Yosef’s excelled in the transition from Mönchengladbach to Marshall
2019 was a breakout season for the Marshall men’s soccer team. For the first time since 2012, the Thundering Herd finished with a winning record. A large reason for that turnaround was the arrival of German forward Milo Yosef. In his debut NCAA season, the redshirt freshman scored 12 goals and added three assists. His performance earned him numerous honors including United Soccer Coaches All-American, Conference USA Offensive MVP, and Conference USA Freshman of the Year. “I would not have been that successful without my team, my coaches, and all the people around me that supported me,” Yosef told BGN, also thanking me for complimenting his excellent season. How can he possibly improve on being an All-American and one of the best seasons in school history? “I just try to enjoy playing soccer like last year and I think with the team we have; we can go far in the tournament and maybe win the ‘big thing’,” he responded.
“Staying humble is what I have been taught to be since I am a kid. My mom raised me like this and that brought me to the place I am right now. I am not taking the awards as a type of pressure; it is more a motivation for me to achieve those things again. Obviously, it is always nice to get recognized and awarded for that, but I rather win the championship as a team, than winning individual awards.”
“The individual awards are more like a bonus,” Milo added with a laugh.
Discussing making the move from Germany to the United States, Yosef said, “I needed a change. I was not happy with my situation in Germany and just wanted to play soccer again,” Yosef said. “I had some friends in the US that went to different schools here and I talked to them and talked to my family to and ended up deciding to come to the US to play soccer and study.”
“Sometimes it is hard to stay in touch with my family and friends back home because of the time difference and practice and schoolwork but I try my best to talk to them once a week.”
Back in his native Germany, Yosef played for the Borussia Mönchengladbach U-19 side before making the big move to the United States to continue his soccer journey. “I think it prepared me really good, playing for Borussia,” he said. “In general, I am really proud of playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach. They developed me to the player I am today, and I always be thankful and grateful for that.” He added that while he roots for Mönchengladbach, especially in their excellent Champions League run thus far, his favorite German club is Werder Bremen.
Describing his adjustment from the German game to the United States, Yosef said, “The game in the US is more athletic and more aggressive but the tactical and technical abilities that I gained from playing for Borussia, made me be successful in the US, in some way. There are always things where I can improve in, and I am willing to learn that here at Marshall. Coach Grassie is a really good coach, and you can learn a lot from him.”
MARSHALL UP 2-1 ✅
The Herd bury another one against West Virginia!#NCAASoccer | @HerdMSoccer pic.twitter.com/S9RjcMwCcs
— NCAA Soccer (@NCAASoccer) November 24, 2019
Off the pitch, the adjustment was smooth, too. “It is kind of similar to Germany to be honest. I am a pretty easy guy,” Yosef said. “I adjust pretty quick so there is not really something where I can see a big difference in. Everything is a lot bigger that is for sure.”
He added, “I cannot really think of some specific meal that I had here but not in Germany, but I can tell I am jealous of you guys having ranch. I never tried it in Germany. To be honest with you, I don’t even think we have it over there.”
Just like adding ranch to an already delicious chicken wing or slice of pizza, the young German star will be looking to take his success in 2019 to the next level when Marshall returns to action. Yosef and teammate Jamil Roberts were included on the watch list for the MAC Hermann Trophy, the yearly award for the most outstanding male and female player in the NCAA. The talented tandem will be back on the pitch this weekend when the Thundering Herd host Ohio Valley University. Kickoff is set for 1 PM on Saturday, 2/13.
