Against the Run with Rich Orosco & Martin Drust: Building Clubs People Belong To

00:00:04: Now when you go to an LAC game, what I'm most proud of is that our supporters section and our supporters they do it.

00:00:10: They feel loved and respected by the club

00:00:12: And i think this is quite crucial for clubs That they know What kind of story they want to tell if they want To be more than just a football.

00:00:21: That's why I learned A lot from my background in entertainment Is going deep into storytelling

00:00:27: In the stadium.

00:00:28: there are hardly anything outside Of football where you can feel this kind of emotion.

00:00:50: Hello and welcome back to Against the Run, The one-on-one conversation series by Stance initiated by FC Zangpaoli and Service Plan Culture produced by Keats Noir.

00:01:02: In a twenty twenty six, Stance once again brings together people at the Milan Tour who see football as more than just game.

00:01:09: They understand it as a cultural space shaped by streetwear, design music subculture social conviction and the communities connecting these worlds.

00:01:19: And in this podcast we meet people who do know simply consume culture but actively shape them.

00:01:25: We talk about experiences that shape their work they value stand for and moments when they choose not to follow the crowd.

00:01:35: My name is Amadeus Tuner and once again I have the pleasure of guiding you through next few minutes as your host and resident subculture connoisseur.

00:01:42: And my guests today are Rich Orozco, Chief Brand Officer for Los Angeles Football Club and Martin Drust, a brand lead at FC St Pauli.

00:01:51: LAFC is a young club built in one of most complex cultural cities.

00:01:56: i would like to say... Los Angeles!

00:01:59: ...and st pauli is historic memberlet club whose identity has been shaped by generations of supporters.

00:02:05: And together they offer two very different perspectives on how a football club can become meaningful, but maybe there are some things that combine both as well and it's something we would like to talk about today!

00:02:21: I'd also like to start with one question which goes to you both, but Rich I want to start from your point Rich, when did you realize you no longer wanted to just consume culture but had to shape it?

00:02:32: and what sparked that shift?

00:02:35: Wow.

00:02:37: I think the platform of sports.

00:02:41: we often think about why we get people together And i think traditional Sports thinking is all match day Match Day Match Day.

00:02:49: In building LAFC from zero...I was seventh in No stadiums,no colors,no players And as I traveled the world, visiting clubs and meeting people like this gentleman in twenty sixteen.

00:03:03: I realized the importance of A taking a stand and creating a new club with values an making sure he growing staff.

00:03:12: everybody starts saying same thing about that.

00:03:14: but what they did was is always used to say that L.A.. With LFC all ships rise.

00:03:21: so it's beyond.

00:03:22: pitch out my head around Amplification and highlights.

00:03:26: can we put on community culture leaders in every space?

00:03:32: And how can the club put more emphasis, you know basically highlight and showcase and celebrate those people within our Community.

00:03:39: Of course We're going to be On-the-pitch with our Club and rooting for The players of the Crest but there's so much diversity and color and flavor and creators In Los Angeles.

00:03:54: I was trying to wrap my head on.

00:03:54: how do i get them all a part of this new movement and get them.

00:03:59: To co-create with us?

00:04:00: that is the magic.

00:04:01: beyond just the traditional sports thinking, it's one guys at ask a lot questions too early.

00:04:07: that gave me.

00:04:08: give you a lot ideas.

00:04:09: so assume something that combines you guys in clubs.

00:04:13: but martin how about you?

00:04:15: when did u realize Just don't want to be longer someone who's standing outside looking in but some one.

00:04:22: Who is actively pushing into it?

00:04:25: Maybe I start with this, and now have more than thirty-five years of a season ticket at St.

00:04:32: Pauli.

00:04:32: so always the big fan about Now twenty years ago And i brought them main sponsor to the club and at that time was third league, but there were good reasons for doing so.

00:04:49: Afterwards everybody in the club wanted to know me because if you bring a main sponsor everyone thinks it's all great!

00:04:56: Everyone lost their guy?

00:04:58: Who are

00:04:58: you?!

00:04:58: We would like to know your name!

00:05:00: So I did some work of the Club

00:05:04: from an

00:05:06: advertising agency background I think.

