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Austin FC midfielder Owen Wolff is having a breakout year. Fans at Q2 Stadium have seen glimpses of his brilliance on the field since 2021, but publicly, he’s been a bit of a mystery. Until now. He joins hosts Jimmy Maas and Juan Diego Garcia to talk about his five seasons in verde and black, along with his future.
¡Vamos Verde! is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.
The full transcript of this episode of ¡Vamos Verde! is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or captions on some podcast apps.
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Jimmy [00:00:35] Welcome back to Vamos Verde, I’m Jimmy Maas.
Juan [00:00:37] And I’m Juan Diego Garcia.
Jimmy [00:00:39] And what a night for Austin FC last night. I mean, an insane game. Man, watching it was a bit of a struggle at times. It was, yeah. The lateness.
Juan [00:00:51] All of it. Yes, but I mean I was on my couch. I had a little blanket ready I was ready to go for like PKs hole nine and then you know,.
Jimmy [00:00:59] I got a cup of coffee in the middle of the second half–.
Juan [00:01:03] And then you stayed up all night all night thinking about it one o’clock and buzzing
Jimmy [00:01:06] And buzzing, obviously. Wow, wow. CJ Fodrey coming in with the last minute. I mean, almost literally last minute, and actually both goals for the night were kind of last minute-ish. You know, they were to stop its time. Right at the end of the night.
Juan [00:01:19] Right at the end of halves or games or periods through which soccer time is marked.
Jimmy [00:01:27] Yes, thank you. That’s why you come here for the technical terms. Of course, yeah. Periods through which soccer time is marked, but that’s good news for Austin. They are advancing to their first final. It’s the first final, first shot at a trophy. I mean, it’s a chance at something and it’s really big trophy. It really is. It’s giant.
Juan [00:01:48] Yeah.
Jimmy [00:01:48] It makes the World Cup look like, kind of actually just like a regular old cup. Right. You know, even though I get that it’s not quite the same. It’s not really cup-shaped, but. No, but you know what I’m saying. It’s cup-sized. It’s a large Yeti size versus the US Open Cup, which is..
Juan [00:02:03] Right, it’s the Stanley Cup giving the Lombardi Trophy a little bit of envy. That is.
Jimmy [00:02:09] Is it — yes that’s that’s a fair comparison yes i would say that trophy could be in Austin’s trophy case by uh the second of October.
Juan [00:02:19] Right. They also host the final. That’s going to be a really big deal for the city, really big for the team. Highest stakes in soccer coming right here to Austin.
Jimmy [00:02:31] Weird circumstances stuffed two extra home games into the closing stretch here for Austin FC. And we all know their sparkling home form is going to really help out. Listen, this is a different. This US Open Cup play is different.
Juan [00:02:45] It does seem to be the case. I mean, Minnesota United beat Austin three nil at Q2 Stadium earlier this year. And then, you know, Austin is coming off of maybe not their best performance against Dallas, definitely not their performance against Dallas, only to pretty much match up strength for strength against Minnesota and pull it off.
Jimmy [00:03:05] It was a fascinating game. It did feel like, at times, it was a little, not to get too bogged down in details of what occurred, but it did feel a little bit about like, people were just passing around the back just to pass. There’s not a lot of forward action for long periods, long stretches of the game for either team. It’s just that.
Juan [00:03:27] Like for a lot of the game, it felt like you were just kind of, like they were each poking each other with a stick waiting for them to do something. And then later on in the game it just became an end to end like basketball game.
Jimmy [00:03:40] Yeah, it’s like one of those boxing matches that is jabs for eight rounds.
Juan [00:03:45] Right. And suddenly someone goes. Swaying on each other.
Jimmy [00:03:49] Yeah, so good news for Austin and good news for our guest today, you and I, maybe the collective we, the royal we, our listeners as well. You out there, you’ve wanted to hear from him for many, many, many, many months. We’ve been asking for him for a while. He is one of the, Uh, oh geez on this team, even though technically did not join until middle of the first season, but you know, he was here.
Juan [00:04:17] He was here in 2021.
Jimmy [00:04:20] Right because of many other circumstances mainly his dad was the head coach Our guest today, uh the man with the assist last night another goal contribution owen wolf first off Things seem to be going pretty well for you on the field. What’s different right now? Um, how are you feeling about that? Just give me your overall thoughts on the season so far
Owen Wolff [00:04:44] Yeah, I feel like I caught a pretty good streak these last few games, just trying to keep it going. The team’s been doing pretty well lately, and we’re in a good spot, so just trying to keep that going. And the vibes around the locker room has been good, so I’m just trying to keep it going as well.
