“I think we're an expansion team that probably has the most in-depth style of play coming into the league,” San Diego FC sporting director Tyler Heaps told Backheeled last week.
Heaps, the youngest chief soccer officer in MLS at age 33, has helped form the tactical identity of the league’s youngest club. He hasn’t been shy about sharing the principles that will define that identity, either, from the moment San Diego FC kick off in MLS on Sunday, February 23rd against the LA Galaxy.
Backheeled sat down with Heaps — or, rather, stood underneath a tree providing merciful shade — at the Empire Polo Club during San Diego’s preseason to learn more about the core of MLS’s 30th team, why Wilfried Nancy’s Columbus Crew team provides inspiration, avoiding duels at all costs, how to win away games, and much more.
Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.
How do you explain the style that you envision for San Diego FC to new signings when they haven’t seen it on the field before?
It was an interesting time because you're selling a dream essentially, right? You can't show clips. And so we had a PowerPoint presentation that had really no football in it. Obviously we can speak on it and we have a lot of words, but words only mean one thing, especially to footballers.
