see their city in the 2nd division, so it’s a fight until the last day.
Djuradj Vujcic: It is very honourable that you are a family man. You must be very proud of your children.
Eric Hassli: I’m very proud of my kids! I’m lucky to watch them grow up but I miss my daughter and little boy who are both in France.
Djuradj Vujcic: When you look back on your career one day, will you be satisfied? What makes you most proud?
Eric Hassli: I will look back – one day! I think I have two or three more years to play if people still believe in me. What makes me the most proud is that everywhere I played, people keep or kept good memories of me. It also makes me proud that people say that I never cheat on the field and that I played and still play with passion and with my heart!
Eric Hassli: I’m having a great time here in San Antonio with whom I won the Soccer Bowl in 2014. I parted ways with Dallas mainly because of my injury – which I totally understand. I have a lot of respect for Mr. Oscar Pareja and Mr. Clark Hunt and for the whole staff – both technical and medical.
Djuradj Vujcic: How were you contacted by Vancouver in the first place back in 2011? You immediately made an impact there and became a fan favourite.
Eric Hassli: The way I joined Vancouver was through Alain Rochat. He signed there a few months before me. Vancouver needed a striker and Alain pushed for me. I owe him big time because I had a blast in Vancouver. The fans were amazing to me and they still are! We had a great connection. I loved their passion and I think they loved mine.
Djuradj Vujcic: How memorable were your two amazing goals that you scored while in Vancouver?
Eric Hassli: It’s the repercussions after those two goals that was amazing. I had the chance to represent the Whitecaps and MLS at the ESPYs! I mean, how amazing was that?
Djuradj Vujcic: You were also a fan favourite in my city of Toronto. How fondly do you look back at your time with TFC?
Eric Hassli: When I played for Toronto FC, it was just bad timing. The organization is outstanding. Paul Mariner is a great person. He’s real, very honest and straight up. I wish I could have had more time to work with him. He’s passionate! His knowledge of soccer is unbelievable. The TFC fans were great to me. They did everything possible to make me happy over there. They deserve the best.
Djuradj Vujcic: Do you plan an MLS comeback?
Eric Hassli: An MLS comeback would be great if somebody still believes in me.
Djuradj Vujcic: When did you begin to be interested in soccer? What year did you begin playing for Sarreguemines FC?
Eric Hassli: I think I started playing soccer when I was born (laughs). I started with Sarreguemines when I was three and a half years old. In some places, my name would be listed as Éric but the correct spelling is just Eric (laughs).
Djuradj Vujcic: Were Jean-Pierre Papin, Enzo Francescoli and Chris Waddle your idols growing up?
Eric Hassli: Yes, of course! JPP and Enzo Francescoli because they were tremendous goal scorers but Waddle because on and off the field he was special! His left foot, technique and vision were the best I’ve ever seen. The best player of all-time however is Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima! He changed the game.
Djuradj Vujcic: Why is the number 29 important to you?
Eric Hassli: The number 29 was the first number in my professional career. 11 was my lucky number but when you first start as a professional you can’t choose your number so I chose 29 because 2+9=11.
Djuradj Vujcic: How was it playing in UEFA competitions?
Eric Hassli: It’s amazing to play against the best teams in Europe but the difference between the Europa League and the Champions League is huge! Being able to play against Ronaldinho, Kaka, Maldini, Sergio Ramos and Ronaldo was amazing. That’s a high level.
Djuradj Vujcic: How have you been enjoying indoor soccer?
Eric Hassli: Indoor soccer was fun. I’m thankful that the Las Vegas Legends gave me this opportunity. They have a great organization with a president who’s really passionate, loves his team and will do anything for his team.
Djuradj Vujcic: Would North American soccer be better with a relegation system?
Eric Hassli: Yes, I believe so, because if you’re not making the playoffs then you’re already on vacation. Look at Europe – they are crazy until the last game! Nobody wants to see their city in the 2nd division, so it’s a fight until the last day.
Djuradj Vujcic: It is very honourable that you are a family man. You must be very proud of your children.
Eric Hassli: I’m very proud of my kids! I’m lucky to watch them grow up but I miss my daughter and little boy who are both in France.
Djuradj Vujcic: When you look back on your career one day, will you be satisfied? What makes you most proud?
Eric Hassli: I will look back – one day! I think I have two or three more years to play if people still believe in me. What makes me the most proud is that everywhere I played, people keep or kept good memories of me. It also makes me proud that people say that I never cheat on the field and that I played and still play with passion and with my heart!
Djuradj Vujcic,
Canadian journalist, editor-in-chief of the Urban Book Circle
Canadian journalist, editor-in-chief of the Urban Book Circle
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Circle UBC® – an online magazine of applied literature and traditional arts – of the Urban Book Circle®
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Interview with French soccer player Eric Hassli by Djuradj Vujcic
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· Interview: Djuradj Vujcic / All rights reserved 2015. Copyright © Djuradj Vujcic ·
· Photo of Eric Hassli courtesy of Eric Hassli ·
· Photo of Samuel Beckett’s bookshelf in the study of his apartment at the Boulevard St Jacques in Paris courtesy of John Minihan / All rights reserved 1985. Copyright © John Minihan ·
· Published on Urban Book Circle · Published on RedNation Online ·
· Design & Artwork by Djuradj Vujcic and Prvoslav Vujcic · Illustrated by Sarah Riordan and Deidre McAuliffe ·
· Edited by Djuradj Vujcic, Prvoslav Vujcic, Deidre McAuliffe, Sarah Riordan and Danijela Kovacevic Mikic ·
· Edited by Djuradj Vujcic, Prvoslav Vujcic, Deidre McAuliffe, Sarah Riordan and Danijela Kovacevic Mikic ·
All rights reserved 2015. Copyright © Urban Book Circle®
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Last updated on May 29, 2015.
Published by Urban Book Circle on May 29, 2015 Urban Book Circle® (UBC) |