Juan [00:05:01] Are you doing anything different than years past? Like, there’s no secret ritual that’s unlocked the best version of yourself?
Owen Wolff [00:05:08] No, not really. I feel like it’s just kinda been going my way.
Jimmy [00:05:13] Let’s take it back to 2021. Let’s all get our face masks on and let’s walk around at six feet apart. You came to the team from the jump, like you were here in the very, very, very beginning before there was a field or anything else. So let’s talk about your first days when you got the call up to the first team and what that felt like. And I mean, you were quite young at the time and just kind of talk about those days, the early days.
Owen Wolff [00:05:43] Yeah, so I actually came here because I had a stress fracture in my back, so I came here to get that fixed and then my plan was kind of just to go back to where I was, which is Atlanta’s Academy, and I kind of just ended up staying here and figuring out what it was that I was going to do here, and the plan was just to be a part of the Academy here and see what the future holds, like if it’s staying with the Academy and then it is, or the first team were going to college, but I never really had too much in mind. I kind of just went with the flow. And luckily enough, I was able to be part of the first team for quite some time the first year and being able to sign the contract at the end of the 1st year was really awesome. But like you said, from the start, I mean, I was really young. I mean like my first job was at Water.
Jimmy [00:06:28] Where was your first job?
Juan [00:06:30] I was waiting tables at a Colombian restaurant.
Jimmy [00:06:33] Okay, so yeah, and then your first job is professional soccer player. That’s like a dream for well everybody in the world. Yeah
Owen Wolff [00:06:41] Absolutely, no, it was it was pretty awesome. Um, you know, it’s something that I always wanted when I was a kid. So Being able to have that like happen was was pretty surreal um when you
Jimmy [00:06:56] Now I’m not suggesting you got paid, like a lot, but when you are that young, I mean you’re coming of age in Austin, you have the dream job, you’ve got money. I think I might know the answer to this, but do you miss, do you feel like at some point you missed that high school experience that other kids your age got?
Owen Wolff [00:07:19] No, not really. I mean it also like COVID hit so we kind of had to go online and so that was kind of my Transfer from from high school. I went to high school for like one semester and then just did online all the way until I had to finish. So I feel like I didn’t really miss too much and I don’t think I’d really trade Trade for what for what I have. All right, so
Juan [00:07:41] So you’re saying you don’t feel like you missed out on the experience of being broke and not being able to pay for your own meal when you’re out with your friends. When you’re out with your friends.
Jimmy [00:07:49] The fun stuff, prom, I don’t know. Friday night lights, homecoming, that kind of stuff. I mean, you grew up in Georgia, in Ohio, in Texas. I mean this is football area.
Owen Wolff [00:08:02] No, not really. I kind of kind of like how it went for me.
Jimmy [00:08:07] A lot of your career in Austin you’ve been asked to be sort of a utility tool, you know, play middle, play attacking mid, play defensive mid, left back or whatever. Is there a preference and are you doing that now? Because that’s what’s different.
Owen Wolff [00:08:26] I think yeah, I feel like I’m most comfortable probably in the midfield, but for me I think being able to play all those different positions will like help me become a better soccer player as well because it helps you see the game in a different way and experience different situations. But my preference would be yeah.
Jimmy [00:08:43] Midfield probably. Is it just the vision? Is it you see things differently than most other people?
Owen Wolff [00:08:50] Being with my father definitely helped me. He was around the game a lot, and I feel he saw it a different way than many people do. And I think that helped me a lot being able to be under him for a while. And also having Nico who also sees the game in a very different way helps me a a lot because they both have given me advice and situations and put me in different types of positions that will help me learn how to deal with certain situations and stuff like that when it comes to game time because you have to make the decisions in real time and you don’t want to mess that up because you always want to do what’s right for the team and what will help you guys win.
Juan [00:09:33] What were those early conversations with Nico about when he first arrived and you guys were maybe talking a little bit about your role and what the expectations might be for you and is this what we’re seeing in terms of those expectations and the role that he had carved out for you?
Owen Wolff [00:09:48] Yeah, I’ve known Nico for quite a while now. We knew him from Columbus when we were there. But yeah, at the beginning of the year and all the way till now, I feel like we have a pretty good idea of my role in the team and what’s expected of me. And I’m just trying to execute that as best as possible for myself and for the team. And yeah, I think it was pretty clear from day one when we had our conversations about what my role would be in the teams.
