The most ambitious players in American elite youth soccer have been aware for some time that the best developmental opportunities may not be so close to home. 

Players have been leaving home to live and train at the U17 MNT Residency program in Bradenton, Florida since the 1990s, while others have looked for professional development available overseas.

With Major League Soccer now making a fledgling attempt to set up proper youth programs, it’s not surprising to learn that one top American player has gone the extra mile in pursuing his dream of being a professional soccer player. 

Ian Christianson, a talented 2-way midfielder from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, left home a little early last November, moving to the Chicago area to join the new academy program of the Chicago Fire. The 17-year old had played up a year for last season's U18 Region II champions, and was playing for Cedar River SA club team at his own age group this season before making the move at the invitation of Academy director Louis Mateus, who coached Christianson with Region II ODP and the U14 National Team in years gone by.

Christianson said the decision came without too much duress. 

“Being in Iowa there are not too many teams to get good exposure with. I knew Louis from before and was even looking to play for the Raptors (Mateus’ previous coaching assignment in Rockford, IL). When he got the job with the Fire he was telling me stuff about it and it sounded pretty good,” Christianson said. “I miss my family and that, but from a soccer standpoint it was pretty much necessary, so I wasn’t hesitant from that aspect of it.”

Christianson said his experience thus far has been a good one. 

“First off the facilities, the lockerroom, the training field, the weight room and all of that, are very good,” he said. “You’re in that pro environment and you are expected to act in a very professional manner, much more so than in a regular club. Plus the training sessions themselves are so much more informative.”

He added that rubbing shoulders with Fire stars like Cuauhtemoc Blanco has also heightened his experience and whetted his appetite for making the jump to the pros, although he insists he is keeping his options for college soccer open.

Under the MLS program, a player can sign with a pro team without going through the draft if he participates a requisite length of time with that team’s youth program. Being in the team’s youth system does not jeopardize NCAA eligibility, and if a player goes to college, the pro team that trained him can still sign him afterward outside of the draft.

Christianson noted that a developmental contract, which sometimes can be as low as $12,500 per year, would not be enough to entice him to forego a college scholarship. 

If the contract wasn’t even worth as much as a scholarship, then college would be a better choice,” he said. “But if I could get a generation adidas contract, I’d have a chance to play for the 1^st team and then go to college somewhere around the Chicago area while I’m doing it.

The 2009 graduate listed Georgetown and Santa Clara as 2 of his top choices as he consider recruiting options. 

In a world where just 10 years ago college scholarships were seen largely as the be-all end all for the American youth player, just the fact that MLS is trying to get involved in youth development makes the decision-making process a bit more convoluted for families of top players. Ian’s mother Joyce Christianson admitted there has been a lot of education needed for she and her husband Mark as they help Ian consider a possible choice between college and the pros.”

“It’s been a challenge in very many ways. We often feel like we’re feeling our way through. We don’t necessarily know the avenues,” she said. “Probably if we did we’d be able to make easier decisions.” 

Joyce noted that avoiding a high-intensity approach to the situation has helped her family (Ian is one of 6 children) to not get too flustered or overwhelmed with the process.

“We recognized some time ago with Ian that he has a passion for the game and that he has set high goals for himself of what he wants to do,” she said. “Even though we often feel like we’re just trying to find what the options are, we know that we don’t have to try to control everything. Sometimes we’re able to get help and input with decisions. Now that Ian’s away from home it’s been difficult for us in some ways, but we remember to think about what does God want. There have been ups and in the whole process, and some disappointments, and yet it’s always come through and worked out in the end. We need to see that and remember it.” 

Joyce Christianson added that the family will continue to gather as much information as possible to be ready should a decision be necessary. She noted that she and her husband, like many American parents, are playing catch-up when it comes to knowing the lay of the land for top players.

“We were always the parents learning our kids’ game,” she said. “We were kind of absorbing it all and noticing that he was kind of serious. He was 8 when he started talking about wanting to play pro soccer and he has never lost that. The thought has never left his mind.” 

From working on ball skills as a child in the basement with Joyce and some of his siblings, to making the move to Chicago for better training, Ian has continued to show a commitment to improving. Fire academy director Louis Matteus believes this can make a difference for the prospect.

“I think Ian is flourishing in this. When you look at his work-rate, his personal discipline and character, and just the way he’s playing of late, I’d say he has a very good chance of making it to the first team at some point,” Mateus said. “That’s not my decision ultimately, but he’s benefiting from the experience without a doubt.” 

Mateus added that the idea of bringing players in from farther than a normal driving or commuting distance should get more consideration among MLS clubs as more players like Christianson succeed.

“It fits into everything we’re doing,” he said. “We have the infrastructure for the training experience. If we can work out the living, the family and the education part of it, I would expect to see teams do more of it. Of course the soccer part of it has to be right as well.”