Culture is defined as: the quality in a person or society that arises from a concern for what is regarded as excellent in arts, letters, manners, scholarly pursuits, etc.

We often speak about the lack of a soccer culture in the United States. That leaves many wondering how all that time invested on the fields and driving to the fields could be so fruitless. After all, we love the sport and truly feel it is the best of all the sports by far. The debate has always existed whether football or soccer as we call it, is art or science. This old question may provide the answer to why a soccer culture has not developed in the States even though we play the sport in large numbers.

In my experiences, the greatest enjoyment which I have encountered in the sport has come as a result of appreciating what in my estimation is beautiful. A lovely and subtle movement which is so easy to look at that you want to look at it over and over again in appreciation. A pass which obviously can only come from the feet of true and unquestionable talent. A goal scored which raises people to their feet in gratitude for the priviledge of seeing something so much anticipated yet never disappointing.

There is an element within our beautiful art form that tries to explain the process, piece by piece, yet can never truly duplicate the masterpiece. These are the scientist at work. This mindset looks to develop a “connect the dots” approach to duplicating a masterpiece. I truly feel that this is the part of the game that is being pushed to our American public particularly on the fields of play. The exact science of the game does not require an innate talent. This approach to soccer is exact, calculated, free of true individuality but most importantly profitable. It is profitable because the explanation of something that most often comes from inspiration is broken down in an attempt to duplicate it. This attempt at an explanation can be squeezed into a video, book or even coaching license and sold.

To create a masterpiece, you need to create the environment for the artist to work. This is not an environment of restrictions and limitations. Sadly that correct environment in soccer was always provided by the streets all around the world where kids played and attempted to imitate the masterpieces provided by their favorite artists with no one correcting them. They perhaps created their own masterpiece. The streets have been replaced by structured soccer schools and academies which preach and teach mostly the science of the game. Adults rule in this arena. The player is secondary.

I would like to think that I try very hard to allow art to flourish. That has always been the intent of Markovic Soccer. We praise beauty and encourage its appreciation. Throughout my career I have always tried to encourage the creative player to produce magic. Sure there is a time for discipline and the game surely has its golden rules for success. Loss of discipline will lose a game just like a single moment of brilliance and inspiration will win a game. Passion and love for something are not inspired by money or a scholarship. Passion and love for something don’t come from a tangible but are inspired usually by something absolutely breathtaking yet impossible to truly explain.

This summer, I am taking Stony Brook University Men’s Soccer on a tour of Ecuador. Why Ecuador? As a young player I was exposed to the Futbol Culture of this country on a professional team. More importantly I got to savor the love affair that people there had with the game. I witnessed a city completely shut down because the artists were at work. We have no comparison to what I’ve seen in Ecuador and Brazil. I know it exists in every corner of the earth where young and old, women and children all still have their breath taken away by the sight of something beautiful every Sunday. This is what that Soccer Culture produces.

I hope for my young players to see that love for the game and not only appreciate it but bring it back home. Science is important but art defines a culture.