Juan [00:10:14] So he told you like, all right, you’re going to score this many goals. We’re about to turn you on a star in this city. Like everyone’s going to be talking about you. That’s what he said.
Owen Wolff [00:10:25] That’s not how it went but it was just kind of just knowing what my role would be in the team and you know just trying to help us out as much as possible which has kind of been what’s happening.
Juan [00:10:39] We’ll be back with more from Owen Wolf after this break.
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Jimmy [00:11:37] Welcome back to Vamos Verde. We are talking with Austin FC star young midfielder.
Juan [00:11:45] Do you get a lot of freedom on the pitch in Niko system or or is it a bit more structured for you?
Owen Wolff [00:11:50] Yeah at times you get a little bit of freedom and at times you have to be a little more structured. It depends on what what the game calls for so I feel like just being able to make that decision in the game is important and I think I’ve gotten much better at like balancing that knowing when you know I can take risks and be free and when I have to stick to a structure.
Jimmy [00:12:10] This is your fifth lap through the league. Which teams kind of get you excited? Which teams challenge you? Which teams sort of, I don’t know, answer that however that. Yeah.
Owen Wolff [00:12:21] Yeah, no. For me, I always like playing some of the best teams in the league. I think it’s always fun, like being challenged. So I always enjoy that. But I feel like each week there’s a each team provides a different challenge. Like lately, it’s been been, um, can we play San Jose and Kansas? They were good defensive team. They they’re aggressive. They’re physical. They provide certain challenges. And then other teams like LAFC and Vancouver just have a bunch of quality and they’re able to hurt you in an instant. So. I feel like every team has their own challenges to us and enjoy being able to face those challenges and I think the group does as well. We have a bunch of resilient guys and a resilient group so when we’re faced with challenges I think we’re ready to take them on.
Jimmy [00:13:09] This year you had some new arrivals, but still nonetheless pretty productive attack. Overall, it’s buried out overall. I recognize that there were some ups and downs along the way. But anyway, do you have any particular pairing that you were like every single time they’re on the other end of my ball?
Owen Wolff [00:13:29] I mean, it’s kind of just what happens. Like they’re either going in for you or they’re not. And lately for us, like they’ve been pouring in, which has been great. And hopefully we can just keep that going, but not really any certain pairing that I’d say.
Jimmy [00:13:42] No one read read your mind. I have this idea and they seem to always be on the same page
Owen Wolff [00:13:47] I feel like it’s something that it takes time to build as well, so I get that at the beginning of the year it wasn’t probably going as great or flowing as good as we wanted it to, but I think as the year goes you start to find the chemistry and the connection like you said and good things just start to happen.
Juan [00:14:09] Is that what was missing earlier in the year? Just that consistency in playing with someone, understanding their tendencies, understanding what you want of them and what they’re expecting of you and finding that middle ground.
Owen Wolff [00:14:22] Yeah, I think it’s like, when new guys come in, I think it takes, you know, some time for everyone to figure out each other and, you know, trying to be on the same page. But I mean, you can work on it in training. But when it comes to the game, it’s just a little different. Like you get, you get less less moments that you’re able to make those decisions. And, and sometimes, yeah, I mean earlier in the season, we probably weren’t the most connected and, and, um, you know, knew what we were, what each other were doing. But I think it just takes time, and clearly it’s kinda coming together a little bit lately, so yeah, it’s been good.
Juan [00:15:01] And what are the conversations like to, to build something like that up? Like, are you, I don’t know, taking me to throw out for, for a steak and saying like, Hey man, when
Owen Wolff [00:15:10] When I look to here, he should be the one taking me out. Yeah, he’s should be one taking me out to some extent. Fair enough, fair enough. Or is it like a… Yeah, it’s more like out on the field, like certain situations when we’re training, like he’ll tell me where he’s trying to run to play him there. And you know, I think it’s important that you listen to what they feel because those are the guys that are scoring our goals and they’re making the runs to the goal. So I think, you know listening to him and Buka and Johnny when he’s playing winger, Obi when he playing wanger, any of our guys. One. When they’re in front of me, you know, just trying to help me know where they’re trying to go because I don’t want to play them somewhere where they are not wanting the ball.
