Larin staying humble amid mounting success

For Orlando City’s Cyle Larin, the path to playing soccer began in rather conventional circumstances. Originally a young hockey player in his native Brampton, Ontario, Larin underwent a trial with a local youth club even though he was somewhat ill-prepared for it.

“I didn’t actually have soccer shoes,” he tells Yahoo Sport UK with a laugh, “I played in a pair of basketball shoes. It was a tryout for this team - the Brampton Battlecats. I went to the try-out and I played pretty well and scored two or three goals.”

Making a strong impression he thrived with the Battlecats before moving onto Sigma FC, where as a six-foot tall eleven-year-old he stood out even more: “As a young player, all he did was run over kids and score goals,” Sigma’s technical director Bobby Smyrniotis said in an interview with thestar.com. “What we did is we took that away from his game. We only allowed him to play football: receiving the ball, passing, moving, always controlling the ball, not just scoring on breakaways.”

Yet despite that maturation process of his game there remains child-like desire in Larin to simply put the ball in the net: “I love to score goals,” he enthuses.

Reflecting on his favourite of the eleven goals he has notched so far this season for Orlando City, one stands out: “My first goal against goal Portland [Timbers],” he says. “It was just instinct. When the ball is in front of the net you just have to get something on it.”

Not only his favourite strike, it was also his first. Drafted number one overall by Orlando City, when he thinks back to that moment, huddled around a laptop in Jamaica while on international duty with Canada’s U20 squad the words ‘excited’ and ‘nervous’ are understandably prominent.

He has since gone on to make his senior international debut, the explosion point of his career being traced to April 12; his first start and first goal during the aforementioned game against Portland.

Following in the footsteps of another UConn graduate and MLS forward - Damani Ralph - the Canadian recently tied Ralph’s single season scoring record for a rookie against Columbus Crew SC. “I was aware [of the record] after the New York [City FC] game when I scored three goals,” Larin explains. “In the next game against Columbus I didn’t really think of it I just made sure I tried to play well and I managed to score.”

Now a potential record breaker, watching Larin play offers a lot to be admired including smart movement and a variety of tools - he considers himself a good all rounder.

As for why MLS has seen two star rookie forwards drafted from the same school, Larin has his own theory: “I think they teach you a lot of discipline there as well as what to do on and off the field and to work hard. It’s a really good soccer school to go to and I learned a lot there and it really benefited me.”

That self-discipline mixed with a humble and relaxed attitude seems central to Larin’s ability to handle such early success. Previously targeted by clubs in both Germany and England, he explains his decision to stay in North America very simply. “I thought I would be a lot more comfortable here and that I would develop more as a player,” he says before politely declining the opportunity to name which teams in Europe were interested in him.

Instead he shifts the focus of discussion to what lies ahead for him at Orlando City. “The coaches here are really great and they really looks after the players,” he adds. “I had a good feeling about being here and when I have a feeling I go with it.”

Although it’s no longer just his coaches and foreign suitors taking a keen interest in him. As the weeks pass and his goal tally rises, he notices his opponents are now treating him with caution: “In the beginning of the season I don’t think they were worried about me making runs or certain things,” he explains. “Now they’re tracking me a lot more and not giving me much space to do things. I have to be quicker them and smarter than them and I’m learning to do that each game.”

Meanwhile for coach Adrian Heath, Larin’s form is a validation of his decision to choose him first in the SuperDraft. The history of those made overall number one pick is littered with unfulfilled potential. Players like Omar Salgado, Larin’s Orlando teammate Danny Mwanga and reaching even further back Freddy Adu have all struggled to have consistent success in MLS.

Speaking at the time Heath said. “We believe that we’ve picked the best player in the draft. Cyle has incredible potential, and we’re looking forward to working with him.”

That admiration is clearly mutual as Larin details his relationship with Heath. “I feel like he’s given me a lot of tools from his game and when he was playing as well as lot of knowledge in general,” he says. “He keeps pushing me and I need a coach to push me each day to get better.”

On the field he enjoys a similar closeness with star Designated Player Kaka. The Brazilian has forged a solid partnership with Larin as the Canadian’s pace and energy open up space for the 33-year-old to work in.

Admitting he was somewhat star-struck when they first met, that has now passed. “He’s a great guy, he teaches me a lot on and off the field be it in training or during the games,” Larin says. “I’m always learning from him, he’s such a humble guy and I just think our relationship will get better and better as the season goes on.”

However come October, Larin may start to feel those butterflies once again when Montreal Impact arrive in Florida. “Didier Drogba was my favourite player growing up,” Larin says excitedly. “I would be interested in getting his shirt [when they visit]. I always looked up to him when he was Chelsea and I like the kind of player he is.”

By then, Larin will most likely have added more goals to his season tally with the elusive 20 goal mark well within reach. As for maintaining his success, much like his style of play he keeps it simple: “I just put my head down and keep working and when I do that everything takes care of itself,” he says. “If I keep working hard, keep doing what I have to do I think i’ll be fine.”