Setting the Soccer Standard in New York City

Soccer fields are a rare commodity in Manhattan.

In a borough where every square foot is highly sought after, the sport competes for space amidst concrete and skyscrapers. But at Pier 40, jutting out into the Hudson River, soccer has found a home. This waterfront facility is where Downtown United Soccer Club operates, the only club playing in Manhattan that offers dedicated training grounds in the heart of the city. With views of the river, Pier 40 has become a focal point for soccer in New York – a space where both emerging talents and local players come together to develop and play the game at every level.

It’s also where Paul O'Donnell has made his soccer home for the past four years. The Downtown United Soccer Club Director of Coaching hails from Kearny, New Jersey, famously known as "Soccer Town, USA," where players like John Harkes, Tony Meola, and Tab Ramos rose to prominence and played in World Cups. With such roots, soccer has been a part of his life since childhood.

After a long stint with New York MetroStars, where he co-founded the academy, the club was bought by the European energy drink giant, Red Bull. O'Donnell then worked with the New York Red Bulls Academy, which adopted a European-inspired approach.

“When Red Bull took over, they changed the pay-to-play model that MetroStars used. Red Bull, being European, didn’t think kids should pay to play, so we became the first free academy, and other MLS teams quickly followed suit because they didn’t want to fall behind,” says O'Donnell, as we meet on a late summer afternoon at Pier 40.

His connection to the Manhattan-based club is rooted in his college soccer career at Columbia University.

“My assistant coach back then, Kevin McCarthy, is now the executive director at Downtown United. We kept in touch, and eventually, I wanted a change from the constant nights and weekends of coaching as my own kids grew older. My son is now playing in the U13 team here, so I get to spend more time with him. He even calls me "coach" now, which is still a bit weird for him, but he loves it.”

MLS Next and Girls Academy provides a high-level platform

The potential at Downtown United Soccer Club is enormous, according to the Director of Coaching. New York City is brimming with soccer talent, and that motivates O'Donnell.

“The club has great infrastructure from grassroots all the way up, but the challenge was taking it to the next level. They’ve always had talented players, but at a certain point, players had to leave to progress. For example, in the 2009 age group, there are five Red Bull players on the national team, and two of those kids started here before going to Red Bulls. Now, they've been on trial in Europe for the past few weeks. It just shows that the talent is here in New York City.”

One of Downtown United’s key advantages is that they are the only club based on Manhattan. With neither NYCFC nor Red Bull playing on the island, DUSC has become the natural choice for many local players. Additionally, the boys' team has joined MLS Next, providing a structured, high-level platform and a professional game-day environment, while the girls’ team competes in Girls Academy, which has produced several pro-level players.

“Both MLS Next and Girls Academy will help us retain and develop players. And at the end of the day, if they move on to a higher level, we’ve done our job,” says O'Donnell.
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‍Soccer for all‍

Downtown United Soccer Club operates with a "soccer for all" philosophy, offering pathways for players at every level. According to Paul O'Donnell, the club’s focus is not only on player development but also on fostering a strong sense of community. From competitive MLS Next teams to recreational programs, the club provides opportunities for players of all ages and abilities.

“We’re a tight-knit community,” O'Donnell says, noting how local kids ride scooters to training while he commutes from New Jersey. “The community here is really supportive. The potential is enormous, and our goal is to provide pathways for players at every level.”

His approach focuses on elevating each player, not just focusing on elite prospects. "The goal is to make each player better, regardless of their starting point," he explains, emphasizing that the club is as much about developing individuals as it is about developing soccer talent.

“If they also become better players and get opportunities beyond us, that’s a bonus. But first and foremost, we’re developing individuals.”

When discussing what defines success for the Manhattan-based club, O’Donnell points to helping young players progress in their careers and leading talent development in the region.

“If we’re doing a good job with the younger age groups and developing them properly, they should continue to progress all the way through to the top. Of course, it’s inevitable that some kids will leave and others will come in, but ideally, we want to reduce the number of kids we bring in at the older age groups because we’re doing such a good job with the younger ones.”

“We’re also bringing in some of the Red Bull philosophy—game models and principles. When new players come in, even if they’re talented, they might not be up to speed with what we’re doing. So, our goal is to be a leader in player development and coach development in the tri-state area. If we can be right up there with the MLS teams and move players on to their academies, we’ve done our job.”

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‍Show it, don’t tell it

‍Over the past few years, U.S. soccer has seen significant growth. The sport has expanded, leagues have attracted big players, and American talent has found its way into top European leagues.

“New York and New Jersey have always been hotbeds for soccer talent. Before, they were college players, but now, these kids are in professional academies from a young age. The growth has been tremendous,” O'Donnell reflects, delving into the development of academies across the country.

“Years ago, U.S. Soccer had a residency program for the U17s, but it only covered about 40 players. Then they launched the U.S. Development Academy, which allowed more players to be involved. Now, MLS academies have taken over, and they’ve pushed the rest of the youth clubs to raise their standards. The level of coaching, both at MLS academies and other youth clubs, has improved significantly.”

A crucial element in this evolution has been video technology, which has been an unavoidable part of O’Donnell’s career.

“Many clubs use it for highlight reels for college recruiting, but I think we need to take it a step further. We’re starting to video training sessions so we can build a library of examples for our players to learn from. Most players are visual learners, so it’s important to show them what we want, not just tell them. We aim to catch them doing things right and show them that. This helps them internalize the right habits,” O'Donnell concludes.