Juan [00:15:49] Any of them told you that you’re their favorite person to deliver the ball for them? Like kind of flipping the question on the
Owen Wolff [00:15:57] I mean they probably should give me some credit, it would be nice, but I don’t think they give me any of that, which is okay. Nah, they don’t say much I think, it’s just part of the job and knowing that that’s what you need to do and as for them, I expect them to score goals when they have their opportunities.
Juan [00:16:14] Well, if they’re listening to this, now they know they should praise the guy who’s delivering their goals. Seriously.
Jimmy [00:16:24] You’ve dealt with a lot of pressure. There’s pressure everywhere, right? There’s pressure just being a pro soccer player. There’s additional pressure of past relationships or it’s still alive, but you know what I’m saying. You’ve dealt with the pressure of trying to crack the starting 11 on a regular basis and now fully, you know, all the time. When you first started going through this, you were, you were sort of, you’re more or less alone as the youngest guy on the team. But now there’s this cohort of guys that are all about ish, the same age. Yeah. Who do you lean on in these moments of like, man, I don’t know, type, you know, when you have this crisis of confidence.
Owen Wolff [00:17:12] Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, like you said, as a young guy, I think the young guys stick together. I hang out with Zee, Danny, CJ, Riley a lot. The young guys will stick together, but also I think I can go to the older guys that have been here. I’ve known Brad for a while since he was in Columbus. I think he’s known me since I was like 10 years old. So he’s a guy that I can to. Heinz Eick is another guy. He’s been around. LEA Diego’s been here, been in the league for a long time. So Julio, guys that have been around a lot are guys that I can like go to and like if I don’t feel great about something, like I’m able to go there and they’ll understand and they listen. So also knowing that like they respect me and know that, you know, I kind of know what I’m talking about even though I’m a younger guy is really nice. Who do you hang with the most? Yeah, I mean, I live with Z right now. I moved in with him when my family left a few months ago. Hang out with him a decent amount. I don’t know if he’s gotten annoyed with me, but I’m always at his place. CJ and Riley live down the street, so I also hang out with them a decent about.
Jimmy [00:18:24] There are a lot of Call of Duty happening.
Owen Wolff [00:18:25] Oh yeah. Yeah, there is a lot. It might be a problem.
Juan [00:18:32] So what you’re saying is you could be scoring even more. You could be playing even better if it wasn’t for the Call of Duty addiction. Or maybe they need the diversion. Yeah, that’s fair enough, yeah. This is part of the magic.
Owen Wolff [00:18:41] Yeah, maybe I’d have more goals, but I mean, maybe I need the call of duty every once in a while. Nah, but yeah, we play a bunch of video games. We could probably relax on it for a few hours each day.
Juan [00:18:57] I’m curious about how Nico plays into this. You know, it’s the guy that you’ve known for a really long time. It almost feels like he is a quasi-father figure in your career and now he’s the guy who is sort of putting you in this position to succeed. Do you feel like that has helped you and do you think that might be partially behind the big step you’ve taken this year?
Owen Wolff [00:19:23] Yeah, I think he’s definitely helped me, you know, put me in a position where I feel comfortable and he understands that and, you now, we’ll talk about it, like if I don’t feel great about something or if he sees something differently than I do. So I think that helps a lot, but yeah, also him knowing me for a long time, I think he knows the type of player I am and the type things that I can do and provide for the team. So I think he just puts me in the best positions for me to do that.
Juan [00:19:54] How much does it help to have that built in relationship with a new coach? And you’ve been around coaches throughout your playing career. I’m sure there’s some that you knew better than others when you first started working with them, but you know, Nico’s a guy that you’ve been around pretty much your whole life. He’s pretty much seen you grow up. So is that helpful towards building that confidence in that relationship?
Owen Wolff [00:20:14] Yeah, for sure. I think having a good relationship with with the coach is always important. Like I said, like he’ll he’ll understand you and know know what’s best for you. And I think he puts me in the in positions where where I can do the best that I can. And especially having Davey around known him for a while. So he also hopes helps a lot.
Jimmy [00:20:37] Having this familiarity. I don’t know, I was talking about pressure earlier, but I just didn’t think about it. Drawing down my own experience, I’m very familiar with my parents’ workplace and my siblings’ workplace. So maybe there’s a little bit of comfort coming to a clubhouse or coming to training ground, because that’s basically been home.
Owen Wolff [00:21:02] Yeah, I know for sure. I mean, we’ve been around the game for a long time. We moved around a lot because of what my dad did and I think it definitely helped build me and my personality and who I am ever since I was a little kid. Especially being around my brothers in the same environment has definitely helped me get to where I am for sure
Jimmy [00:21:25] Uh, speaking of your siblings, uh, Tyler rail salt Lake now, um, and, uh you have two younger siblings, who’s the best soccer player?