00:05:11: now, fifteen years ago... ...I asked myself what will i do in the future or next?

00:05:16: Because I was a little bit bored about that.

00:05:22: And then it really was like I did a survey with my self and at the end there were football watches luxury watches and old-timers.

00:05:35: There were the three things, I really said oh these are the things i'm into!

00:05:40: And then something happened that the club reached out to me asking if they want a role here?

00:05:53: So this is how it ended up Here I'm at a place where really can say yes, these are my values.

00:06:09: I like to work for this club and the people... ...and make a difference maybe in doing something good here for The Club.

00:06:23: In former advertising everything was great but You are there.

00:06:28: you have clients of course different and your service provider.

00:06:36: And here, of course I'm a service providers too but for the members of club this is much different.

00:06:44: Rich lafc had to create an identity almost from zero as he said you've been.

00:06:52: they're from the beginning and do you have to create everything by yourself?

00:06:57: What would you say was one of the most important thing when thinking about connecting?

00:07:04: The club, the supporters and this city.

00:07:07: I think just...I started to wrap my head around the responsibility we had.

00:07:12: right there's two ways You can build it Just marketing fans transactions or you could wrap your head around building relationships One of our Main owners Peter Goober.

00:07:25: I remember very early meeting.

00:07:26: we were all at a table and he just kept hammering home relationships not transactions.

00:07:32: so that definitely stuck with me, you know.

00:07:37: So it's just understanding that responsibility is what kind of we started wrapping our head around really early.

00:07:44: We identified are the key components or brand identity which number one was to unite the world city through the worlds game.

00:07:52: LA.

00:07:53: Los Angeles was a powerful place.

00:07:54: I always say when you win if he stayed micro and And you win your city.

00:07:59: You can win the world.

00:08:00: So you went la?

00:08:01: He could win the World.

00:08:02: UN New York Tokyo Hamburg, you can win The world If you do Your City right and you focus on that you really Can get the attention of the world.

00:08:11: so in this second thing we talked about an identity Was bringing joy to people as A sports team and That's not what you talk About much In the u.s.. As a Sports Team especially in LA super proud about coining that and wrapping hands around, how do we execute on match days?

00:08:27: And lastly was being a force for good in Los Angeles.

00:08:32: I've been to probably forty clubs around the world asking a lot of questions.

00:08:39: if you... We didn't have the luxury of having generations of support.

00:08:43: so How Do You Create That Death Early Out Of The Gate?

00:08:47: You know saying it declaring that we're gonna be a force for good in Los Angeles and then you have to say how do ian why an execute.

00:08:55: Making the declaration early help us attract people, They want to look for a group of people that they identify with and feel like there's bigger purpose, you know.

00:09:09: Of course beyond sport.

00:09:10: so... A lot I got from just asking questions in my travels understanding the power football culture and responsibility we had bringing it right way to Los Angeles.

00:09:22: Has there been any answer on all your talks?

00:09:26: That kind of united?

00:09:29: Is there anything...?

00:09:31: almost all clubs said to you when you talked about the differences or The things that are bringing them together.

00:09:39: Sure

00:09:40: just one word is it's heart and not every club I visited, i felt heart When i walked in the room?

00:09:46: Um, i visited brucey dortman very early.

00:09:50: These guys on same trip was also bar in munich.

00:09:53: i'm actually pretty obsessed with german football culture.

00:09:56: i think its Super visual.

00:09:58: It's super organized with the fanbases and I just felt like there was a lot of fire here.

00:10:04: Yeah,

00:10:05: you don't see it quite England.

00:10:07: You got the pub culture and the bruise in their fun songs.

00:10:10: But like it's not visual is not the drums on the T foes And you know?

00:10:14: It's like its amazing.

00:10:15: and now when you go to LAC game what i'm most proud Of Is that our supporter section or supporters they do What They Do because they feel loved and respected by The club.

00:10:24: And you can't do that if you don't have an internal team with heart.

00:10:29: Fortunately, I'm now eleven years in the club and there's a group of us who are still here who is seven eight nine ten years.

00:10:36: You know iKnowyoucan't build what you built Martin without like being it people to see them.

00:10:40: your eyes got to live so im sure many ppl actually already knows how many people hear at St Palli.

