Mike
da fonte
I started playing soccer at the age of 4. My dad would take me in the backyard and kick the ball around. I started playing AYSO at 6 years old and I remember after just 1 season I wanted to quit and my parents told me if I quit and my friends were still playing and I asked to play in the future they wouldn't let me so I stuck it out and practiced and fell in love with the sport.
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At 9 years old I was called onto the field at halftime of a Metrostars game at Giants Stadium and had to juggle in front of the entire crowd in a competition against other kids. I ended up winning and they put me on the big screen and when I saw myself on it, from that moment on I knew I wanted to be a professional soccer player.
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In high school I played for a club team that only played in showcase tournaments all over the country. I was fortunate enough to get a scholarship to play Division 1 soccer at Bryant University. I had a very good freshman year where I started and played almost all the games. I then transferred to another Division 1 school, Longwood University. I was injured before preseason that year and unfortunately had to redshirt that season. I then went to an NAIA school, Rio Grande University. I had a very good season and we went to all the way to the quarter finals of the national championship. After that first semester I dropped out of college to try and play professionally.
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With no real plan I was going to tryouts for professional teams all over the country trying to get signed but nothing was working out. I went to a tryout for a PDL team and that's where my first agent saw me. I played the summer season with that PDL team, did well and that agent brought me to Portugal to tryout for teams.
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I was fortunate enough to sign my first professional contract in Portugal with SC Espinho in the third division. I played 23 games that season scoring 1 goal and we were one place out of getting promoted to the second division. The next season I was on trial with GD Chaves, I impressed in preseason but they had two older players in my position so they signed me to their feeder team, Pedras Salgadas in the third division. That season I again played 23 games and scoring 1 goal.​
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After that season I came back to America and didn't want to return to Portugal. I couldn't find a professional team here so I was training on my own and playing with a Sunday league teams in New York City to make some money. Finally after 8 months without a team I got a tryout with New York Redbulls 2 (USL). After a week trial I signed a professional contract with them. I had an amazing season playing 28 games and we went to the semifinals of the eastern conference playoffs. I had the most starts and appearances on the team as well as being captain for multiple games and was also brought up the the first team and played against Chelsea FC (England) where we beat them 4-2 at Redbull Arena.
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I then went on to sign for Sacramento Republic (USL) where I made 21 appearances and scored 4 goals (2nd highest on the team) as a center back. We won the Western Conference Regular Season but then lost in penalty kicks first round of the playoffs.
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I resigned the next season again for Sacramento Republic but a month into preseason the Colorado Rapids (MLS) paid a transfer fee to buy me. That season I made 17 appearances in the MLS.
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I then went to Phoenix Rising (USL) the next season and played 31 games and had 1 goal and captained the team in some matches. We won the Western Conference playoffs but lost in the final.
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I then went the next season to OKC Energy (USL) where I played 15 games and scored 1 goal in the 3 months I was with the team. My agent at the time said he would bring me to Europe so he got me out of my contract but no real opportunities came about in Europe. Leaving me without a club.
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At this point I started to grow Da Fonte Pro Training because of the love I have to help players get better and achieve their dreams. I want to give them opportunities that they may not have had without our company.