Jim Riggio
GLENDALE -- Movie stars move to Hollywood in search of the part
that will land them a fortune. Soccer players like Bryan Jackson head to
Europe.
The La Canada Flintridge resident is struggling, yet surviving as he
hopes to put together a successful career in one of Europe's top
professional leagues.
The 19-year-old Jackson is with Kingstonian, a fourth-division club in
England. But Jackson has spent the last year and a half navigating
throughout the European continent in hopes of finding the right place.
"It's been an interesting experience, but I wouldn't trade any of it,"
said Jackson, at home for the holidays. "I've always wanted to play pro
soccer at the highest level and to me that's in Europe."
Two years ago Jackson was a part of the U.S. Under-17 National Team that placed fourth in the World Championships in New Zealand. Since then,
several of his teammates from that squad -- Landon Donovan, DaMarcus
Beasley, Bobby Convey and Seth Trembley -- have become stars in Major
League Soccer.
But Jackson, who is a midfielder, decided to pass on the MLS, even if
he has to struggle to make it big in Europe.
"I want to not only play in Europe, but to experience European
culture," Jackson said. "I've always wanted to play with the best
players."
After Jackson graduated from high school at the Bradenton Academy in
Florida in 2000, he backed out of an oral commitment to attend Clemson
University, so he could begin his professional career.
In July 2000, he set out on his journey. His first stop wasGenoa,
Italy, the home city of Christopher Columbus.
Jackson spent two months training with Genoa, which plays in Italy's
second division.
But at Genoa he fell into the trap of being a player who is from a
non-European Union country, as there are various limits on the number of
foreigners a team can have.
After his experience in Italy, Jackson then went to the Netherlands,
and spent a few months with a third division club, while training with
Roda JC, a team in the Netherlands' top division.
Then in December 2000, Jackson received an offer from Grasshoppers of
Zurich, Switzerland, one of the top teams in the nation.
"I went there for a week trial and they said they were interested, but
their season was coming to an end," Jackson said.
Just as Jackson was about to join the squad, Grasshoppers was slapped
on the wrist, receiving a six-month ban on signing foreign players
because it had foreign players who were found to have fake passports.
