# @ussoccerplus on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DC-088ExaF6
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/25174271-ussoccerplus-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/0c32b6d1c9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2024-11-30T04:13:06.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** 𝐔𝐒 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐥𝐮𝐬 (@ussoccerplus) — https://gondola.cc/ussoccerplus

## Caption

When Joe Scally got into the NYCFC academy at 12, his mom drove him to games and training— a three-hour drive round trip from Long Island.

Now 21, Scally is an established pro who just made 100 appearances for Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.

Sacrifices paid off. This is his story.

Born in Lake Grove, Long Island, Scally has always had passion for sports, thanks to his family. 

His family owns a sports bar, while his older brother excelled at soccer and basketball. So the young Scally started playing those sports too.

He’d also shovel snow during winters at his father’s landscaping company.

By the time Scally turned 12, the NYCFC academy opened. So after dominating Long Island youth leagues, his family decided to send him there.

It wasn’t easy though. The Scally family lives in deep Long Island, while the NYCFC academy is in upstate New York.

It was a three-hour drive round trip from Lake Grove to Orangeburg, but his mother drove him.

Sacrifices paid off, because the young Scally worked his socks off.

By 15, he signed his first professional contract with NYCFC. When he turned 18, he went off to Europe by himself and signed with Borussia Monchengladbach.

He excelled there, and when the 2022 World Cup rolled around, Scally got called up as the youngest player in the squad. 👏🏾

Last weekend, the defender made his 100th appearance for Monchengladbach— four years after signing for them.

His special game didn’t go to plan as he suffered a head injury and was substituted early.

But he returned to training on Wednesday with all smiles.

Having played 19 times for the USMNT now, Scally has been given a chance to impress after Sergiño Dest went down with injury.

He started all three games in the Copa América.

Scally has already achieved so much at his age. But still only 21, his story is just getting started.

[Via Anthony Kyaw] 

#joescally #borussiamönchengladbach #usmnt #usoccer

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## Tags

usoccer, joescally, usmnt, borussiamönchengladbach

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