00:10:45: we've been for many many years its hearts.

00:10:48: not every organization has come from top down.

00:10:54: So I'm very appreciative of our ownership group.

00:10:57: They really wanted to create a legacy for the city, that's different.

00:11:00: That's a different take on ownership.

00:11:02: they're in it For the long game.

00:11:04: so i have to thank them first for creating The example and giving us the gas To go out And make it happen.

00:11:12: It used to say product arrives.

00:11:16: It has to create emotions because then people stick to it.

00:11:19: and Martin you have a background in an agency work, You Have A Background Rich In Entertainment World.

00:11:27: is there anything?

00:11:28: You could adapt from the entertainment world into The World of Sports which Is Of Course An Entertainment As Well But It's A Different Kind Of Thing.

00:11:36: Yeah For yeah I grew up in at Studios And Television.

00:11:44: You can hire a videographer that believes in what you're doing, or you could hire... A videographer who's just there for the paycheck.

00:11:53: And it gets back to their heart—you can't pay somebody enough to stay up till four in the morning and make the perfect cut —the perfect audio hit—to produce that perfect story… To dig even deeper!

00:12:04: So ummm That is where I wrapped my head around quickly from The Entertainment Side was From the deep dive into storytelling Not the surface.

00:12:13: So we hired an early team of people who loved LA, loves storytelling and many of them love football.

00:12:22: And not all our early content creators or storytellers were hardcore football fans but they are hard core people in

00:12:29: L.A.,

00:12:29: and fans at the culture of L. A.. so that's what I learned a lot from my background.

00:12:34: entertainment is go deep into story telling.

00:12:38: Especially when we're talking about storytelling, I guess you have some stories to share Martin.

00:12:41: What would be the greatest stories in a last couple of years?

00:12:45: You will love to think about it!

00:12:46: There are lot's of course but is there one specific way that man this great story and i'm always happy to share it?

00:12:54: First of all...I'd like add something here.

00:12:57: When..i have to describe my role In here It often use showrunner

00:13:07: Okay,

00:13:08: so I'm not the show runner in all this financial things but about then narrative.

00:13:15: So and how to keep these story ongoing?

00:13:21: yes?

00:13:23: And it's a lot of entertainment world.

00:13:26: i think is quite crucial for clubs that they... know what kind of story they want to tell if they wanted more than just the football club.

00:13:36: So there are a lot who adjust about football, which is fine but this club in this city has it's chance... ...to compete with us and we really do our best out-of-this gift that we received.

00:13:56: Do you think Klopp could?

00:13:58: And I mean Of course a football club but sports club in any house sports and genres, could survive if it's just about the sport.

00:14:08: And not concentrating on everything which is going with that like keeping community out of because I don't believe There is a possibility to just focusing on that part.

00:14:21: It's always about the community around it, there are always different kind of attributes... ...that has been part of the whole narrative and all storytelling?

00:14:30: I think it depends where you think the revenue comes from And for example in European football its TV money.

00:14:39: Honestly they're not many clubs really interested in their community around because maybe these guys complaining about prices or things like that.

00:14:51: And just in my experience, when you look at Premier League clubs this is a small theater opera.

00:15:01: attendancies there sometimes not every stadium of course but I think for clubs it's hard enough

00:15:13: to

00:15:13: to keep up when it comes to sports.

00:15:18: Not every club is cultivating this kind of story around it.

00:15:24: Rich, what do you think about that?

00:15:26: I completely get that there's a reality and i'll go back to ownership down as admit a lot people now in the sports industry... You could blood sweat and tears twenty four seven but if your ownership is not supporting that narrative and the showrunner, you're not going to get the material.

00:15:46: And I think in LA specifically part of it was probably because we were at zero right?

00:15:52: When you dive into community stories You are now showing faces other people can identify with.

00:15:59: Right!

00:15:59: Like i'm like that guy...i am rooting for them.

00:16:02: They love LAC..I need to explore LAC & see what its about.

00:16:06: So I think part of this early as we really had nothing.

00:16:10: So, my philosophy is I would rather have a conversation like this with three of us super early LAFC and talk about building a club in LA.

00:16:19: And our dreams and aspirations for it because if you do this consistently never know who's watching.

