039: Alex Bono of Toronto FC

From training pitches in Rochester to the SU Soccer Stadium at Syracuse University to BMO Field in Toronto, Alex Bono has spent most of his soccer career within a 100-mile radius. Even so, he’s reached the pinnacle of domestic professional success – anchoring Toronto FC‘s MLS Cup title – and he’s represented the U.S. on an international stage.

In today’s episode, Alex talks about his experiences at the DA, college, professional and international levels, including the thrilling 2017 title run, and an historic near-miss in 2018’s CONCACAF Champions League.

Alex also addresses the importance of intelligence and mental strength for goalkeepers, and how to deal with confidence issues or a tough run of form. As exciting as the 2017 campaign was, 2018 was challenging – both physically and psychologically – and Alex explains how he found the resilience to bounce back.

Finally, we talk about one of Alex’s proudest moments – his first chance to represent the U.S. Men’s National Team in the Summer of ’18. He also explains the difficulty and the desire to earn that second cap, which may just be coming this month. It’s a dense 30 minutes, and there’s even more in an Outtakes segment below. I hope you enjoy the show!

Special thanks to Alex Bono for joining me!