One on One With North Texas Goalkeeper Michael Collodi

Afterburn Soccer Show

If you want another example of the pathway FC Dallas available to its academy players, Michael Collodi, North Texas’ star goalkeeper, joins the list of talents who have put in the work and taken their opportunities.

Collodi was named MLS Next Pro Goalkeeper of the Year back on October 16, an amazing mark for the first year professional. His stats back it up:

Collodi posted a 13-4-6 record when playing in goal, registering a 73.1% save rate and logging six shutouts during the regular season. The Plano native ranks third in North Texas’ all-time in games played (23), wins (12) and saves (76). He also participated in the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro Goalie Wars, becoming the first North Texas SC goalkeeper to participate in the event.

In just about 24 hours, he will lead his squad out at home in Frisco to get a chance for an even bigger prize - winning the MLS Next Pro title.

Back in October, we sat down with Collodi and had a chance to hear more of his story, his dreams, and the kind of work ethic it takes to succeed with North Texas.

For starters, Michael glows when talking about what the academy experience did for him as far as preparing to be a professional.

“A lot of it was good coaching,” he said. “Having a bunch of different coaches as you progress through age groups. A big part is the proximity - they keep you close with the first and second team. If you want to go watch first-team training, you can. The first-team goalkeeping coach gets academy players in training, to get that mindset from an early age.”

Collodi has been with the FC Dallas organization from a young age, switching to goalkeeper at the age of seven and never looking back. While he dabbled in some other sports, soccer became his passion. His dream was always to play professionally, though he recognized that the pathway might look a little different for him.

When Columbia in New York City, an Ivy League school, came calling, he went for the opportunity.

“I think college was always in my next step. It’s easier to make that decision as a goalkeeper. Because obviously, you can play a lot longer than a field player. Part of it was just being able to get games in and get experience. A lot of times if you sign super young, it’s a lot harder to come in and get minutes, especially as a goalkeeper. You need to be in games, see those situations, and use those opportunities to learn from it. As much as we try to replicate it in training, you can’t do it without game time.”

As his four excellent years in college came to a close, John Gall, then interim head coach of North Texas, reached out to see if he was interested in continuing his career back home. It was an easy decision, a “joy” as he said it.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing.

“The biggest jump was the mentality and mindset of everything. As everyone knows, a lot of people go to college to play professionally or just to play as something fun to do. The environment is very different. It’s competitive. Everyone wants to win and go to the next step.”

One of the things fans don’t always see is the daily grind of playing a professional sport. Players have to truly love it. In college, soccer was a seasonal sport, and academics dominated as a pressure. But with North Texas? It’s a full-time job.

“Obviously, there are moments when people are frustrated. I try to remember that this is a game we play for fun and we are lucky enough to get paid to do it,” Michael said about how he stays balanced.

The young goalkeeper is thankful to be challenged week in and out by a phenomenal set of players, guys like Nico Gordon, Pedrinho, Enes Sali, Tarik Scott to name a few, who set a high bar.

“I think we have the best lineup in the league,” he said about his teammates. “I think we show it in our performances. That competitiveness and that desire has to come from somewhere. It comes from training - everyone wants to win. No one wants to lose. You have to prove yourself every day. You have to earn your money. We push each other as much as we can and that helps everybody.”

Consistency is Collodi’s goal as he tries to keep growing and take his game to the next level, dreaming of the senior team. It helps, he acknowledged, when the team has a strong identity, something instilled by John Gall and carried on by interim head coach Michel Garbini. Despite making a coaching change in the middle of the season, the team barely skipped a beat.

Part of that effort is getting mentally in the right place.

“A lot of goalkeeping - a high percentage - is mental. Decision-making and everything. Getting those decisions correct and consistent,” he said. “Consistency is the thing we want to see the most. Finding a way to see where I need to get better and using the coaching staff to help with that.”

His message to the academy kids still working their way through the system?

“I think it’s just kind of accepting that and learning that you will never be given anything. You have to work for it and take it for yourself. Being as dedicated as you can.”

You can watch the full conversation above, learning three of Collodi’s favorite keepers he seeks to model himself after, and discover his favorite taco spot.

And don’t forget to watch Collodi and North Texas play this Saturday as they welcome Philadelphia Union 2 for the MLS Next Pro championship.

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