00:16:23: the three of Us then turns into six and nine and twelve.

00:16:27: next thing You Know A Thousand Person Rally before your team.

00:16:30: that what we found out.

00:16:32: so It was really patient With The Micro and again the micro as you highlight more people that people can identify with and you're trying to build something from zero like we're not only the same but i would love to hear of why all these different people are reasoning towards a same property.

00:16:50: I do see kind of shift in last couple years when thinking about being fan club back in the days was more like been a fan of a club nowadays it tends little bit more to be fun for player, then like just going with the player.

00:17:05: First of all, I was a fan of Club A because he's playing for now and I'm a fan club B because it changed in this something which is just In my opinion that way.

00:17:17: or do you see the shift as well?

00:17:19: And what Do You think about when we talk About contracts and keeping The people other players for the club so that they can't go to another club.

00:17:30: Is it more tougher than before?

00:17:32: Is there a shift as well, what would you say Rich?

00:17:35: It goes both ways.

00:17:37: I was just telling story earlier.

00:17:39: we cultivated and developed first Korean supporters group in the history of Major League Soccer In LA its second largest Korean population outside Seoul.

00:17:48: Now i did that is had strong memory of World Cup match in LA large facility called the Radio Korea Tower.

00:17:56: Those five thousand Koreans watching South Korea versus Uruguay in a knockout game and I remember that moment, i think it was...I don't want to get the year wrong- I think its twenty fourteen if im correct.

00:18:06: but The idea is..i wanted build that community before.... I knew we would have a Korean player in future And you can do two ways.

00:18:13: You could wait for the Korean player then put all of hard work into trying develop fanbase or you could tell the Koreans Basically were straight they're coming We're gonna have a Korean player, but I want you here before we have the player because that's going to be magic and That's Gonna Be explosive if i didn't Have.

00:18:30: That strong korean supporters group.

00:18:32: Before we had actually had a defender first Kim Moon Hwan A Korean Defender First And i remember we set up a sunday night zoom call with The korean supporter group.

00:18:41: they were probably only thirty people and?

00:18:44: We announced kim moon and it was just.

00:18:46: It Was Magic.

00:18:47: it was the night before the press release.

00:18:49: wow and that was baby steps.

00:18:51: and who would have thought we'd get some hung them in after, right?

00:18:55: Years later.

00:18:56: So I think there's two ways.

00:18:58: you could wait for the player Right And then there was a lot of work After that to develop a fan base.

00:19:03: We signed Olivier Giroud and Hugo Larisse from France.

00:19:08: You know...we Could not identify big French Fanbase at our club before them so we had put The working afterwards.

00:19:16: how do we outreach To their french community in Los Angeles?

00:19:19: I think there's two ways you can do it, and a lot of us just the bandwidth in that commitment to their organization.

00:19:24: To have foresight on what is coming.

00:19:26: Martin give us some glimpses into your work when signing new players?

00:19:32: Is this same approach

00:19:34: as before?

00:19:35: We are different because everything gets normal way.

00:19:43: we're second tier club.

00:19:45: so... And we really think that the club is always bigger than a player.

00:19:52: Of course, there are sometimes players who then develop within the club to a brand of its own.

00:20:03: but as a second-tier club you hardly have these kind of players who are bigger than our clubs.

00:20:11: so here it's more... is the icon and the club has to find the right stories about it.

00:20:21: Of course we look into players, if there's something interesting in them of course we highlight this but... It's more about The Club!

00:20:34: We know that more than fifty percent who likes FC Zangpaoli are not even into football.

00:20:39: So because of this we have different approaches to the things that we communicate or advertise.

00:20:49: We are switching sports for a second, I'm always saying if Michael Jordan would grow up in an era right now where he had social media and all these stuff.

00:20:58: it will be completely different.

00:21:03: these awesome last dance documentary where he's kind of worn out just because off the sports and everything you had to do at that time, like doing the commercials.

00:21:12: And all the hype around him was one though best known people on the world.

00:21:18: it's crazy to think of how players try keep up with social media at the same time.

00:21:25: so my point is a lot try not only to go into sports but show another side as well.