Owen Wolff [00:21:39] Mmm. I’m gonna have to say, probably myself.
Jimmy [00:21:43] Okay yes i was hoping that would be the answer since you’re the one in austin
Owen Wolff [00:21:48] Yeah, no, definitely me
Jimmy [00:21:51] And when did you eclipse Tyler in, I don’t know, ability, confidence, however you wanna.
Owen Wolff [00:22:00] I don’t know, I think it’s just a-
Jimmy [00:22:01] I’m just trying to sow some rivalry.
Owen Wolff [00:22:04] They’re not going to be any rivalry between me and my siblings. Oh, OK.
Jimmy [00:22:07] Family dinners, a little bit of what I’m trying to do.
Owen Wolff [00:22:11] I don’t know, I think it just, it has to do with opportunities and taking the opportunities and I feel like I’ve had a bunch here in Austin so I think that’s helped build my confidence and helped me feel comfortable in my environment.
Juan [00:22:25] We’ll be back with more from Owen Wolf after this break.
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Jimmy [00:23:07] Welcome back to Mambo’s Saturday. We are talking with Austin FC star young midfielder, Owen Wolf.
Juan [00:23:14] Talked a little bit about, you know, moving around a lot. It’s something that I personally experienced in my life as well. Obviously, you now, I’m not a professional athlete and so I’m sure we have slightly different experiences but I’m curious how that impacted your development going from, you a kid that was interested in soccer to playing it to now pursuing a career in it. Do you feel like it helped? Do you like it hurt? And you know what are some of the highlights of the places that you’ve been.
Owen Wolff [00:23:46] Yeah, I think it definitely helps a lot. Like it helps you learn how to, you know, be able to deal with different environments and living in different places. And like we were in Germany for a little while. I don’t remember much about it. I was young. I was like two years old. So I don’t remember much of it, but I think, it still plays a role in you developing and you know learning how to adapt to new places. And I think. And I think that’s important to anyone in your, you know, your makeup of a human being. And I think it’s helped me a lot to get me to here and living in Columbus for however long it was helped me learn a lot about myself. And I’m, I think moving around is just great because you get to experience so many different places and cultures. I’d say Austin is a lot different than Atlanta and then also from Columbus, so. But I’d one of my favorite places that we’ve lived was probably My family, my mom and dad always say Germany was amazing. I remember a little bit of it, but not much. I enjoyed living there. Columbus was good. I got to spend some of my younger years until my teen years there. Atlanta will always be home. That’s where all of our family is. So I think going back to Atlanta is always nice.
Juan [00:25:03] Feel the same way I lived in Scotland. Yeah when I was really young. Yeah, but I don’t remember enough of it to Find it I guess as cool as as my folks I would like to go back and sort of restore that Did you learn any German while you were in Germany? Oh, you were an age where maybe you like I knew like numbers. Okay. Yeah
Owen Wolff [00:25:25] Everything’s gone now. Yeah, we were young me and me and Tyler. They did like preschool there or whatever it was daycare
Juan [00:25:33] Gotcha. Yeah. It wasn’t anything crazy. Are you tired of moving or do you feel like you’ve become an expert at it?
Owen Wolff [00:25:39] No, I think, yeah, I would like to keep moving. I feel like staying in one place is like, I don’t know. I feel if I stay in one for too long, I get kinda bored and kinda wanna experience new things.
Juan [00:25:51] Definitely have that shared experience. If I stay in one place too long, I start to get a little fancy, a little itchy to try something new.
Jimmy [00:25:59] Interesting that is this is an interesting subject because I’m your boss and you want to try something new soon and You have been here for five years. Yeah So speaking of international stuff How How much conversation is real and how much is just rumor and innuendo about?
Owen Wolff [00:26:23] Um, to be honest, I don’t really know too much about anything that goes around like outside of here. I kind of stay focused on what I’m doing here.
Jimmy [00:26:31] You’re not a fan of Instagram or Twitter or any of that I’m not on Twitter. I’m on
Owen Wolff [00:26:34] I’m not on Twitter, I’m on Instagram, but I’m not on twitter or X or whatever it is.
Jimmy [00:26:39] All right, so I’ll just talk about some things and you can choose to comment or not. You have some experience with the US Youth National Team. How is that going? Is that chapter closed?
