Charlie Davies’ Winding Road to Revolution Brings Him Full Circle
Charlie Davies is finally realizing his dream of playing for the Revolution, helping them make it to the MLS Eastern Conference finals. But if MLS had been wise in 2007, the league might never have let Davies get away from New England.
After Davies announced he would be leaving Boston College following his sophomore season, he attempted to secure a Freddy Adu-type deal: play for his hometown team and receive a contract that would cause European clubs to back off.
But the league said no dice, and it took Davies a tour of three European clubs, one domestic team, plus a near-death experience, before finding his way to the Revolution starting lineup.
“When I was coming out of college it was a choice between Europe and MLS,’’ Davies recalled this week. “And, ultimately, MLS told me I couldn’t play for the Revolution if I wanted to come out (of college). It wasn’t a matter of me having the choice. D.C. was extremely interested, I believe Toronto had the first pick, so it was more than likely I wasn’t going to end up here.
“But, either way, my dream was always to play in Europe. I think that was going to be my path, ultimately, anyways.’’
Of course, seven years ago, MLS was not generating the amount of revenue and garnering the level of interest it is today. The league was also not making as loud an outcry when it lost domestic talents to Europe.
In ‘07, the Revolution were looking to replace Clint Dempsey, and a Taylor Twellman-Davies striker combination might have taken the team to an MLS Cup title. By 2009, though, Twellman’s career had effectively ended following a series of concussions, and Davies’ life had nearly ended in an auto accident.
Now, the Revolution are back in the MLS Cup hunt, and Davies will be the starting striker when they visit the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the Eastern Conference finals on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
“My career’s been a crazy road,’’ Davies said. “I think it’s impossible to predict where you’re going to play in the future. So many things can happen – new coaches, injuries, form. When you take all those into account it’s difficult to know where you’re going to end up.
“I think I was in Denmark when I realized playing for the Revolution could happen for me, so I was extremely happy. Who wouldn’t be, playing for the club you grew up watching? And also being home with so many family and friends around. It’s just an amazing opportunity that not too many people get so I when I got it I made sure I took it.’’
Charles Desmond Davies was born in Lawrence, grew up in Manchester, N.H., competed for the Greater Boston Bolts club team, played soccer and wrestled (winning New England championships at 112, 125 and 145 pounds) at the Brooks School.
Davies’ career path was influenced by his father, Kofi, who learned the game in his native The Gambia, and by a match experience – Davies was 10 years old when he joined a crowd of 57,407 for a US vs. Mexico World Cup qualifier at Foxboro Stadium April 20, 1997.
“I believe Kasey Keller kicked the ball off one their striker’s faces and into the goal,’’ Davies recalled of Carlos Hermosillo’s opening-minute score in a 2-2 draw. “Just looking at that atmosphere and that game and I said this is my dream to play in a game like this. That was a big-time game for me because it really opened my eyes to the national team and I really wanted to be a part of it in the future.’’
The closest Davies got to the Revolution after that, though, was a scrimmage on a Gillette Stadium practice field in 2006. Davies led BC to a 3-1 win over the Revolution, scoring twice, the first a spectacular scissors kick from 20 yards out. That performance indicated Davies could indeed make the professional grade, and it also signaled his return from a knee injury sustained in the opening game of his sophomore season.
Davies skipped the MLS combine and draft, making his way to Hammarby in Sweden and Sochaux in France’s Ligue 1. He scored four goals for the US national team, helping it qualify for the 2010 World Cup. Then, Davies barely survived as a passenger in a one-car accident on the George Washington Parkway outside of Washington, D.C., in the early morning of Oct. 13, 2009.
Davies returned to training with Sochaux but was not cleared medically to return to the US team. By 2011, he had recovered enough to score 11 goals on loan with D.C. United. But Davies was clearly not up to his former standards; he returned to Sochaux, then to Randers in Denmark, failing to score a goal over two seasons.
Though this has not been a statistical breakout year (Davies has scored three goals, plus two in the post-season), he is actually doing things he hasn’t done in more than five years – such as converting a long-distance goal at Columbus in the first round of the playoffs Nov. 1, his first from outside the penalty area since returning from the accident.
“I don’t have anything to compare it to,’’ Revolution coach Jay Heaps said of Davies’ progress. “Since we got him in August last year to now, it’s been pretty extraordinary in terms of his tactical awareness of what we’re trying to do. He came in as a second striker, he played his whole career as a second striker. And our formation calls for a little bit more of a No. 9, more of a hold-up guy, someone who can extend the field in different ways and then also be a big part of how we pressure, how we defend, starting with the forward line. And he right away, maybe he may’ve gotten it, but it took us seeing him in the group and how he was on the field to really excel. And he’s taken that role and the guys have really bought into him big-time being the main guy up there.’’
It is difficult to measure Davies’ progress, especially in a lone-striker formation. And Davies admits he practiced self-deception in the past, attempting to convince himself he could regain his former powers.
But now, he seems to closer to reaching the potential he displayed as a youngster.
“It wasn’t until late (this season),’’ Davies said. “I knew I had all the other intangibles like, obviously, my strength, experience with the game, especially playing at the highest level and watching a lot of soccer when I was injured. I knew I was ready.
“It just took game time, really, because that’s probably the most invaluable part to somebody’s growth. I needed games, I needed minutes, so once I was able to get that and then build on the confidence everything started to come together for me. So, I’d say probably beginning of September, it was ‘Wow, I’m starting to feel like my old self.’ ’’
And just how close is Davies to that “old self.’’
“As close as one can be,’’ he replied. “Not many things are missing. It’s little things. But I think I’m better at a lot of things than I was in the past, so I think I’m a smarter player, for sure, now. I think I understand the game more, I’m more mature, I’m more of a professional, I take care of my body better. I just know what it takes to succeed, that’s what makes me – and I enjoy the game more because I don’t take it for granted like I probably used to.
“So, I think that’s what makes me a better player, what makes me more dangerous. Because I’m so hungry, and so excited to be on the field, and I just want to succeed. I think when you’re playing against a player who has confidence and who’s hungry, anyways, without the skill level, I think it’s still difficult to play against. So, hopefully it makes me that much tougher to play against.
“I think that’s what always separated me from a lot of players. I was always so hungry to win and succeed and play well. That has never changed but I think just being smarter in my runs and hold-up play, and knowing when to go and when to keep the ball. I think all those things are much better for me now than in the past.’’
As for a return to the U.S. national team?
“I believe so,’’ Davies said. “I mean, I’ve obviously got to keep improving, which I’ve done so far. Then, it’s all about getting the chance. If I get the chance I have to make the most of it. And until then it’s just working hard and helping this team win.’’
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