00:21:33: Going through the Paris Fashion Week, sitting front row at Louis Vuitton doing this and that... Not on a commercial site with contracts or stuff like that because it's their way of going!

00:21:45: Do you think we are living in time when players concentrate A couple of things at that point, or do you think it's good there is like a mixture?

00:21:58: Do you think maybe bad focus isn't on sports anymore.

00:22:02: I think they've done this even in the ancient times but... There was just some media outlets and not all these social medias.

00:22:13: what we have now?

00:22:14: because i remember when i as little kid there were Franz Beckenbauer for example And he was everywhere over the tabloids with his four hundred fifty SEL six point nine.

00:22:30: For example, yeah so it wasn't like this same.

00:22:34: but today is I think everything's more hyped to day.

00:22:40: and just what would?

00:22:44: i can say that even if they go to a Paris fashion show of course do it in their spare time and they are really professionals.

00:22:52: And I hardly know any football player who's not into his sports, first there is sports people... ...and of course they have different interests.

00:23:06: these young guys with an awful lot of money!

00:23:10: So a lot of time yeah?

00:23:12: They really have a lot.

00:23:16: nine to one, maybe?

00:23:18: And then yes.

00:23:21: So this is not a nine-to-five job and so all these things.

00:23:27: if you take that as the thought than may be find yeah it's... Maybe no any different in the past.

00:23:36: How about The City of Angels?

00:23:38: There was lot to do.

00:23:40: No we encourage.

00:23:41: I like what your saying there when Meet the athletes and work with them.

00:23:45: They're so dedicated, they were dedicated to their twelve thirteen fourteen years old.

00:23:48: So when you get in that headspace yeah it's all about the sport.

00:23:52: they know why they are there.

00:23:53: but No we encourage everyone.

00:23:55: if you have passions or other interests like Get out There.

00:23:57: And then for us It helps us grow our audience.

00:24:00: Obviously theres You Know We Have a twenty two thousand C stadiums.

00:24:04: We need more fans And Theres Twelve million plus people In Metro LA.

00:24:10: The More They Do Better For Us.

00:24:12: Yeah, social media and it's a whole different era now.

00:24:15: So yeah we encourage you for sure.

00:24:17: For sure It is

00:24:18: sports club And of course We're talking about football at that point.

00:24:23: Is the Football Club more than a football club these days?

00:24:26: I just can answer it for FC St Pauli.

00:24:32: Since forty years it was More Than Just A Football Club.

00:24:35: Yes But honestly Football especially in Germany.

00:24:41: What happens here?

00:24:44: in every second weekend when thirty thousand people are here, we win a crucial match.

00:24:53: In the stadium.

00:24:55: there's hardly anything outside of football where you can feel this kind of emotions bringing people together and even if they're foreigners to each other I scream at them and cheering, I think this is really special about football.

00:25:16: So even clubs which are just about football it's always the people in what they experience especially when a team wins or loses because sometimes that brings people much more together than you're winning every match.

00:25:40: Now we said from the beginning, LAFC is football and more.

00:25:45: And I think that's for us... We knew early it was not only a responsibility again from our learnings but also an opportunity to build much more than with new team in LA.

00:25:56: so yeah you feel at our stadium way more then just football.

00:26:02: But that wasn't intentional.

00:26:04: You need fan base to carry outside of the stadium.

00:26:08: do that, but you create the platform where it's important to take a stand for important issues in Los Angeles.

00:26:14: That is special when its happening.

00:26:16: Talking about different stadiums I mean most wonderful office i could think of today because having this empty stadium infront me everything happens inside right now.

00:26:28: so im looking at.

00:26:28: I love it, last year.

00:26:32: So many thanks to you guys Martin that offer such a nice view for me today!

00:26:38: But let's talk about your most favourite stadiums in the world... You've seen a lot of different games and matches not even football or other sports as well.

00:26:50: Is there some home-of-sports you really like?

00:26:54: And why do you think so?

00:26:56: I

00:27:00: worked a year in London, end of the nineties.

00:27:04: And one off...I knew i will just be there for maximum one years.

00:27:08: so my bucket list war was to go every stadium in london

00:27:14: at that time.

00:27:14: There's alot!

00:27:15: So..i made it through Raven Cottage and Fulham because quite in the neighborhood, that was amazing.