Owen Wolff [00:26:52] Umm For the youth, I think maybe there’s a tournament next year that I might be able to participate in, but yeah, we’ll see. I’m not too sure about it. I think Nico came to me about it last week and just mentioned about it and I’d be more than happy to go do it.
Jimmy [00:27:13] That doesn’t sound closed. Okay. All right. Um, a jar me. Yes Elsewhere on the web people are talking about you with the Filipino national team ahead of the World Cup Your mother is Filipino Is there any validity to?
Owen Wolff [00:27:32] Um, not really. We talked to them a little bit, but nothing like too, too serious because I still have, um, the U S so I think it’s a, and you can only switch one time. So I’m trying to see where this goes. And if it’s, uh, for sure, like no chance that I go on with the U S then I would absolutely go, I would probably have to make a good decision to go to the Philippines.
Jimmy [00:27:55] If you only knew people that were once coaches with the U.S. National Team.
Owen Wolff [00:28:00] Yeah, I don’t know how much that would help my situation, but I’m so open to the US and hopefully I can get a chance with them.
Juan [00:28:08] Is 2026 that decision point or would you be waiting till maybe like a 2030 before you decide anything about potentially closing the chapter on the US men’s national team and going to represent the Philippines internationally?
Owen Wolff [00:28:24] Yeah, I feel like there’s not really a timeline for it. I think it’s kind of just like whatever happens, happens. And I feel I just kind of have to be patient with it and just let things kind of play out and then I’ll be able to make a decision.
Juan [00:28:37] And how do you take seeing, you know, your MLS colleagues, a lot of them getting a shot with the US Men’s National Team and sort of these, the lead up to the World Cup, is that giving you, I don’t know, like, how do take it? Is that a hopeful thing? Is that more competition for you? Is that?
Owen Wolff [00:28:56] No, I think it’s a good thing that the guys from the MLS are getting chances and opportunities because I feel like before they didn’t really get too many and I think them just being able to have the chance and the opportunity to show what they can do is great and it helps the league and it helps people’s view on the league. And I think, like you said, it gives some hope to myself that maybe that I can and do the same thing.
Juan [00:29:22] And have you had any conversations with U.S. Men’s national team leadership, Pochettino or anything about it? No, nothing really.
Owen Wolff [00:29:29] Think yeah, Nico was with with pochettino for a little bit. So I think if anything, I think they’ll talk
Jimmy [00:29:36] It might be in the building in a few weeks, I’m just saying.
Owen Wolff [00:29:40] Oh yeah, that’s right. They come here, right? I forgot about that.
Jimmy [00:29:45] To get your spot in politics. Just hang out here at the facility while they’re here. Working out extra, 99, 100, you know. You have a chance, and you know, this is all, it’s all future talk now, but since you’ve been here from the jump. If you stayed here, you would be, could be, barring injury and interest in all of that. An Austin legend, like. Statues made of you. Yeah, like literally they would carve your face in the side of a cliff, next to Earl Campbell’s. I know that is not always the dream of a young soccer player. When you started out on this journey, where would your ideal. Destination be are we talking somewhere in Europe or we just?
Owen Wolff [00:30:36] Yeah, no, something, you know, I think I’ve, I’ve wanted for a while now. I mean, I always wanted to become a pro. You know, that was the first step. But now that I’ve been in and around, I think one of my dreams would be to be able to go play in Europe and experience that life and the lifestyle that they live there because I hear that it’s something that’s really cool and it’s a lot different than here and I think it would just be really interesting to be a part of and experience.
Juan [00:31:05] Are you having conversations with the folks that have come from Europe like Ilya Sanchez or Mirtuzuni about like what that experience is like and maybe some of the challenges that might arise with a potential move out there?
Owen Wolff [00:31:19] Yeah, to be honest, I probably haven’t had that conversation as much. I mean, as I probably should, especially with it being, you know, one of my dreams. And I’d probably want to know more about it. So that’s, that’s great that you mentioned it, because maybe I will go talk to them about it now and see what they think and, you know, their opinions on it.
Jimmy [00:31:39] So no face on the side of a hill overlooking Lady Bird Lake.
Owen Wolff [00:31:44] You know, I’d never say no, but…
Jimmy [00:31:49] I’m just saying it could happen. I know it could have happened, but this could be, you could own this town, you know, in 20 years where.
Owen Wolff [00:31:58] Me and Brad, me and Brad will own the town together. I’ll never say no.