00:27:25: And then Tottenham Court Road for example White Heart Lane all these old stadiums.

00:27:31: they were really amazing and sometimes it reminds me a little bit of this stadium's.

00:27:38: but the most astonishing atmosphere I've ever felt was in Buenos Aires.

00:27:47: But now you have to help me out The name of La Bombanera

00:27:53: and

00:27:54: so Boca Juniors.

00:27:56: And I was there for a match because... ...I did the commercial, yeah?

00:28:05: So it was amazing what people were doing with their scarves!

00:28:17: The whole stadium was jumping really, a great experience.

00:28:26: Sounds like one?

00:28:27: Yeah yeah but it was not the show!

00:28:29: It's people celebrating each other and what is happening there... And I would love to be on day at LAFC and see what they do because i hear so many great things.

00:28:46: sometimes I watch some videos about And this, uh... This is something I would really love to experience one day.

00:28:56: Good job with you?

00:28:57: If i get somebody like him enjoying that experience.. ..I know I'm done!

00:29:01: We're good.

00:29:02: Martin Ashley Pippen we are good.

00:29:03: Yeah

00:29:05: yeah ummm.... I will

00:29:05: come definitely.

00:29:07: You got it right here in the podcast and he's committed.

00:29:10: It

00:29:10: signed now.

00:29:10: Ten years

00:29:10: later He has committed.

00:29:12: for me was Estadio Azteca In Mexico City.

00:29:15: Oh yeah I just went for a World Cup match against Ecuador.

00:29:19: Wow It's incredible, but I mean football is so important to many countries and it felt like the entire country was there.

00:29:28: But even after the match in the streets people who didn't attend that match everybody were on their green jerseys singing celebrating etc... And then i wasn't at the England Match with Mexico vs England which i heard.

00:29:40: that was just unbelievable.

00:29:41: you can hear English players reminisce about game in that match and how incredible it felt, et cetera.

00:29:49: So was an

00:29:49: incredibly good football match?

00:29:51: Yeah

00:29:53: all of it.

00:29:53: so uh... And I've done the London Tours tour.

00:29:55: my first match in England In the Premier League was White Heart Lane .So i'm also a fan of white heart lane back into day.

00:30:02: That was super memorable.

00:30:04: Gareth Bale ended up scoring Really?

00:30:06: The team went to in twenty I think its two thousand thirteen.

00:30:11: This is before LAFC.

00:30:14: Nine years later, he somehow signs for the club that didn't exist when I first saw

00:30:19: him.

00:30:19: It was a good moment!

00:30:22: He signed for LAHC in twenty-four... twenty-twenty four?

00:30:26: When i met him like Gareth you scored a goal on your very first Premier League game ever watched In England and my head it was exploding.

00:30:34: And then nine years later You were here at LHC as whole thing.

00:30:37: It's such

00:30:37: an awesome moment.

00:30:38: That is great.

00:30:39: I don't want to do anyone wrong at that point, but from my perspective it seemed like in the last World Cup tournament... ...it was especially important for Mexico.

00:30:51: something happened over there.

00:30:53: The fan crowd went nuts on everything!

00:30:57: The atmosphere is really great.

00:31:00: I mean i haven't been onsite But From My Perspective It Was Very Important For Them To Be Part Of The World Cup.

00:31:08: because you have been on site, I can ask right now Rich.

00:31:13: What's your perspective?

00:31:15: Host country the world is watching Mexican pride in football culture.

00:31:22: when you walk into stadium like what everybody was bringing to the match we were walking through just parades of people dancing and performers and food vendors.

00:31:30: so i think it's just bring.

00:31:32: that's a beautiful bar.

00:31:33: You could bring Your Culture To this experience.

00:31:36: then when there's people all over the world visiting here in St.

00:31:39: Pauli, like I'm again my first time and my first game is every little nuance i was like wow just blown away.

00:31:45: but that was years and years of people bringing it here right.

00:31:48: so yeah walking up to a stackup for The World Cup match It was...it was the country bringin' all their flavor & heart & soul um..to that stadium that day.

00:31:57: And thats what magic was.

00:31:59: Okay guys if you think about the fact that trophies would disappear completely at this point What Would You How would you judge if your club had succeeded in a way, which attribute could be put out?

00:32:16: If there hadn't been any trophies at that point.

00:32:20: For me it's easy because we haven't won major trophies two years ago.

00:32:26: We've won the second German league and our esports team is quite successful too.

00:32:34: But apart from that in football,

00:32:37: so

00:32:38: you're asking the wrong question to me because I can't imagine something like this.

00:32:47: If you ask hardcore St Pauli fans they would tell what they really want to achieve and it says a lot about how St.

00:32:57: Pauli's fans are.

00:32:58: This is maybe one day to play a cup final not win to play a cup final.

00:33:06: So this is how humble we are and of course or honestly I don't know what would change with the club if then start winning trophies.

00:33:23: maybe it's not the same club anymore?

00:33:25: Let's see!

00:33:26: I mean,

00:33:27: let's try

00:33:28: it.

00:33:28: You

00:33:29: never know... Of course we are professional football clubs who always

00:33:33: try

00:33:33: to

00:33:35: reach the

00:33:36: best.

00:33:37: of

00:33:37: course for us.

00:33:38: i've had so many now.

00:33:40: there were nine seasons in right?

00:33:42: I've had So many beautiful moments of people sharing their memories.

00:33:47: Right memories have a cup final an opening day.

00:33:51: Somebody walked up me one day and said I almost left Los Angeles Until I found LAC, you know we're a big city.

00:33:57: It's hard for some people to connect.

00:33:59: so i think it's all of the memories and that And connecting people.

00:34:05: For me That said an incredible metric for success in again any big global City?

00:34:10: It's harder to connect with People In your community So To see to hear those stories and fathers and sons.

00:34:16: and now We're nice seasons into like there were kids ever watching matches at two and three years old who didn't Know what was going on and now they're nine-years-old crying You know when we win And on Tuesday night like you never know.

00:34:27: So yeah, I think it's the memories and that connections That would be On top of the trophies.

00:34:32: so this podcast is titled stands against The run.

00:34:36: some last question Would Be so what are You Against?

00:34:40: or to focus more in the positive side Of things What Are you really staying for Martin?

00:34:49: Is a personal as a club?

00:34:51: both i mean It's combination i guess

00:34:54: Yeah, what are we staying for?

00:34:57: yes this club and the same is.

00:35:02: For me as I think you met humanity isn't it right?

00:35:08: Can can do much better than its doing now on.

00:35:11: this is what this club was about fighting for a better world for equal more solidarity and diverse a diverse world.

00:35:22: And I think this club stands for it and everybody, I know who works for the Club is fully committed to these

00:35:30: values.".

00:35:51: play it safe, right?

00:35:52: And I think a lot of us in this space.

00:35:55: We feel most alive when we're not playing it safe or taking the chance and does not always work.

00:36:00: so you have to... The bravery is that plan might not work on pitch but will go for because if win works its beautiful thing can make big impact as a club that's growing and leading MLS is an example we could give to other teams in the States.

00:36:27: This interesting.

00:36:28: our sporting director Andreas Bornermann just said this interview.

00:36:33: for him, it's the same if he signs player.

00:36:37: they have vision of how this play will develop when happens.

00:36:45: It works out and he has this passion about it.

00:36:48: This is quite amazing.

00:36:49: It's a rush,

00:36:50: this kind of old A-team thing I love when the plan works out.

00:36:55: When the plane works

00:36:57: out?

00:36:58: Yeah yeah i'll encourage people.

00:36:59: there's bigger rush.

00:37:00: you take stand

00:37:01: and work

00:37:03: much bigger rush like

00:37:06: all the stands things.

00:37:09: It's brave to do it because yeah we really put so much work and resources in it but.

00:37:18: We are convinced that is will work out at the end,

00:37:22: this little podcast is part of it.

00:37:25: I'm really appreciate your time guys rich Martin thanks for being a part of his podcast.

00:37:30: this against Iran is the podcast of stance.

00:37:33: my name is Amadeus Tuna.

00:37:35: until next

00:37:35: time thank

00:37:37: you.

00:37:38: thank you very much.

00:37:40: A narrative by Keats Noir.