Jimmy [00:32:05] Brad came in his thirties, you were here. Yeah, goalies can play till they’re like 50. So you guys both retire in 15 years.
Owen Wolff [00:32:14] Go ahead.
Jimmy [00:32:16] And you have faces next to each other on a hillside overlooking Lady Bird Lake, and you own restaurants neighboring each other.
Juan [00:32:24] You guys get together once a week at your busts and picnic with the family.
Jimmy [00:32:30] I mean, you could really like be in charge, you can be mayor.
Owen Wolff [00:32:33] Yeah, that would be amazing. I’d take that. Me and Brad together on Ladybird Lake and we get to hang out every day with Froyo by the lake. Sounds like a great time for me.
Juan [00:32:46] Do you have questions? Superlative questions? Yes. Yes, okay. You grew up here, so you know what superlatives are.
Owen Wolff [00:32:54] What is it?
Juan [00:32:55] Superlatives. I guess you didn’t really, or a lot of high school was COVID affected. It’s where they vote for, like, who’s the best dressed.
Owen Wolff [00:33:04] Oh, okay.
Juan [00:33:05] But you’re going to be doing it with your teammates, your colleagues. So there’s personal relationships at stake, potential chemistry disruption.
Owen Wolff [00:33:14] We’ll be fine
Juan [00:33:15] tread lightly. We’ll be all right. You’re a team of athletes, professional athletes. This is how you make a living. So out of you guys, who’s the most athletic?
Owen Wolff [00:33:28] I would like to say myself.
Juan [00:33:31] I like the confidence.
Jimmy [00:33:32] I would like to say myself. This is good, top of the list in the family and on the team, I like it.
Juan [00:33:37] Um, especially even like the physical freaks you’ve got on the team.
Owen Wolff [00:33:41] Yeah, but what are we saying like athleticist like?
Juan [00:33:44] However you interpret it. Yeah, it’s open to interpretation.
Owen Wolff [00:33:50] Okay, let me think. Yeah, I’m gonna go with myself still.
Juan [00:34:02] I like it. I like. Who’s the best dressed in the locker room?
Owen Wolff [00:34:10] Julio. Okay. Yeah. Julio’s, yeah.
Juan [00:34:14] He does, yeah. My wife’s pointed out too. She’ll see the fit pics.
Owen Wolff [00:34:19] He’s got some good
Juan [00:34:20] She has some notes for some of y’all by the way. Who’s got the best hair?
Owen Wolff [00:34:24] Umm
Jimmy [00:34:27] His eyes are darting around, looking around the locker room in his mind. Yeah. Trying to figure out how he can vote for himself and justify it.
Owen Wolff [00:34:34] Now I already did myself
Jimmy [00:34:38] No blonde tips right now, so.
Owen Wolff [00:34:39] No yeah so it’s not me we’ll say i mean some guys are getting haircuts today so that could change my mind We’ll go with, um…
Jimmy [00:34:51] Like it’s like a weekly top.
Owen Wolff [00:34:54] It changes weekly. We’ll say, uh, we’ll say Z, I’ll give him A.
Juan [00:35:01] Roomate a shout out here. All right and you got a lovely set of pearly whites on you, but who in the locker room has the best smile?
Owen Wolff [00:35:10] Danny has a good smile. I’ll give Danny a good smile. Danny has a good smile. Umm.
Juan [00:35:19] This next one, you’ve been a recipient of it with your roommate, Z, but also with some of the other young folks, the young group of players that you guys have. Who in the locker room has the best bromance?
Owen Wolff [00:35:38] I think Ilya and Diego. Okay. And Nico’s like, like them three are like always together. So I’d say those three.
Juan [00:35:48] All right, you’re the first person to vote for them, but I love getting that insight. Yeah, those three, yeah. Nico just glommin’ on, right?
Owen Wolff [00:35:54] Nice? Yeah.
Juan [00:35:56] Yeah, we’ve heard of Diego’s relationship with Nico Duersarsky. So it’s interesting that Ilya was the name that.
Owen Wolff [00:36:05] Yeah, I think Diego, weren’t they together in Kansas? Ilya and Diego were they were at different times?
Juan [00:36:09] They were yeah well I don’t know if they were they were both playing for Kansas City I don’t know if different yeah yeah but you know I don’t know I guess they’re talking about how how much better Austin barbecue is yeah yeah probably ruminating over that frequently
Owen Wolff [00:36:23] Yeah, that’s the bromance though, I’d say then.
Juan [00:36:27] And we got one more, it’s the most important one.
Jimmy [00:36:28] One, Jimmy. Now, I’m willing to open it up to past or present, so you don’t want to throw anyone under the bus at this point, but in your time here, who do you hate most on the team?
Owen Wolff [00:36:44] HATE MOST Probably CJ Flaudry.
Juan [00:36:50] After he was so nice to give you credit and talk about how excited he was.
Owen Wolff [00:36:54] Excited he was. I feel like that HUD was a lie. There’s no one that I hate on the team. It’s a strong one.
Juan [00:37:02] So why do you hate me?
Owen Wolff [00:37:03] I don’t. I was joking.
Jimmy [00:37:05] Well, what’s the rub there?
Owen Wolff [00:37:07] No, there isn’t one, I’m just messing with them.
Jimmy [00:37:09] Well, we’re trying to put that in there without a scab.
Owen Wolff [00:37:12] Yeah, but put it in there without everything else after it.
Jimmy [00:37:14] Absolutely.
Owen Wolff [00:37:15] Absolutely. Yeah.
Jimmy [00:37:16] Slowly edit it out. All right, well, it’s been a pleasure. We’ve been looking forward to this for a very long time. I hope it has not been too painful for you.
Owen Wolff [00:37:25] That’s been good.
Juan [00:37:26] We’ve been begging.
Owen Wolff [00:37:29] Cam’s actually, he hasn’t come to me with this at all.
Jimmy [00:37:32] Figures yeah, not what we heard
Owen Wolff [00:37:35] Yeah, no, they’re just not good about it.
Jimmy [00:37:38] All right, well, I hope everything turns out as well as the last few weeks have been for you, and good luck going forward.
Owen Wolff [00:37:45] Yeah, thank you, appreciate it. Thanks for having me.
Jimmy [00:37:49] There it is, Austin FC’s Owen Wolf, future legend, future face carved on the side of- Mount Bonnell. Yes, absolutely. And CJ Faudre is catching a lot of strays there at the end, and the two of them are really doing well for the team.
Juan [00:38:13] Over the last few weeks. CJ’s feeling like a super sub. If he keeps this up in big games especially, he might have his face carved into Mount Bonnell right next to Owen. Little bit of a reputation, although it’d come on midway.
Jimmy [00:38:25] Through the mountain. Right, right.
Juan [00:38:27] It would be like three quarters of CJ’s face right next to Owen, maybe like right next to it so it kind of looks like he’s creeping up behind him because it’s not all CJ, it’s just CJ right at the end.
Jimmy [00:38:38] A lot of that wild, you know, what’s that that native grass that kind of grows wild to capture the hair? Yes, CJ. Yes, I have to get a lot that that flying. I don’t even know what that is. What kind of grass is that? You know what I’m talking about? They always put it out in landscaping. I dunno, Jimmy. You know, if you know if you’re
Juan [00:38:59] landscaper please send me an email. You know, my mother-in-law is a fantastic gardener and she has talked to me about different types of grass before so I would bet she knows exactly what you’re talking about. Well, I would Google
Jimmy [00:39:12] it but who has the time? Not me. Big thanks to our guest Owen Wolf for hanging out with us and yet like we have said we’ve been trying to get him for a long time. I’m so happy that he sat down. Cool guy. He really is. Nice normal kid. And you know he’s not bad at the whole soccer thing. No. Big Thanks to everyone here at KUT and KUTX Studios who helped produce this program, Elizabeth McQueen and Tanu Thomas. And also a big help with everyone over at Austin FC. Ryan Madden, Cameron Kubek. Gwen Hernandez, who apparently talked Owen into doing this interview. Special, unique thank you to Gwen Hernandez for talking Owen into talking to us. If we had not already recorded all of this, I would have probably just fronted her, made her the first. Thank you.
Juan [00:40:03] Honestly, we should have thanked her right at the top before you
Jimmy [00:40:06] Yeah, that is a slight omission on our part we’re making up for now. Big thanks to Gwen. And sorry, Gwen. And big thanks to the Audio Video Club over at Austin FC. Jacob Stedler, Alex Daly Hill, Roberto Colon, Ainsley Beers. Big thanks Geron Marshall for the music you are listening to right now. Thanks BFF. The season winding down with some excitement at the end. It’s just the way you want it. Thanks for listening.
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This transcript was transcribed by AI, and lightly edited by a human. Accuracy may vary. This text may be revised in the future.
